Storm Nuria, which began to move away from the Canary Islands late Thursday evening, left behind a trail of damage and disruption, particularly in the western islands and Gran Canaria. The storm, previously forecast by the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) to bring hurricane-force winds, delivered on those predictions with recorded gusts reaching:
- 124 km/h in Teide National Park (Tenerife)
- 119 km/h in Vallehermoso (La Gomera)
- 114 km/h in San Andrés (El Hierro) and Mazo (La Palma)
- 101 km/h in Sabinosa (El Hierro)
- 96 km/h at La Palma Airport
Hundreds of Incidents Reported
The strong winds resulted in hundreds of emergency calls across all islands. The main incidents involved:
- Falling signs, structures, and tree branches
- Landslides and falling rocks
- Collapsed walls
- Power outages across multiple areas
One particularly striking image shared widely on social media was the collapse of an electrical tower in Gáldar (Gran Canaria).
By 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, the emergency service 112 had received 290 calls from across the archipelago.
Two people were injured as a result of the storm:
- A 72-year-old man in Puerto de la Cruz was struck in the leg by a piece of iron
- Another man in Agaete (Gran Canaria) sustained minor injuries from shattered glass at a bus stop
Education Resumes as Alert Levels Drop
Thanks to a notable improvement in weather conditions, and with no active alerts from AEMET for Friday, the regional Ministry of Education confirmed that classes will resume today in schools, colleges, and universities throughout the Canary Islands.
The University of La Laguna also announced the return to normal academic operations after the General Directorate of Emergencies ended the high alert for wind and coastal conditions at 11:00 p.m. Thursday.
Rainfall Totals Across the Archipelago
In addition to the winds, heavy rainfall was recorded in several locations:
- Cruz de Tea (Granadilla de Abona): 88 litres/m²
- Vilaflor de Chasna: 60 litres/m²
- Roque de los Muchachos: 44 litres/m²
- La Palma Airport: 28 litres/m²
- Las Cañadas del Teide, El Pinar (El Hierro), and San Bartolomé de Tirajana (Gran Canaria): 22 litres/m²
Flight Cancellations and Maritime Disruption
The storm caused severe disruption to air travel, with 45 flights cancelled and three diversions, according to Aena:
- 36 flights affected in La Palma
- 7 in El Hierro
- 2 in La Gomera
- 3 flights diverted to Fuerteventura and Tenerife
Sea conditions also deteriorated sharply, with waves reaching 5 metres. In Tenerife, this led to the evacuation and closure of beaches including:
- La Nea (El Rosario)
- El Bollullo (La Orotava)
- Las Teresitas (Santa Cruz de Tenerife)
Weather Outlook
Today, weather conditions are expected to stabilise. AEMET forecasts only a low chance of weak and scattered showers in the north and west of Tenerife and La Palma, with light to moderate winds.
However, this calm may be short-lived, as new storm systems are forecast to reach the region next week, suggesting a temporary reprieve from the turbulent weather. Residents are advised to stay informed and prepared for further updates.
