The State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) has issued a weather alert for parts of the Canary Islands this weekend, as a high-level isolated depression (known as a DANA) approaches the archipelago.
It is expected to particularly affect the westernmost islands, bringing increased atmospheric instability throughout Saturday and Sunday.
The alert specifically applies to La Palma at the moment, where the eastern and western regions as well as higher elevations are expected to experience heavy rainfall from 3:00pm on Saturday until midday on Sunday, but the weather pattern is moving towards the other islands.
AEMET forecasts that up to 20 litres of rain per square metre could fall within just one hour, particularly in inland areas and on the eastern slopes. These downpours may be accompanied by occasional thunderstorms.
Similar conditions are predicted for El Hierro, where rainfall could reach up to 15 litres per square metre per hour over the same time period, mainly affecting inland areas.
These warnings follow a Friday marked by cloudy intervals and overcast skies during the central hours of the day. AEMET has already reported strong and localised showers in both La Palma and El Hierro. The arrival of the DANA is expected to significantly increase the likelihood of rain precipitation over the weekend.
Saturday’s weather:
Saturday's forecast suggests cloudy intervals will dominate, especially in the southern slopes of most islands during the morning, with clearer skies expected over the eastern parts of the central islands. From midday onwards, rainfall is anticipated to affect Tenerife and the western islands in particular, with a chance of strong thunderstorms in the afternoon and later in the evening.
Temperatures across the archipelago will remain relatively stable, though a slight increase is expected in maximum temperatures, particularly on the northern and eastern slopes and in the mid-altitudes of the central islands. In Santa Cruz de Tenerife (western islands), temperatures are expected to range between 17°C and 22°C, while in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (eastern islands), they are forecast to hover between 17°C and 23°C.
Winds will vary across the region. In the easternmost islands, they will blow from the west, while in Gran Canaria, a south-westerly wind is expected. The western province will experience southerly winds shifting to south-westerly later in the day.
