The Las Palmas de Gran Canaria City Council has announced the suspension of several Carnival events scheduled for today, Sunday 2nd March, due to a pre-alert issued by the Government of the Canary Islands for widespread and heavy rainfall across the archipelago.
The affected events include the children's choreographic festival and the body makeup competition.
The children's choreographic festival has been rescheduled for next Sunday, 9th March, and a new date for the body makeup competition will be announced in due course.
The adverse weather has also impacted the Gáldar Carnival, where Puerto Rican singer Tito El Bambino's concert, initially planned for last night was postponed due to persistent rain.
The Canary Islands Government brought forward the pre-alert for rain from midday on Sunday to 3:00am, following an updated forecast from the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET). The forecast indicates a potential change in wind direction to north-northeast, which could accelerate rainfall over Tenerife, the western islands, and Gran Canaria.
The expected rainfall ranges from light to moderate, with occasional strong downpours. The heaviest rainfall is predicted for the western islands overnight from Saturday to Sunday, continuing through the afternoon on Sunday and into Monday. In Gran Canaria, the most intense rainfall is anticipated during the midday hours on both Sunday and Monday.
The unstable weather is forecast to persist until Monday, with a chance of extending to Wednesday, coinciding with numerous Carnival and other festive events across the island.
Self-Protection Measures
The Government urges residents and visitors to adopt precautionary measures during this period of meteorological instability, particularly when attending Carnival events. Driving during heavy rain should be avoided if possible, and those who must travel should take extra care, maintain a safe distance between vehicles, reduce speed, and use main roads where feasible, avoiding secondary and forest roads.
Before setting out, it is crucial to check the weather forecast and road conditions, respect road closures, and follow the guidance of security authorities.
