Storm Charles brought heavy rain and strong winds to Portugal on Wednesday, November 11, closing schools and businesses and canceling hundreds of flights, but it was less severe than feared.
Airlines initially canceled more than 200 flights to and from the country. Schools and hundreds of supermarkets and businesses also closed. Later reports counted more than 300 cancellations across four international airports as disruption continued, updating the earlier figure.
The government also closed non-essential public services. It urged people to stay indoors. Emergency responders and military units were placed on alert.
Portugal’s weather service said the storm’s center separated over the Atlantic and weakened before reaching the mainland through the southern Algarve. In Lisbon, some streets flooded when drains became clogged. Buses ran without passengers.
The Web Summit also canceled the day’s events. Despite the closures and travel disruption, the storm passed without the major damage officials had feared. The highest-level weather warning was later limited to the Algarve.