Santa Cruz das Flores – The low temperatures in the Azores have caused snowfall in the western group of the Azores, Flores and Corvo islands, a rare occurrence in the islands.
On the smallest island in the archipelago, with about 430 inhabitants, the Corvo in the Caldeirão, 650 meters above sea level, was one of the places most visited by people to observe the snowfall, said mayor José Manuel Silva.
The mayor said that inhabitants took the opportunity to record the moment in photography and video, which they share in social networks.
Also on the island of Flores, snow was felt in place of Morro Alto, said deputy commander of the Santa Cruz Volunteer Firefighters, AnÃbal Lopes.
Although infrequent, snowfall is a phenomenon occurring in the Azores. On the mountain of the island of Pico, at 2,351 meters, the highest point of the country, snow is visible every winter.
The Azores are experiencing abnormally low temperatures following the passage of a cold frontal surface associated with the depression Julia.
However, Kyllian depression is expected to reach the Azores on Saturday, with a significant increase in wind intensity and sea turmoil, the Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) announced today.
In a statement, the IPMA explains that “the approach of a depression dug and the passage of a cold frontal surface with strong activity will cause a worsening of the weather”.
The Western group will be under red warning between 12:00 and 18:00 on Saturday due to sea bustling, and on orange notice the rest day (from 00:00 to 12:00 and from 18:00 to 24: 00), for the same reason.
The two islands will still be under orange warning between 03:00 and 12:00 on Saturday, but due to the wind.
“It is expected that for the Western group on Saturday afternoon the south wind will be very strong and will rotate to the southwest with bursts of the order of 130 km / h, it is still expected to have waves west of 7 to 8 meters, becoming southwest of 10 a 11 meters, “explains meteorologist PatrÃcia Navarro, of the IPMA delegation in the Azores, quoted in a statement.
