Storm Nuria is already hitting the Canary Islands, which have been on orange alert for strong winds and rainfall since Wednesday. A red alert is now in force for Tenerife and La Palma
A red weather alert has been issued for the Canary Islands as a ferocious storm approaches the holiday hotspot.
Storm Nuria is already hitting the Canary Islands, which have been on orange alert for strong winds and rainfall since Wednesday. As of the early hours of this morning Tenerife and La Palma have been on red alert, starting as the intensity of the winds and rains increases.
Thursday will be the worst day in the archipelago, according to El Tiempo. Rain will be widespread across the islands, with rainfall hammering down on the typically dry and sunny islands. The biggest threat will be the winds, which are likely to reach hurricane force.
“The danger is extraordinary. Extreme caution!” warned Spain’s national weather forecaster Aemet, putting the likelihood of hurricane force winds at 70%. In response to the dangerous weather, the Department of Education has decided to suspend in-person school activities this Thursday in Tenerife, La Palma and La Graciosa.
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“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 announced yesterday.
As Storm Nuria moves from the west to southwest throughout today, the wind wil generate gusts of 130 kph on Tenerife and La Palma. Winds could reach hurricane-force speeds in the Tenerife mountains, with warnings for storm surges and waves of four or five meters are also in effect for all islands. Yellow and orange warnings are in effect for the rest of the islands due to gusts exceeding 70-100 kph.
The Canaries are not the only holiday hotspots impacted by the bad weather. Yesterday the Foreign Office updated its travel advice for Greece, as holiday-goers are being made aware of extreme weather conditions. Taking to X, the official Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office account (@FCDOtravelGovUK) uploaded a warning on Wednesday as severe flooding has been reported on various Greek islands.
Devastating storms have triggered flooding in the Greek tourist islands of Mykonos and Paros, transforming roads into waterways and carrying off vehicles. Crete experienced the worst of the heavy rainfall on Tuesday, the second day of severe weather.
This intense downpour came after Monday’s storms, which wreaked havoc on the tourist islands of Paros and Mykonos. Authorities were left racing to remove debris and overturned vehicles in the wake of hailstorms and heavy rains. In Paros, the powerful storms pushed cars into the sea and flooded homes and businesses with water and mud.