Portugal closed all of its roughly 8,000 schools and shuttered non-essential public services on Wednesday as Storm Charles approached the mainland with expectations of wind gusts up to 140 kilometers per hour and torrential rains.

The move marked the first time in living memory that classes were canceled nationwide due to a storm forecast. Interior Minister Luís Neves announced the measures Tuesday, urging residents to stay indoors and calling on employers to allow remote work where possible.

Storm Charles follows closely on the heels of Storm Bruna, which has already brought heavy rains and flooding to parts of Portugal and Spain since Sunday. The new storm struck the Portuguese island of Madeira on Tuesday with winds reaching 130 kilometers per hour before moving toward the mainland.

Authorities placed all emergency services and army units on alert for what officials described as an exceptional day. Red weather warnings covered multiple districts including Lisbon, Setúbal, and Leiria for rain and wind from midday onward.

In Lisbon, streets stayed largely empty as some areas saw minor flooding from clogged drains. A national supermarket chain closed its stores, and the Web Summit technology conference canceled its Wednesday program for around 70,000 attendees.

The center-right government faced criticism earlier this year for its response to Storm Kristin in January, which caused widespread damage still under repair. Officials appear to have taken a more proactive stance this time with the broad closures and public advisories.

The worst impacts were forecast for the Atlantic coast in the afternoon and evening hours, with additional concerns over rough seas and potential disruptions to transport.