Storm Francis Triggers Archipelago-Wide Alerts
The Canary Islands Government has declared a situation of alert for heavy rain, strong winds, and rough seas from the early hours of New Year’s Day, as adverse weather from Storm Francis is forecast to sweep across the archipelago. The General Directorate of Emergencies has issued the warning, anticipating that a weather front will move from west to east starting on 1st January.
Rain Forecast and Affected Areas
The rainfall will first affect La Palma (particularly the eastern and western slopes, including the Barranco de Las Angustias) and El Hierro before midday. It is then expected to reach La Gomera (especially the southwest) and Tenerife (primarily the west and south) from around 12:00. The rain will extend to the west and south of Gran Canaria in the afternoon, reaching Fuerteventura and Lanzarote by nightfall.
The government details that the front will bring unevenly distributed rainfall, with a significant impact on highly vulnerable areas. The rain could be heavy and persistent in some locations, lasting for a minimum of 12 hours. Locally heavy and potentially thundery showers are likely in the western islands and parts of western and southern Gran Canaria. Some thundery showers are also not ruled out for Fuerteventura and Lanzarote in the early hours of Friday morning. The rest of the autonomous community remains on a preliminary alert.
Strong Winds and Coastal Warnings
A separate wind alert has been declared from 03:00 on 1st January for high-altitude areas and summits on La Palma and Tenerife, with the rest of the Canaries on preliminary alert. A moderate southwesterly wind is expected, increasing to strong or with strong intervals in mid-altitude regions, high areas, and summits of the western islands and Gran Canaria. Gusts locally reaching very strong levels are forecast for La Palma and Tenerife (≥ 90 km/h on Tenerife’s peaks) throughout 1st January.
Furthermore, an alert for coastal phenomena has been declared from 02:00 on 1st January for the north, west, and southwest coasts of El Hierro; the north, west, and south of La Palma; the west and southwest of La Gomera; and the north and west of the remaining islands. This is due to an expected southwesterly force 7 wind, with a combined sea swell of between 2.5 and 3 metres on 1st January, increasing to 4 metres or more from 2nd January.
Sea State to Deteriorate Over Weekend
The government emphasises that sea conditions are likely to worsen over the weekend, noting that 3rd January will bring a full moon and spring tides.
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