The passage of Storm Caetano, the third major weather system of the season, has placed 14 autonomous communities under weather warnings this Thursday. Five of these communities face orange-level alerts for significant risks due to strong winds and intense maritime storms. In the Canary Islands, Gran Canaria, La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro, and Tenerife are under a yellow-level warning for the risk of storms, especially affecting the summits.
AEMET Calls for Precautions
The State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) has urged extreme caution through its social media channels, particularly in coastal areas with waves reaching 5 metres and in regions where objects may fall due to high winds. The agency has emphasized the need for vigilance to avoid accidents caused by flying debris and unstable structures.
Regions Under ‘Orange’ Alert
- Cantabrian Coast (Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, and the Basque Country):
- Strong winds up to 75 km/h.
- Waves reaching 4 to 5 metres.
- Valencian Community:
- Gusts of wind up to 90 km/h in the interior regions of Alicante and southern Valencia.
Regions Under ‘Yellow’ Alert
Thirteen autonomous communities are under yellow-level warnings for strong winds, heavy rain, or rough seas:
- Wind Warnings: Andalusia, Aragon, Balearic Islands, Castile and Leon, Castile-La Mancha, Catalonia, Galicia, Murcia, and La Rioja.
- Gusts of wind may reach up to 80 km/h in many areas.
- Rough Seas: Andalusia, Balearic Islands, Catalonia.
- Waves up to 3 metres high and wind gusts of 70 km/h are expected.
- Heavy Rain: Asturias and Galicia.
- Rainfall may reach 40 litres per square metre.
- Snowfall: Asturias.
- Snow is forecast above 1,100 metres.
- Canary Islands: Gran Canaria, La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro, and Tenerife.
- Risk of storms and heavy showers, mainly in mountainous areas.
Wind and Rainfall Observations
On Wednesday, wind gusts reached 124 km/h in Matxitxako (Bizkaia) and 96 km/h in Coriscao (Cantabria), highlighting the intensity of the storm as it swept across northern Spain.
General Weather Forecast
- Strong Winds:
- Galician, Cantabrian, and Mediterranean coasts: Very strong gusts are expected.
- Inland areas: Particularly in the northeastern half, strong winds will affect the north of Galicia, the Cantabrian zone, the Iberian region, and Mallorca.
- Skies:
- Predominantly cloudy or overcast skies in the north of the peninsula and the Atlantic slope.
- Intervals of medium and high clouds in the Mediterranean regions.
Impact on the Canary Islands
The Canary Islands face yellow warnings for storms and heavy rainfall, particularly in high-altitude areas. Gran Canaria, La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro, and Tenerife are expected to experience significant weather impacts. The warning underscores the need for preparedness and caution as the squall brings instability to the region.
Residents across the affected regions are urged to stay informed of the latest updates and take necessary precautions to ensure safety during this period of severe weather.
