More than 200 flights into and out of Portugal were cancelled on November 11, 2026 as Storm Charles hit the country, prompting widespread closures of schools, supermarkets, and businesses. The Portuguese government deployed emergency services and army units on alert before the storm made landfall.
Storm’s Impact and Emergency Response in Portugal
The storm brought heavy rainfall and gale-force winds across southern Portugal and the Lisbon region. Portugal’s weather service IPMA reported that the storm’s eye had split in two over the Atlantic, reducing its strength upon arrival in the Algarve. Civil Protection Commander Mario Silvestre confirmed 538 incidents had been registered since midnight on November 11.
Authorities maintained heightened alerts for flash floods, strong winds and rough seas throughout the day.
Storm Charles Effects on Madeira and Links to Previous Storm Bruna
Storm Charles had passed through the Madeira archipelago earlier, causing flooding and uprooting trees. Emergency services rescued a man whose garage was flooded on Madeira due to the storm; no casualties were reported. This event followed heavy rains from Storm Bruna which began on November 8-9, 2026 and had already caused flooding and closure of several road tunnels in Lisbon prior to Charles’ arrival.
Ongoing Situation in Southwestern Spain
The storm was forecast to continue into southwestern Spain on the afternoon of November 11. Spain’s weather agency AEMET issued warnings
of serious impacts including heavy rainfall, strong winds, and rough seas related to Storm Charles. Central Spain remained on alert as over 3,000 residents were evacuated from the Piedralaves area due to dam overflow risks that were ongoing as of November 10-11.
