After days of intense weather brought on by Storm Nuria, the Canary Islands are finally seeing calmer skies. All weather alerts issued by Spain’s national meteorological agency AEMET and the regional government were lifted this morning, Friday, with only a wind pre-alert still in place for the entire archipelago.
However, this reprieve may be short-lived. The European weather model (ECMWF) is already predicting the formation of a new Atlantic storm that could reach the islands by the middle of next week.
Though forecasts may still change, early projections suggest heavier rainfall than that caused by Nuria, strong south-westerly winds, and even snow in the highlands of Tenerife.
The storm system is expected to arrive around Wednesday, with the heaviest rainfall likely to fall on Thursday. All islands may be affected, but Tenerife, the western islands, and Gran Canaria are projected to bear the brunt of the bad weather.
WEEKEND FORECAST: A CALM INTERLUDE
Saturday:
In Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, skies will remain mostly clear, becoming cloudier inland and on the eastern slopes during midday hours. A few light showers are not ruled out. The remaining islands will see variable cloud cover, with a low chance of light, and occasional rain, more likely in eastern and northeastern Tenerife. Temperatures will remain steady, with light westerly winds, becoming moderate in the north and south. Strong westerly winds are forecast for the high peaks of Tenerife.
Sunday:
Expect mostly clear skies early on, becoming cloudier inland and on eastern coasts by the afternoon. Light and scattered rain may fall in mountainous areas and on eastern slopes of the more elevated islands. Temperatures will remain stable or slightly increase. Winds will be light from the west, although still strong at high elevations in Tenerife, easing as the day progresses.
Monday:
Cloudier conditions are expected in Tenerife and the western islands, while Gran Canaria and the eastern islands will see mainly clear skies. Temperatures will remain steady or rise slightly, with light winds and localised breezes dominating.
Tuesday:
Cloudy weather is forecast in the western islands with weak to locally moderate rain, especially overnight and during the morning. The eastern islands will enjoy clearer skies. Minimum temperatures will remain unchanged, while daytime highs could rise slightly in the east and fall marginally in the west. Winds will be light to moderate from the west, with strong south-westerly gusts expected at high altitudes in Tenerife.
Looking Ahead:
While this weekend offers a brief return to normality, the latest data from European forecasting models point to another turbulent episode next week. With Storm Nuria barely out of sight, the islands must prepare once again for potentially severe weather as the Atlantic season shows no signs of letting up.
