Portugal's government ordered schools and non-essential public services to close on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, and advised people to stay indoors wherever possible as Storm Charles threatened torrential rain and wind gusts of up to 150 kph (93 mph). Interior Minister Luis Neves announced the measures, which put all emergency services and army units on alert. "There will be very tough moments when rescue efforts will be needed," Neves said, describing what he said was likely to be "an absolutely exceptional day".
Since Sunday, Portugal and neighboring Spain have been hit by heavy rain from Storm Bruna, with flooding reported in several areas. In January and February this year, the Iberian peninsula was struck by a succession of storms that destroyed or damaged thousands of homes, washed away roads and caused severe economic losses.
About 3,000 people were being evacuated from the town of Piedralaves in Spain's central province of Ávila on Tuesday as authorities warned of the risk of overflow at the Horcajo dam. They said no injuries or disruptions to electricity or telephone services had been reported so far.
Spain's weather service AEMET warned that parts of Cáceres and Ávila provinces could receive more than 120 mm (4.72 inches) of rain in 12 hours on Tuesday and Wednesday, raising the risk of flooding. It also warned of hurricane-strength winds exceeding 130 kph on the Canary Island of La Palma on Wednesday.