The Canary Islands are on alert for the arrival of Storm Nuria, with amber weather warnings in place for winds of up to 110kph with the storm due to hit the archipelago tomorrow
Storm Nuria is set to unleash winds of up to 110kph on the Canary Islands, with amber weather warnings in place for “heavy rainfall and very strong winds”.
The storm is expected to hit tomorrow, Thursday, April 3, with La Palma, El Hierro, La Gomera and Tenerife predicted to bear the brunt of the weather front. Amber warnings have been issued for these western islands, forecasting gusts of up to 110kph. These wind speeds could also be reached in areas of Tenerife and Gran Canaria.
The Canary Islands Government’s General Directorate of Emergencies has declared a maximum wind alert for the islands of Tenerife and La Palma.
Spain’s national weather agency, Aemet, announced the impending storm on social media site X, stating: “Thursday will bring strong gusts of wind and heavy rainfall in the Canary Islands.” It added that the storm would affect the Peninsula from Thursday night, particularly the western part, bringing “it will affect the Peninsula starting Thursday night, especially the western part of the peninsula, also with very strong winds and precipitation”.
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Yellow warnings for winds of up to 70kph have been issued for Fuerteventura and Lanzarote, as well as parts of Gran Canaria and Tenerife. Coastal warnings for force seven winds are also in effect for the western islands, with Aemet even warning of ‘hurricane-force winds’ at Mount Teide, reports the Manchester Evening News.
The Ministry of Education has decided to suspend in-person classes on the islands of Tenerife, La Palma, and La Graciosa this Thursday.
Aemet has forecasted that Thursday will see a mix of cloudy periods initially, with a cloudy band moving from west to east across the archipelago, turning skies from cloudy to overcast. This is particularly expected on the northern and western slopes of the westernmost islands, where light to moderate rain, locally persistent, is likely to fall.
“Heavy rain could occur in the west and on the peaks of La Palma, La Gomera, and El Hierro. Elsewhere, light, scattered, and occasional rain is possible. Minimum temperatures will show little change or will drop slightly. Maximum temperatures will generally rise, especially in Tenerife. Moderate westerly winds will increase at all levels, with strong intervals in exposed areas, and very strong gusts on summits in the eastward-facing mid-mountains. Occasional gusts of hurricane-force winds may also be possible on Mount Teide,” Aemet added.
In some places, an emergency alert has also been put in place by the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria City Council, according to canariasahora. Given the strong winds, the General Directorate of Security and Emergencies of the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria City Council has also advised residents, in order to prevent damage, to close doors and windows to prevent drafts that could lead to glass breakage or falling and to remove flower pots and all other objects that could fall into the street from balconies and rooftops.
As Storm Nuria makes its approach just before the Easter Holidays, many Brits planning to jet off to the Canaries this weekend might face some turbulent weather. However, the outlook for Friday is more promising, with no warnings currently in place.
Aemet further mentioned: “Generally cloudy, increasing on the eastern and northeastern slopes of the mountainous islands during the afternoon, to cloudy with occasional showers. Light, scattered rain is not ruled out in the remaining areas and islands. Temperatures will remain unchanged or rise slightly. Light westerly winds will be moderate in the midlands and strong in the peaks of Tenerife and La Palma, easing at midday.”