The Canary Islands are preparing to face a new spell of unstable weather this week, with the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) issuing yellow and orange alerts for several islands as Storm Olivier approaches the archipelago from the west.
From Wednesday onwards, heavy rain, thunderstorms, and strong winds are expected to affect all of the islands, with the potential for these warnings to be extended into Thursday.
TENERIFE:
Tenerife will be under a yellow rain alert from midnight until 9:00am on Wednesday in the north of the island, where rainfall may reach 20 millimetres in an hour. Later that day, an orange alert will be in effect from 6:00pm to 11:59pm, covering the north, metropolitan area, and the eastern, southern and western slopes, where rainfall could accumulate up to 30 millimetres per hour.
A yellow alert for thunderstorms will also be in place during that same period across much of the island, as well as a yellow warning for strong winds in the east, south and west, with gusts reaching up to 70 km/h, and potentially very strong gusts from the southwest.
GRAN CANARIA:
Gran Canaria will also see unsettled conditions, with a yellow alert for rain from midnight until 9:00am on Wednesday affecting the north, highlands, and eastern, southern and western slopes, where up to 15 millimetres of rain is expected an hour.
LANZAROTE:
Lanzarote will experience unsettled conditions earlier in the day, with yellow alerts for both heavy rain and thunderstorms from 6:00am to 3:00pm on Wednesday. Rainfall may reach 15 millimetres in an hour.
FUERTEVENTURA:
Fuerteventura faces the same timing and severity of alerts as Lanzarote, with yellow warnings for both rain and thunderstorms from 6:00am to 3:00pm across the island, where up to 15 millimetres of rain may fall in an hour.
LA PALMA:
La Palma faces one of the more serious forecasts, with an orange alert for intense rainfall between 3:00pm and 11:59pm on Wednesday, particularly in the north, east and west of the island, where hourly rainfall could reach 30 millimetres. A yellow alert will also be active during this time for up to 80 millimetres of rainfall over a 12-hour period.
The island will additionally be under a yellow storm warning from 6:00pm to midnight, and a yellow wind alert from 3:00pm to 9:00pm in the highlands, with gusts up to 70 km/h from the southwest.
LA GOMERA:
La Gomera will be placed under an orange rain alert from 6:00pm to 11:59pm on Wednesday, affecting the entire island, with rainfall rates of up to 30 millimetres per hour. The island will also see yellow warnings for thunderstorms and wind during the same time frame.
EL HIERRO:
El Hierro shares a similar forecast, with an orange rain alert active from 6:00pm to 11:59pm across the whole island. A yellow alert for storms will run earlier, from 3:00pm to 9:00pm, and the island will also face strong wind gusts under a yellow alert between 6:00pm to 11:59pm.
The approaching Atlantic low will bring a continuation of the wet and stormy conditions experienced last week. AEMET has advised residents and visitors to remain alert for further updates and to follow safety advice, particularly in areas prone to flooding, landslides or strong winds.
