The strong winds brought by squall Dorothea have led to various incidents across the Canary Islands, particularly during the night, with the islands of El Hierro, La Gomera, and Tenerife being the most affected. Fortunately, none of these incidents have been severe, and most have already been resolved, as confirmed by the Emergency Coordination Centre 112.
Alerts in Place Across the Archipelago
Emergency services remain on high alert due to the maximum wind warning in effect for El Hierro, La Gomera, and the northern and western regions of Tenerife. Meanwhile, the rest of Tenerife and La Palma are under a general alert, and a pre-alert status has been issued for Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, and Fuerteventura. Additionally, the entire Canary Islands archipelago is under alert for coastal phenomena, with Gran Canaria also facing a pre-alert for potential forest fire risks due to the dry conditions.
The State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) has issued an orange alert for Sunday, forecasting wind speeds of up to 100 km/h for Tenerife, La Gomera, El Hierro, and the western part of La Palma. A yellow warning is in place for Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, and Lanzarote. By Monday, the warning levels are expected to decrease, with the west of La Palma downgraded to a yellow warning and the orange alert restricted to Tenerife, La Gomera, and El Hierro.
Strong Gusts and Rising Temperatures
According to Aemet records, wind gusts peaked at 105 km/h on Saturday in Sabinosa, El Hierro, and reached 90 km/h in Arure, La Gomera. Several other areas experienced gusts exceeding 75 km/h, including Vallehermoso (La Gomera), Puntagorda (La Palma), La Victoria (Tenerife), Agulo (La Gomera), Valverde (El Hierro), and La Dehesa (El Hierro).
The squall has also caused an unusual rise in temperatures. On Saturday, the highest temperature recorded in Spain was 28.2°C in Sabinosa, El Hierro. By Sunday, Tazacorte in La Palma had already exceeded 27°C.
Thunderstorm Activity
Saturday also saw intense thunderstorm activity, with over 5,000 lightning strikes recorded around the Canary Islands. The period between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. registered the highest activity levels.
Reported Incidents and Damage
The Emergency Coordination Centre has reported several incidents across the islands. In Valle Gran Rey, La Gomera, a man sustained bruises after being struck by a falling awning. In El Hierro, power outages were reported in Valverde and Frontera, with service restored by 4 a.m. Landslides temporarily blocked the HI-551 road but have since been cleared.
In Tenerife, fallen branches and traffic signs caused disruptions. Specific incidents included:
- Tacoronte: Branches fell onto roads.
- María Jiménez (Santa Cruz): Traffic signs were dislodged.
- Arico: Damage to electrical wiring was reported.
- La Laguna: Fences were dislodged, and branches fell onto roads.
- San Miguel: Landslides occurred on the TF-28.
- La Orotava: Minor landslides were reported on local roads.
All affected areas in Tenerife have since been cleared, and normal traffic flow has resumed.
Precautionary Measures
Authorities continue to urge residents and visitors to exercise extreme caution, particularly in areas under active alerts. The combination of strong winds, elevated temperatures, and the risk of coastal phenomena demands heightened awareness and adherence to safety guidelines.
