Storm Bruna: All Canary Islands under weather warnings on Sunday

The orange alert issued by the Spanish Meteorological Agency AEMET has expired for El Hierro and La Gomera, and the weather situation is changing. Both islands are now only under a yellow alert due to wind. The forecast predicts gusts of up to 70 kilometres per hour there, with localised gusts of up to 90 kilometres per hour at medium altitudes and on the peaks. The orange alert now applies only to the whole of La Palma and the north of Tenerife, where the wind warning associated with the Bruna low-pressure system has been in place since 9.00 pm on Saturday.

For these two areas, the AEMET is forecasting gusts of up to 90 kilometres per hour. On the mountain peaks, the weather service expects gusts of more than 100 kilometres per hour. The wind is coming from the south-west and is affecting mainly the higher ground; on La Palma, it is also affecting the north-west and the east coast. The orange warning ends at midnight on Sunday. Like the previous Storm Francis in the Canary Islands, this low-pressure system also has its own name.

A yellow warning has also been in place on La Palma since 9.00 pm on Saturday due to thunderstorms. Since midnight on Sunday, the AEMET has also issued a warning of thunderstorms on El Hierro, La Gomera and the whole of Tenerife. These may bring hail on all four islands; the warning ends at 5.59 pm on each island. The weather service has issued a further warning for the morning on the same islands, this time for rain.

Canary Islands: Rain and thunderstorms are spreading

From 10.00 am to 5.59 pm, a yellow alert for rain is in force on El Hierro, La Palma, La Gomera and Tenerife. Up to 20 millimetres of rain may fall in one hour and up to 60 millimetres in twelve hours. The western and southern slopes are particularly affected, with the mid-altitude areas of La Palma most likely to be impacted. For all warnings in this situation, the AEMET states that the probability of occurrence is between 40 and 70 per cent.

From 12 noon until midnight, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote are also on yellow alert due to rain and thunderstorms. Hail may also fall in these areas. For Fuerteventura and Lanzarote, the AEMET is forecasting up to 20 millimetres of rain in an hour. On Gran Canaria, up to 25 millimetres in an hour and up to 40 millimetres in twelve hours are possible, particularly on the western and southern slopes. In the north of the island, the rain will mainly affect the north-western flank.

South-westerly winds are also affecting the south of Tenerife and Gran Canaria

From 7 am until midnight, a yellow warning for strong winds is also in force in the greater Santa Cruz area and La Laguna, as well as in the east, south and west of Tenerife. The same warning applies to the whole of Gran Canaria. According to the forecast, gusts will reach up to 70 kilometres per hour, and locally up to 90 kilometres per hour at medium altitudes and on the mountain peaks. On the south-east coast of Tenerife, the AEMET has issued a warning until 2.59 pm of rough seas due to south-westerly winds of 50 to 61 kilometres per hour, i.e. wind force seven. It cites the same figures from 12.00 to 17.59 for the north-west coast of Gran Canaria. Combined wind and rough sea warnings were last issued on the islands during a weekend of severe weather with storms and high waves.

Rain and thunderstorms in the higher elevations of El Hierro, La Palma, La Gomera, Tenerife and Gran Canaria can trigger flash floods. The water can rush down through the barrancos all the way to the coast. Particular caution is therefore advised in and around the ravines.