The Canary Islands Government has officially lifted the maximum alert for severe winds in the northern and western regions of Tenerife, and the islands of El Hierro, La Gomera.
This decision follows a meeting of the technical evaluation committee held earlier today, as confirmed during the Council of Government session.
While the maximum alert status is being deactivated, pre-alert conditions remain in place due to moderate southeast winds, which are expected to occasionally reach locally strong levels in Lanzarote and Fuerteventura where gusts could exceed 60-80 km/h.
Calima and Coastal Warnings
The Regional Minister for Territorial Policy, Cohesion, and Water, Manuel Miranda, also warned of an approaching episode of calima expected to impact the southern regions of the Canary Islands from midnight.
The calima is predicted to vary in intensity, occasionally becoming dense, with visibility reduced to less than 3,000 metres. This could aggravate health conditions, particularly for individuals with chronic or respiratory issues.
Regarding maritime conditions, the alert for coastal phenomena is set to be downgraded to pre-alert aswell. Forecasts indicate southeast to east winds of force 5, with intervals of force 6, resulting in moderate seas and areas of heavy swells. The swell is expected to range between 1 to 2.5 metres, accompanied by spring tides.
Pre-alert conditions for wildfire risk will also remain in place for Gran Canaria as well as Tenerife and the western islands.
Wind Speeds and Related Incidents
Maximum wind gusts were recorded at 139 km/h in Arure (La Gomera) and 132 km/h in Frontera (El Hierro) on Sunday. On Monday, Arure saw gusts of 129 km/h, Agulo registered 128 km/h, and Pico Malpaso in El Hierro experienced gusts of 117 km/h.
Reported incidents largely involved dislodged tree branches, palm tree branches, traffic signs, Christmas decorations, fences, and lamp posts. Rural roads were also affected by landslides and falling rocks, while several boats faced difficulties along the coasts of the western islands.
Despite the easing of the alert status, the public are advised to remain cautious, particularly in areas still under pre-alerts, and to prepare for potential disruptions caused by the anticipated calima and continued strong winds.
