The State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) has activated several yellow warnings across the Canary Islands for Thursday, 1 January 2026, due to an episode of significant atmospheric instability associated with Storm Francis. The first day of the new year will therefore be marked by increased cloud cover, widespread rainfall, storms, strong winds and adverse coastal conditions.
A day of widespread rain, locally heavy or persistent
According to Aemet, much of the archipelago will experience a notable thickening of cloud cover as the storm system moves in from the west.
Rainfall will become more frequent and may be moderate, locally heavy or persistent, especially on the southern and western slopes of the western islands:
- La Palma
- La Gomera
- El Hierro
- Tenerife
Some showers could be accompanied by isolated thunderstorms, prompting the activation of yellow alerts for intense rainfall and storm activity.
Lanzarote and Fuerteventura: the least affected
In the easternmost islands—Lanzarote and Fuerteventura—cloud cover will be more variable, mostly consisting of high cloud, and the impact of the storm will be more limited.
Even so, cloudier conditions will gradually extend from west to east as the day progresses.
Strong southerly winds: one of the main hazards
Winds associated with Storm Francis will be among the most adverse elements of the day.
Aemet forecasts moderate to strong winds from the south and south-west, with:
- Very strong gusts possible from the morning,
- Particularly intense in mid-altitude and high-altitude areas of the mountainous islands.
This scenario justifies both the wind warnings and the warnings for hazardous coastal phenomena, especially in the central and western islands, where sea conditions may deteriorate significantly, affecting coastal and maritime activities.
Temperatures: little change overall
Temperatures will remain largely stable across the archipelago:
- Minimum temperatures: unchanged or slightly higher
- Maximum temperatures: slightly lower, especially in inland and upland areas of the western islands
In the provincial capitals, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Santa Cruz de Tenerife, thermometers are expected to range between 16°C and 23°C, with mild values despite the worsening weather conditions.
Yellow warnings across the entire archipelago
Aemet’s hourly alert panel indicates that all the islands will be under yellow warnings for several hours on Thursday, though the duration and intensity will vary depending on location.
- Tenerife, Gran Canaria and La Palma are expected to experience the highest concentration of simultaneous adverse weather events, including rain, storms, wind and coastal hazards.
- Lanzarote and Fuerteventura will face a more limited set of warnings.
