What are the current IPMA weather warnings for Portugal right now?
Executive summary
IPMA has issued a mix of sea, wind and precipitation warnings across Portugal as Storm Leonardo approaches: red warnings for extremely rough seas in parts of the Azores/western islands, orange warnings for strong winds and very rough seas for mainland and central/western islands, and yellow maritime alerts in other island regions — with specific timings covering 3–4 February 2026 in the reporting available (The Portugal News; Reuters) [1][2][3][4]. The public-facing IPMA site explains its warning system categories (yellow, orange, red) and the kinds of hazards it covers but the live IPMA page snapshots in the reporting are limited, so some timing and district-level detail comes from secondary press coverage (IPMA site description) [5][6].
1. Red sea warnings for western islands — “very rough seas” and metre-scale waves
Multiple news outlets reporting IPMA bulletins say the most severe alerts are red warnings for very rough seas in Portugal’s western island groups, with wave heights forecast in extreme ranges — Reuters quotes IPMA warning waves could reach 10–19 metres in the western islands in association with Storm Leonardo [3][4]. That red-level designation signals extraordinary marine danger under IPMA criteria and was highlighted specifically for western Azores/ western island sectors in the February coverage [3].
2. Orange warnings for strong winds and very rough coastal seas on mainland and islands
IPMA placed large swathes of mainland coastal districts and the central/western islands under orange warnings for strong winds and rough to very rough seas, with gust estimates cited in reporting — gusts “up to 110 km/h” in some island zones and up to 75–95 km/h along parts of the mainland coast and highlands were forecast in the press summaries [3][4]. The Portugal News and Reuters accounted for orange wind and sea alerts tied to the approaching Leonardo system, which was expected to affect mainland Portugal from Tuesday into the weekend [2][4].
3. Yellow maritime alerts and localized rough-sea windows
More moderate, yellow maritime alerts were issued for specific time windows in the Azores and other maritime districts; for example The Portugal News reported a yellow “rough seas” alert for parts of the Azores covering early 4 February morning hours (6:00–12:00) [1][7]. These yellow notices reflect significant but less extreme marine disturbance and were included alongside the higher-level orange/red warnings in the regional bulletins summarized by local media [1].
4. Broader context — heavy rain, snow risk and the sequence of storms
Reporting frames Leonardo as part of a rapid sequence of winter storms following Storm Kristin and earlier systems; IPMA cautioned about persistent, sometimes heavy rain and mountain snowfall potential alongside the winds and seas, and Reuters and other outlets noted the storm risk comes just a week after damaging Storm Kristin, which earlier prompted widespread red alerts and record gusts [4][8]. IPMA’s public materials also list the categories it warns for — wind, rain, snow, cold and sea disturbance — underscoring that current alerts are part of multi-hazard messaging rather than isolated marine notices [5].
5. What the official source vs. press reporting cover — limitations and verification
The IPMA homepage and warning guidance pages exist and explain criteria, but the available direct IPMA site snapshots in the provided reporting are limited and the most specific district/timing items in this summary come from Portugal News and Reuters articles that quoted IPMA releases; therefore the exact district boundaries and minute-by-minute timing should be verified on IPMA’s live warnings page or the Meteo@IPMA app for up-to-the-minute maps and localized advisories [6][9][10]. Press outlets consistently reference IPMA’s color-coded system, but readers should consult IPMA directly for the current live status and any changes after the February 3–4 reporting window [2][3].
6. Practical takeaway — marine danger is the headline, with high winds and rain to follow
Across the cited coverage the clearest, consistent message is elevated marine danger: red warnings for very rough seas in western island sectors, orange warnings for strong winds and very rough seas along parts of the mainland and islands, and yellow maritime alerts in other island windows; these sit alongside forecasts for heavy rain and snow in higher terrain as Leonardo progresses, and IPMA’s own warning framework underpins all three color-coded levels reported [3][4][5].