Portugal closes all schools and non-essential services due to a major Atlantic storm

LISBON, Portugal: Portugal closed all schools and shuttered non-essential public services on Wednesday as a major Atlantic storm barreled into the country’s mainland, but the bad weather passed without causing major damage.

Streets were largely deserted when Storm Charles arrived, because the government had told people to stay at home, fearing the worst, though the winds and rain that battered the country weren’t as destructive as expected.

It was the first time in living memory that Portugal’s roughly 8,000 schools had canceled classes nationwide over a storm forecast.

More than 300 flights at four international airports were canceled due to the driving rain and high winds, authorities said.