canary islands

Garoé squall puts Canary Islands on alert: Aemet forecast

The Garoé squall brings rain, strong winds, and high waves to the Canary Islands, prompting alerts for coastal and mountainous areas.

The Canary Islands are set to experience significant weather changes this Tuesday due to the arrival of the Garoé squall. According to the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet), this weather system will bring cloudy skies and weak to moderate rainfall to the islands with greater relief. However, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura are expected to remain dry, with a slight increase in temperatures, particularly in the minimums.


Instability and Coastal Warnings

Aemet forecasts a day marked by atmospheric instability, including intervals of strong winds and high waves across the archipelago. Yellow warnings for coastal phenomena have been issued for all islands: Tenerife, Gran Canaria, La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro, Lanzarote, and Fuerteventura. Additionally, La Palma is under a wind alert, with gusts of up to 70 km/h expected in areas such as El Paso.

Garoé squall puts Canary Islands on alert: Aemet forecast

At sea, southwest winds are expected to reach force 4 to 5, and locally force 6 in the northwest and southeast of the archipelago. The current northwest swell, with wave heights of 2 to 3 metres, is predicted to intensify, reaching up to 5 metres by early Wednesday morning, particularly impacting northern and western coastal areas.

Rainfall Distribution and Temperature Changes

The Garoé squall is set to bring rain primarily to the western islands. La Palma is likely to experience the heaviest rainfall, particularly on its western slopes. In Tenerife and La Gomera, rain is expected during the first half of the day, while El Hierro could see persistent showers in its higher-altitude areas.

Temperatures will generally rise across the islands, except on the high peaks of Tenerife and La Palma, where moderate decreases and the possibility of weak frosts are expected. Residents are advised to exercise caution in exposed and mountainous areas.

Pre-Alert Declared by the Government

Garoé squall puts Canary Islands on alert: Aemet forecast

The Government of the Canary Islands, through the Directorate General of Emergencies, has declared a pre-alert status for wind and coastal phenomena, effective from midnight on Tuesday, 21 January.

Wind Alerts

The wind pre-alert applies to the midlands and peaks of the following areas:

  • La Palma: Northwest slopes and peaks.
  • Tenerife: Vilaflor, Teno Massif, high areas of Granadilla de Abona and Arico, as well as Teide National Park.
  • Other Islands: Strong gusts are expected, particularly around Teide, where winds could exceed 90 km/h.

Coastal Phenomena Alerts

Garoé squall puts Canary Islands on alert: Aemet forecast

The pre-alert for coastal phenomena came into effect at 03:00. This warning applies to all islands, with the most significant impact expected on:

  • Northern and western coasts of La Palma, El Hierro, and La Gomera.
  • Northern coasts of Tenerife and Gran Canaria.
  • Western and northern shores of Fuerteventura and Lanzarote.

The combination of strong winds, high waves, and unstable weather conditions calls for heightened caution, especially in coastal areas and the peaks of the most mountainous islands. The authorities urge residents and visitors to stay informed and avoid unnecessary risks during this period of heightened weather activity.


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