The government of the Canary Islands has declared a pre-alert situation due to anticipated strong winds across the archipelago, effective from 6:00 AM on January 3rd. This decision, issued by the General Directorate of Emergencies, follows assessments from the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) and other reliable sources, and is part of the Specific Emergency Plan of the Canary Islands for Risks from Adverse Meteorological Phenomena (PEFMA).
According to the forecasts, winds are expected to come from the southeast at average speeds ranging between 20 and 40 km/h. Localized gusts could be significantly stronger, potentially exceeding 50 to 70 km/h, particularly in downwind areas where acceleration effects are more pronounced.
The islands with the highest projected impact include:
- El Hierro: High areas such as El Pinar and the municipalities of La Frontera and Valverde.
- La Palma: Affected municipalities include Tazacorte, Fuencaliente, Santa Cruz de La Palma, and Puntallana, along with coastal and low-medial areas such as Puntagorda, Tijarafe, Los Llanos de Aridane, Villa de Mazo, Breña Baja, Breña Alta, and San Andrés y Sauces.
- La Gomera: Key areas include Valle Gran Rey, Vallehermoso, Agulo, Hermigua, and San Sebastián de La Gomera.
Authorities urge residents to take self-protection measures as advised. This includes securing objects outside which could be swept away by wind, avoiding high-risk areas, and staying up to date through official channels. Emergency services will be closely monitoring weather conditions and will reassess the alert level based on any developments.
The anticipated weather is expected to bring not only strong winds but also cloudy skies across the region. Light rain showers may occur, particularly during the morning hours primarily on the eastern islands and on inland areas moving toward the afternoon.
Weather specifics include:
- Lanzarote: Cloudy intervals with high cloud cover, with no significant temperature changes expected. The winds will be light from the east, creating calm conditions.
- Fuerteventura: Similar conditions to Lanzarote with cloudy skies at the start of the day, turning slightly cloudy by the afternoon. Temperatures are forecast to be stable around 15 degrees Celsius minimum and 21 degrees maximum.
- Gran Canaria: Morning clouds will give way to potentially stronger clouds by midday due to daily developments. Showers will mostly be weak and scattered mainly on the eastern and interior areas, with maximum temperatures reaching around 22 degrees Celsius.
- Tenerife: The day will begin with mostly cloudy skies but may clear toward the end of the day, with occasional rain expected focused mainly on the east during the earlier hours.
- La Gomera: Cloudiness will prevail throughout the day with light rain likely, particularly inland. Winds will be moderate from the southeast, intensifying during the central day hours.
- El Hierro: Predominantly cloudy, with only slight chances of light rain expected during the central hours.
This upcoming weather system highlights the need for precautionary measures across the Canarias, particularly in high-risk zones. Authorities have also emphasized the importance of community cooperation and responsiveness during this time to mitigate the risks associated with adverse weather phenomena.