Portugal closes all schools and non-essential services over Storm Charles

Storm Charles seems, after all, to have fallen short of the catastrophic scenario once feared and has split into two separate cores, one expected to hit the Algarve and the other the Lisbon region, where it should arrive during the afternoon. Lisbon, Setúbal and Beja are no longer under a wind warning, but are now on maximum alert due to the rain, which hasn't let up. The wind warning has been downgraded from red to orange, with gusts forecast to reach up to 120 km per hour. In Madeira, the worst of storm Charles appears to have already passed, but the authorities are still urging caution on the roads, especially near streams and other watercourses. The roads into Funchal, which had been closed as a precaution, have now reopened. The public is advised to avoid high-risk areas and to stay alert to safety recommendations.