Azores placed under yellow warning for heavy rain and thunderstorms
Azores GuideWarnings cover all nine Azorean islands, with the eastern group expected to be affected later than the western and central groups.
The Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) placed all nine islands of the Azores under a yellow precipitation warning on 27 September, forecasting at times heavy rain and possible thunderstorms through Monday.
Flores and Corvo are under warning from 18:00 on 27 September until 06:00 on Monday. Faial, Graciosa, Pico, São Jorge and Terceira are under warning from 21:00 on 27 September until 12:00 on Monday.
São Miguel and Santa Maria are under warning from 03:00 on Monday until 15:00. The Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service of the Azores said the bad weather would reach the eastern group later.
Civil protection said the warning was linked to a frontal system associated with a depression centred west of the archipelago and moving east/northeast. IPMA issues a yellow warning when there is a risk situation for certain activities dependent on the weather.
Update — 2026-09-28
IPMA also forecast very cloudy skies, rougher sea conditions linked to the Atlantic depression and moderate winds that may strengthen as the frontal system approaches. Temperatures were expected to range from 16°C to 26°C.
Civil protection said weather conditions were expected to deteriorate gradually across all islands from late Sunday afternoon.
Update — 2026-10-04
On 3 October, IPMA extended the yellow rain warning for São Miguel and Santa Maria from 18:00 until 00:00 on Sunday. RTP Açores also reported an extension of an orange precipitation warning for the eastern group.
Rain caused landslides, blocked roads and overflowing streams on Santa Maria, with no injuries or displaced residents reported. Bad weather also led to cancelled and delayed flights between the archipelago, as well as flights to and from the Azores.
Update — 2026-10-11
IPMA issued a new yellow warning for the central group of the Azores for heavy rain, sometimes accompanied by thunderstorms, on Monday. The warning for Faial, Pico, São Jorge, Terceira and Graciosa is in force from 00:00 to 09:00 local time.
The western group, Flores and Corvo, is also under a yellow warning on Sunday from 15:00 to 20:00 local time.
Update — 2026-10-15
IPMA placed seven islands in the western and central groups of the Azores under a yellow warning for sometimes heavy rain on 15 October. The warning remains in force for Flores and Corvo until 03:00 on Friday, and for Faial, Pico, São Jorge, Terceira and Graciosa until 21:00 on Thursday.
Update — 2026-10-27
IPMA placed all nine islands of the Azores under a new yellow warning for sometimes heavy rain on Wednesday 28 October. On Flores and Corvo the warning is in force from 02:00 to 14:00. Terceira, Graciosa, Faial, Pico and São Jorge are under warning between 08:00 and 23:00. For São Miguel and Santa Maria it runs from 20:00 on Wednesday to 08:00 on Thursday 29 October. All times are local.
Sources
Azores Guide
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