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Portuguese Terms
Basic Survival in the Portuguese Language
A SIMPLE GUIDE TO LOCAL WEATHER FORECASTS

 REGIONS & DIVISIONS

The country can be divided into Norte, around Oporto; Centro around Figueira da Foz, Lisboa and Setúbal;
and Sul which is Alentejo and here in the Algarve. 

Some other key words are Litoral = Coastline; with either Ocidental = Western; or Sul = South.
Also Motanhas = Mountains; Serra = Range of Hills; Terras Altas/Baixas = High/Low Ground.

“Break points” on the west coast are mainly in the central belt, Cabo Carvoeiro = Peniche/Berlengas; 
Cabo da Rocha and Cabo Raso = West of Lisboa;  Cabo Espichel = Setúbal.

 TIMING TERMS

Manhã = Morning;  
Matinal = Morning (adjective)

Tarde = Afternoon/evening;

Noite = Night

A partir = From or at the start of

Ao fim de =At the end of

Durante = During

 SKY and CLOUDS

Céu limpo                    = Clear sky

 Céu coberto              = Overcast sky

Céu pouco nublado = Sky slightly cloudy

 Céu muito nublado = Sky very cloudy

Nuvem alta                  = High cloud

Nuvem baixa             = Low cloud.

WIND
Vento em geral = Wind mainly. This covers a multitude of sins and allows for error!
Soprando          = Blowing, i.e. winds may be of a different strength, either for another time or area. 
The forecasts take no account of the “Nortada” which can give Northerly F4 - F6 in the afternoons!

Directions are by cardinal and half cardinal points - or by the quadrant – and, in clockwise order, are
Norte -N; Nordeste -NE; Este -E; Sudeste -SE; Sul -S; Sudoeste -SW; Oeste -W; Noroeste -NW

Fraco      = Light     ie F1 to 3; 

Moderado     = Moderate     ie F4

Fresco    = Fresh   ie F5

Muito fresco = Very fresh   ie F6 = Strong in UK

Forte        = Strong  ie F7 = Near gale in UK

Muito forte    = Very strong ie F8 = Gale in UK

Wind speeds are given in Km/H =Kilometers per Hour.  A good way to convert to knots, is to divide by 2,
then add a further 10%
For example, 10 Km/H divided by 2 = 5; add 10% of 5 = 0.5.  Total = 5.5 Kts.

True figures - and in italics, the approximateBeaufort Scale forces - are:-

10 Km/H = 5.4 Kts    
F 2;

 20 Km/H =10.8 Kts
F 3;

30 Km/H = 16.2 Kts
F 4

40 Km/H = 21.6 Kts
F 5

 50 Km/H = 27.0 Kts
F 6

60 Km/H = 32.4 Kts
F 7

 70 Km/H = 37.8 Kts
F 8

80 Km/H = 43.2 Kts
F 9

PRECIPITATION and VISIBILITY

Seco        = Dry; 

Húmido       = Humid; 

Chuvisco      = Drizzle;

Aguaceiros  = Showers;

Chuva     = Rain;

Trovoadas  = Thunder;

Granizo         = Hail;

Neve              = Snow;

Neblina   = Mist;

Nevoeiro    = Fog;

Rajadas        = Gusts; 

Borrasca       = Squalls.

 TEMPERATURE CHANGE

Pequeno   = Small;

Grande   = Large;

Subida = Increase;

  Descida = Decrease.

SEA STATE
Theestado do mar is described in terms of:-                  Ondas = Swell or Waves;   Água do mar = Sea.
 Good Sailing!