Canary Islands severe weather: how to understand warning levels

Sunny weather is no cause for complacency in the Canary Islands. However, if you understand the warning levels correctly and take note of local closures, you can adjust your holiday plans in good time. We explain which weather hazards you should be aware of and what to look out for when the alert levels are yellow, orange and red.

Canary Islands: Severe weather isn’t just a winter phenomenon

Many places on the Canary Islands experience little or no rain during the summer months. In winter, the situation is quite different. Dangerous weather conditions can sometimes arise quite suddenly, particularly at higher altitudes. But dangers also lurk along the coast.

Severe weather can affect several islands at the same time. In April 2025, storm systems Nuria and Oliver brought gales, rain and high waves. In March 2026, Therese caused, amongst other things, flooding, evacuations and dozens of transport disruptions. Heatwaves were added to the mix in the summer. When planning your trip, it is therefore not just the season that matters, but always the current situation on the ground. The aim of this article is to help you understand this properly:

These are the weather hazards in the Canary Islands

• Storms: Strong gusts can pose a significant danger at high altitudes, in forests and along the coast. During Nuria, high-altitude areas were particularly hard hit. Gusts of up to 130 kilometres per hour were not uncommon.
• Heavy rain: Heavy rainfall can trigger flash floods in some areas. It is particularly dangerous near barrancos. These gorges and drainage channels, which are often completely dry under normal conditions, can pose a major threat within minutes.
• High waves: Rough seas can become life-threatening along coastlines and promenades from one second to the next. Take coastal warnings seriously even if it is not raining where you are or the sea currently looks calm.
• Heat: Young children, the elderly, pregnant women and people with certain pre-existing medical conditions are particularly at risk. The sun in the Canary Islands is significantly more intense than in Central Europe.
• Calima: This is when dust from the Sahara is carried by the wind to the islands. A Calima can accompany heatwaves and often even trigger them. You can find out more in our overview of the most important questions about Calima in the Canary Islands.
• Risk of forest fires: Separate official warning levels may apply for this. If a forest fire warning is issued, this almost always means closures, for example of hiking trails.

Canary Islands: How to read the AEMET warning system

An island may be classified differently for wind than for rain or waves. Individual coastal sections and altitudes may also be affected differently. For this reason, the AEMET divides the islands into zones that are typically affected differently. However, the warning colour alone often does not fully describe the local situation.

Would you like to know whether your trip can go ahead? Then check what danger has been reported for your destination and when the warning is in force. The following tips should help:

Canary Islands yellow alert: Review your plans

Although Yellow is the lowest warning level, there is still a risk even at this stage. At yellow alert, the weather can therefore already throw a spanner in the works. During the storm Nuria, for example, yellow wave warnings were in place, even though waves up to five metres high were expected and swimming was advised against. As you can see, the colour alone isn’t always the deciding factor.

Our advice: Before setting off on any excursions, check the specific risk and the region concerned. Adjust your plans accordingly when visiting beaches, going for walks along the coast or heading to higher altitudes on the Canary Islands. Of course, closures and bans on swimming do not only apply when the alert level is Orange. It is best to stay indoors.

Canary Islands orange alert: Avoid high-risk areas

The orange alert is the second-highest alert level. It was declared during Storm Oliver due to strong winds, thunderstorms and heavy rainfall. The resulting heavy rainfall triggered localised flash floods.

Our advice: Avoid such areas. Take warnings seriously and avoid forests, high ground, the coast and barrancos. Only undertake essential journeys, and be aware of road closures and safety precautions whilst doing so.

Canary Islands red alert: Follow instructions

The red alert is the highest alert level. During storm Nuria, it was in force on La Palma. In response to the storm, schools were closed on several islands and emergency services were placed on standby in advance.

Our advice: Plan your day in line with official instructions. If you are in a high-risk area, stay indoors. Even travelling to another part of the island in advance is no guarantee of escaping the storm. This is because a red alert usually affects the entire island. Furthermore, the return route may be blocked. Therefore: it’s better to stock up on postcards, drinks and snacks in good time and stay indoors. Should the situation become critical, you must follow evacuation orders.

Canary Islands: A weather warning is not the same as a government alert

The AEMET provides meteorological assessments and weather warnings. The Canary Islands authorities then decide on official alerts based on this information. Emergency plans apply in this regard. They determine specific civil protection measures. This includes the special plan for adverse weather conditions, known as Pefma for short.

Therefore, do not simply equate the terms used by the authorities with the colours of the weather warning:

• Prealerta: This pre-alert is the lowest level in the Canary Islands‘ emergency system. It prepares emergency services and the public for a possible escalation.
• Alerta: An alert notification where you need to check which hazard, which area and which measures are affected. This will determine the specific implications for your planning.
• Emergencia: Such an emergency alert means that the situation is very likely to become serious. Please follow safety measures and instructions.

Other colour-coded systems are used, for example, by health authorities, such as during heatwaves. A red health warning is therefore not automatically a red weather warning. The decisive factor is who issued the alert.

Incidentally, a lower alert level does not mean that all restrictions are lifted: the relevant local authorities decide this, also on the basis of previous experience.

Canary Islands coastline: Don’t go for that supposedly perfect wave photo

When coastal warnings are in place, stay away from piers, breakwaters and areas with breaking waves. In 2025, going to a dangerous stretch of coastline to take a selfie cost several people their lives. They therefore paid the highest possible price – for a photo that would often have been forgotten within 24 hours.

Heavy rain in the Canary Islands: Avoid barrancos

Barrancos carry rainwater from higher ground towards the sea. During heavy downpours, huge volumes of water can rush towards the coast from one moment to the next without warning. These otherwise dry riverbeds and areas below dams are absolutely off-limits!

You should therefore avoid sightseeing trips. This is because extreme weather conditions also carry the risk of landslides, rockfalls and damage to roads. You can read about how the authorities are preparing in our report on the inspection of ravines and floodplains following Therese.

Canary Islands: Protection in hot weather and help in an emergency

Drink plenty of non-alcoholic fluids in hot weather. Avoid the midday sun. It is best to carry out physically strenuous activities in the early morning or late afternoon.

In an emergency, dial 112. Explain as clearly as possible where you are, what has happened and what help is needed. It is often helpful to mention right at the start of the call which languages you can speak.

Canary Islands warnings: How to stay informed

Check alerts before setting off on any trips and again if the situation changes. Keep an eye out for updates, validity periods and local closures. Never rely solely on messages shared on social media: following the Therese incident, the authorities had to refute false reports about an alleged dam breach. Official sources and reputable news websites such as Teneriffa News are the best places to turn to.

You can find the latest information in our overview of severe weather and warnings in the Canary Islands. In addition, our members receive weather warnings in good time by email.

How strong is the Calima today? Calima forecast and readings for the Canary Islands