A state of ‘pre-alert’ has been declared by the Canary Islands’ government today due to the dangerous sea conditions and the public has been urged to not take any risks at sea
Holidaymakers in the Canary Islands have been put on high alert over treacherous sea conditions.
The local government has issued a ‘pre-alert’ status through the Directorate General of Emergencies, as part of their Specific Emergency Plan for Risk of Adverse Weather Phenomena (PEFMA), effective from 7am on Thursday. The move comes after Spain’s meteorological agency AEMET flagged yellow warnings for potent coastal winds across Tenerife and Gran Canaria, set to last until midnight. Wind speeds are predicted to range between 29 to 49 kph, with certain areas potentially experiencing gusts up to 61 kph.
Europa Press, a regional news outlet, warns that these winds will stir up turbulent seas. “This situation will generate strong swells, increasing to rough seas on the high seas between the islands and a groundswell from the north and northeast with waves that can reach two meters in height,” they reported.
“Waves will be generated on the north and west coast of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, as well as in the north of the rest of the islands, with waves that could reach a height of up to four metres.”
In response to these hazardous conditions, the Guide to Canary Islands notes that the government is advising both locals and tourists to heed its safety campaign, “Don’t Take Chances At Sea.”, reports the Manchester Evening News. The authorities have issued a warning, advising people to “postpone any nautical or sporting activities and avoid swimming in remote or unmonitored beaches”. Members of the public are also being told to steer clear of piers and areas where they could be hit or swept away by powerful waves.
Additionally, red flag beaches are “strictly off-limits for swimming”, and people are urged to follow the instructions of lifeguards and emergency personnel.
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The Canary Islands far from the only holiday hotspots hit by bad weather this week. On Monday several islands in Greece hunkered down as a severe bout of rough weather hammered large parts of the country. On Monday morning and afternoon storm clouds gathered over major tourist spots in western Greece, including the the Ionian islands and and western Peloponnese. Come the evening great howling winds and buckets of rain were dumped on the usually warm islands and coastline, known for being surrounded by placid seas.
