"Everyone who can, stay home" on Wednesday, asks minister Luís Neves
The government has declared a state of alert for Wednesday 11 November 2026 due to severe weather. All schools (including private and universities) will be closed, and non-essential public services will not operate; employers are urged to implement telework and be flexible with parents of minor children. Outdoor activities, including access to parks and forests, are prohibited, with potential bridge closures and coastal flooding expected.
Why it matters
On Wednesday 11 November 2026, you should avoid outdoor activities, expect significant travel disruptions, and plan for your children being out of school; employers are encouraged to allow telework, and there is legal protection for parents to stay home with minor children.
Your quick shot of what's changing in Portugal and affecting your status, your home, your money, and whatever might disrupt your day. Short and clear updates, gathered from Portuguese sources.
The government declared an alert situation across the entire mainland territory for Wednesday 11 November 2026, imposing exceptional measures such as the closure of public, private, and social sector educational establishments and non-essential public services. While the decree does not explicitly order private businesses to close or create a special justified-absence regime, the Minister of Internal Administration, Luís Neves, called for telework wherever possible and stated that parents have the right to stay home with minors. Legal experts generally recommend that employers accept justifications and pay the day, including meal allowances, when telework is not possible, pointing to the constitutional right to work in health and safety conditions. However, unions like CGTP argue that the decree merely appeals to employer comprehension without legally guaranteeing paid justified absences for travel difficulties or childcare due to school closures, demanding formal protection so workers suffer no pay cuts.
Streets in three Lisbon parishes are deserted, with markets empty and shops closed following the Government's request for citizens to stay home. The city is experiencing widespread closures and reduced activity today, Wednesday 11 November 2026.
The Casa Para Viver movement, protesting the housing crisis in Lisbon and Porto, has called for a demonstration at the Assembleia da República on Tuesday, 27 October, at 18:30. The call follows reports of police intervention at protest camps in both cities during the early hours of Sunday, 25 October.