The Government of the Canary Islands has issued a new early warning for severe weather, based on the latest forecast from the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET). This alert came into effect on Wednesday, 23 July, and applies to all islands in the archipelago except Fuerteventura.
According to AEMET, wind gusts could reach up to 80 km/h in affected areas. With this development, the Canary Islands join 12 other Spanish provinces that will be under various weather alerts on Wednesday, including warnings for high temperatures, rainfall, storms, strong winds, and rissagas (a type of meteotsunami involving sudden sea level changes).
National Overview: Orange and Yellow Alerts Across Spain
The following areas are under orange-level alert (signifying significant risk) due to expected heavy rainfall and storms:
- Castellón (Valencian Community)
- Barcelona, Girona and Tarragona (Catalonia)
Additionally, several provinces will remain on yellow-level alert, including:
- Lérida (Catalonia)
- Pirineo Navarro (Navarre)
- Huesca, Teruel and Zaragoza (Aragon)
In Murcia (Vega del Segura) and Albacete (Castile-La Mancha), alerts have been issued for excessive heat, while Menorca (Balearic Islands) is under observation for rissagas, with sea level oscillations reaching up to 0.7 metres.
In the Canary Islands, alerts specifically cover Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro, and Tenerife, where wind gusts may reach 80 km/h.
Forecast: Atlantic Weather Front to Bring Instability
AEMET anticipates that an Atlantic low-pressure system will approach on Wednesday, introducing increased atmospheric instability particularly in the northern and north-eastern regions of mainland Spain. The far north and north-east are expected to experience mainly overcast skies, with frequent rainfall and thunderstorms—in some cases accompanied by hail and locally intense downpours.
Heavy rain is especially likely in:
- Catalonia
- The Pyrenees
- Northern areas of the Valencian Community
- Eastern edge of the Iberian mountain system
Scattered light showers are also possible in northern Galicia and the Cantabrian coast, with isolated precipitation across parts of the north-east and far eastern mainland.
Other Weather Conditions Across Spain
- The southern half of the peninsula is expected to remain largely clear, while the rest of the mainland and the Balearic Islands will see intermittent medium to high clouds.
- In the Canary Islands, cloudy skies are forecast for the north, potentially with light rain, while clear to partly cloudy conditions will prevail in the south.
- Morning fog may form in the far north and inland areas of the eastern peninsula, along with coastal fog in the northern Alborán Sea.
- Light haze is also likely in Alborán, the south-east mainland, and the Balearic Islands.
Temperature Outlook
- Maximum temperatures are expected to rise in the Mediterranean regions, remain stable in the Canary Islands, and fall in most other parts of the country, particularly across the northern half, where the drop may be notable.
- In some areas, particularly in the Guadalquivir Valley and south-eastern inland regions, temperatures could exceed 36ºC.
- Minimum temperatures will see a slight increase, staying above 20–22ºC in the Mediterranean basin and the Guadalquivir Valley.
Wind Conditions
- Light winds are expected overall. Winds will be from the east in the Balearic Islands and the far east of the peninsula, and from the north and west in other parts.
- Moderate winds are forecast for the Strait of Gibraltar, the Cantabrian coast, and the Atlantic seaboard, with strong gusts possible in Galicia and expected to intensify in the northern half of the mainland.
- In the Canary Islands, strong trade winds are forecast, with a risk of very strong gusts in certain areas.
This comprehensive alert comes as part of the government’s ongoing efforts to safeguard citizens amid increasingly unstable weather conditions across the Spanish territory. Residents and visitors are urged to follow updates and heed safety advisories issued by regional authorities and AEMET.
