Storm Regina continues to intensify weather conditions across the Canary Islands this Tuesday, 3 March. According to Spain’s State Meteorological Agency, AEMET, the system is bringing rainfall, strong winds and a noticeable drop in temperatures.
At the same time, the Canary Islands Government has maintained a coastal weather alert throughout the archipelago due to the expected deterioration at sea.
Snow already falling in Tenerife’s high mountains
As forecast, snowfall has begun at elevations above 1,700–1,800 metres in Tenerife’s mountainous areas, including the surroundings of Mount Teide. There is also a low probability of snow affecting high areas of La Palma and Gran Canaria.
Temperatures are falling, particularly in mid-altitude and high-altitude zones. While minimum temperatures will remain stable or drop slightly, maximum values are expected to decrease slightly to moderately. In the mountains of Tenerife, light to moderate frosts are forecast, with lighter frosts possible in La Palma.
In the provincial capitals, temperatures will range between 16°C and 19°C in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, and between 16°C and 20°C in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Rain and possible storms
Cloud cover will dominate much of the day, especially in the north of the higher islands. Light to moderate rainfall is expected, particularly in the easternmost islands. Some showers may be locally intense and, in isolated cases, could be accompanied by thunderstorms.
Very strong winds in exposed areas
Wind is another key feature of Storm Regina. It will blow from the north at moderate to strong intensity across the islands.
Very strong gusts are expected in:
- Lanzarote and Fuerteventura
- The peaks of Tenerife and La Palma
- North-east and south-west slopes of the mountainous islands
- The extreme south-west of Tenerife
In high-altitude areas of Tenerife and La Palma, gusts could locally reach up to 100 km/h, creating hazardous conditions in exposed terrain.
Coastal alert and giant waves
The Directorate-General for Emergencies has maintained a coastal alert since Monday evening, under the framework of the Canary Islands’ emergency plan for adverse weather conditions.
Rough seas are forecast, with combined north and north-westerly swells expected to reach 5 to 6 metres, and locally up to 6 to 7 metres in Lanzarote and Fuerteventura.
North-easterly winds of force 7 (50–61 km/h) will generate increasingly rough seas, with wave periods between 10 and 12 seconds. The high tidal coefficient — 94 on Monday and 99 on Tuesday and Wednesday — will further amplify coastal impact.
The coasts most exposed to northern and western swells will be particularly affected, including:
- Northern and western shores of the higher islands
- Eastern coasts of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura
- South-eastern sectors of other islands
Authorities urge caution
Given the combination of snow, strong winds, heavy seas and falling temperatures, authorities are urging residents to follow official safety recommendations and avoid unnecessary risks along the coast and in high mountain areas. In case of emergency, citizens are reminded to call 112.
Storm Regina is expected to continue influencing weather conditions across the archipelago in the coming days, keeping the islands under heightened meteorological vigilance.
