LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Portugal closed all schools and shuttered non-essential public services on Wednesday as a major Atlantic storm headed for the country's mainland.

Streets remained largely deserted ahead of the arrival of Storm Charles after the government told people to stay at home as heavy rain and rough seas were expected to batter the Portuguese coast, with wind gusts of up to 140 kph (85 mph).

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

Buses without passengers drove through the country's capital, Lisbon, where some streets flooded due to clogged drains. A national supermarket chain closed its stores, while an international technology conference in Lisbon attended by around 70,000 people called off the day's events.

In January, the country's center-right government faced harsh criticism for its weak response when Storm Kristin hit central Portugal, felling thousands of trees and causing widespread property damage that is still being repaired.

The brunt of Storm Charles was expected to hit the Atlantic coast on Wednesday afternoon and evening, coming from the southwest after it had struck the Portuguese island of Madeira on Tuesday with 130 kph (81 mph) winds.

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Spain issues warnings

Spain issued red weather warnings on Tuesday, as Storm Charles approached with the threat of torrential rainfall, dangerous flooding and landslides.

The country’s highest-level rainfall alerts cover northern Cáceres in Extremadura and southern Ávila in Castilla y León, where more than 4 inches of rain could fall in just 12 hours.

Spain’s State Meteorological Agency, AEMET, warned that the combination of Storm Bruna and the approaching Storm Charles could produce exceptionally heavy rainfall across western and southern Spain through Thursday.

Spanish Civil Protection authorities say cumulative rainfall could locally exceed 11 inches during the wider storm episode, increasing the risk of rivers overflowing, flash flooding and landslides.

The warnings are particularly important for visitors traveling through western Spain, including popular rural tourism destinations in Extremadura and the mountains south of Ávila.