Although some of the most severe weather warnings linked to Storm Emilia have now been lifted, the Canary Islands Government continues to urge caution. Several alerts remain in force, and in some cases new advisories have been activated due to the secondary effects of the storm.
The Directorate-General for Emergencies has withdrawn the alerts for strong winds, risk of flooding and snowfall across the archipelago, as the conditions that justified those warnings have now eased. The wind alert was officially deactivated at 2 p.m. on Sunday after the gusts associated with Emilia subsided.
Similarly, the episode of sleet, snow and graupel affecting the peaks of Tenerife has come to an end, and the pre-alert for snow on the summits of La Palma and Gran Canaria has also been lifted.
Coastal hazards persist
However, the alert for coastal phenomena remains active. Authorities warn that the sea continues to be heavily affected by the remnants of Emilia, particularly on:
- the north and northwest coasts of Gran Canaria and Tenerife
- the north and west coasts of Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro
The Canary Islands Emergency Management Agency explains that sea conditions remain dangerous, with combined waves of 2.5 to 3.5 metres and a north-westerly swell of up to 2.5 metres. Winds from the north at force 4 to 5 (20–38 km/h), and occasionally force 6 (up to 49 km/h), are contributing to heavy swells between the larger islands. Conditions are expected to gradually improve in the early hours of Monday morning.
Updated situation in Lanzarote and Fuerteventura
In these two eastern islands, the alert level has been downgraded to pre-alert for rain and thunderstorms as of 1 p.m. on Sunday. Although the worst rainfall has passed, showers are still possible, generally light, but isolated heavy and stormy downpours cannot be ruled out.
The alert for rain in Gran Canaria and the western islands has been lifted entirely.
New pre-alert for landslides
Given the heavy rains associated with the storm, the Directorate-General for Emergencies has activated a pre-alert for landslides in:
- La Palma
- La Gomera
- El Hierro
- Tenerife
- Gran Canaria
This measure aims to ensure close monitoring of potential damage to roads, infrastructure and residential areas where the saturated soil increases the likelihood of landslips.
These decisions are based on data from the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) and other official sources, and are enacted under the Canary Islands’ Specific Emergency Plan for Adverse Weather Phenomena.
