Storm Leslie leaves at least 300,000 homes without power as it hits Portugal

Wind speeds reach 105 mph

Authorities advised people to stay away from the coast (Reuters)

Tropical cyclone Leslie has hit Portugal, leaving at least 300,000 homes without power and 27 people injured.

The injuries are not life threatening, Luis Belo Costa of the country's National Protection Agency said.

Areas around Lisbon and cities in central Portugal including Leiria and Coimbra were worst hit, according to The Local.

The weakened storm uprooted at least 1,000 trees and smashed store windows as it forced over 60 people to leave their homes.

Leslie had been downgraded from a Category 1 hurricane to a post-tropical cyclone with winds of 70 mph by the time it landed on Portugal's Atlantic coast late on Saturday.

But wind speeds reached 105 mph in the town of Figueira da Foz, a town 200km north of Lisbon.

Coastal towns in the area bore the brunt of the storm damage, as the sea surged and winds hit power lines and blocked roads.

The A1, the main motorway running through Portugal, was temporarily blocked by a fallen tree, authorities said.

The country's weather service issued red warnings, the most severe level, for high winds or dangerous coastal conditions for 13 of its 18 mainland districts.

Costal towns were badly hit (Reuters)

Authorities advised people to stay indoors and away from coastal areas and recommended that fishermen at sea returned to the nearest port.

Portugal's TAP airline cancelled several flights to and from Lisbon.

The storm was most intense during Saturday night and its heavy rains and powerful winds had mostly subsided by Sunday morning.

Records indicate that only five hurricanes have previously made landfall in the region and officials had feared that storm Leslie would be exceptionally powerful.

The storm has continued into Spain where it has brought heavy rain to the region.

Additional reporting by agencies