The Canary Islands Government has declared a state of maximum Red Alert for wind on the islands of Tenerife and La Palma, effective from midnight tonight, i.e. 12.00am on Thursday 3rd April, in response to the imminent arrival of Storm Nuria into the archipelago.
The decision, announced by the Directorate General for Emergencies, is based on forecasts from the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) and other relevant sources, and is being implemented under the Canary Islands’ Specific Emergency Plan for Adverse Meteorological Phenomena (PEFMA).
In addition to the maximum alert for Tenerife and La Palma, a general alert for strong winds has also been declared across the rest of the archipelago, including El Hierro, La Gomera, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, and Lanzarote.
According to AEMET's forecast, strong west and south-westerly winds will sweep the islands, intensifying after sunrise tomorrow before easing later in the afternoon. Average wind speeds are expected to range from 40 to 60 kilometres per hour, with localised areas experiencing speeds of 60 to 70 km/h.
However, the most severe conditions are predicted for La Palma and Tenerife, where hurricane-force gusts of 110 to 130 km/h, or even stronger, are anticipated, particularly in high-altitude zones such as the summits of La Palma, its eastern region, Teide National Park, and the elevated areas of northwestern and southeastern Tenerife where the south airport is.
Elsewhere in the archipelago, very strong wind gusts ranging from 70 to 100 km/h are likely to impact El Hierro, La Gomera, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, and Lanzarote.
The Directorate General for Emergencies has also issued a coastal alert for the entire Canary Islands, also beginning at midnight. This warning comes in light of expected westerly and south-westerly winds reaching force 7 (50–61 km/h), and occasionally force 8 (62–74 km/h), especially in open waters between the larger islands and along the northwestern and southeastern coasts.
Rough to very rough sea conditions are expected, with a northwesterly swell producing waves between 3 and 4 metres. Combined sea waves of 4 to 5 metres are forecast along the northern and western shores of La Palma, El Hierro, Fuerteventura, and Lanzarote, with the remainder of the archipelago’s coastline likely to see combined wave heights exceeding 2.5 metres.
The authorities are urging residents and visitors to exercise extreme caution, particularly in mountainous and coastal areas, as the region prepares for what AEMET has described as an “extraordinary danger” posed by Storm Nuria.
