Orange rain warning and severe Calima hit the Canary Islands

The Spanish weather agency AEMET issues an orange warning for heavy rain on Sunday in the greater Santa Cruz and La Laguna area on Tenerife.

Between 12 noon and midnight, up to 30 millimetres of rain may fall there in an hour, and up to 60 millimetres within twelve hours. The AEMET estimates the probability of this at between 40 and 70 per cent. For the north of Tenerife, the north of Gran Canaria and La Gomera, a Yellow alert for rain is in force during the same period. The meteorological service expects up to 15 millimetres per hour there, but considers this only 10 to 40 per cent likely. From 12 noon, it is also issuing a warning for thunderstorms on these three islands, specifically in the north of Tenerife and in the greater Santa Cruz and La Laguna areas.

On La Palma, the orange warning for rain and thunderstorms comes into effect at midnight and covers the whole island. On La Palma and Tenerife, it comes into effect at 6 am. For both islands, the AEMET forecasts up to 15 millimetres of precipitation – measured as the amount of rain falling within an hour – with a probability of 40 to 70 per cent. A follow-up warning has already been issued for Monday, covering the whole of Tenerife beyond the greater capital area.

Tenerife: A yellow rain warning is in force across the island on Monday

From midnight until 5.59 pm on Monday, a Yellow alert is in force across the whole of Tenerife, the whole of La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro due to rain and thunderstorms. The AEMET has set the maximum hourly rainfall at 20 millimetres, which is higher than for Sunday’s yellow warnings; the probability of rain is between 40 and 70 per cent. Gran Canaria is not included in this warning. For La Palma, the yellow rain warning for La Palma therefore follows on seamlessly from Sunday’s warning.

In October, on a Thursday, the AEMET issued an Orange alert for El Hierro, the eastern part of La Palma and La Gomera due to heavy showers and possible thunderstorms. On that occasion too, Saharan dust accompanied the orange-level rain warning on three Canary Islands. A day later, a severe Calima was sweeping across Tenerife and La Gomera.

Calima and Saharan dust are causing air quality to deteriorate in the Canary Islands

Alongside the rain, Sunday will bring strong Calima to La Gomera, Tenerife and Gran Canaria; on Monday, it will also reach Fuerteventura and Lanzarote. This is shown by the Calima forecast from Teneriffa News, which is based on the Copernicus CAMS model and measurements from the European Environment Agency. The model predicts the highest level of particulate matter (PM10) on Monday in Lanzarote, for which there is no rain warning: a daily average of 75 micrograms per cubic metre. This is followed by Tenerife with 74, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura with 72 each, and La Gomera with 70 micrograms. Air quality is therefore classified as poor on all the islands mentioned; on Tenerife and La Gomera, this coincides with the rain warning.

The fine dust irritates the eyes and airways. People with asthma, other respiratory or heart conditions, as well as the elderly and pregnant women, should avoid physical exertion outdoors; keeping windows and doors closed and drinking plenty of fluids can provide relief.

In the higher elevations of La Palma, rain and thunderstorms can trigger flash floods that rush down through the barrancos to the coast. Particular caution is therefore advised in the ravines and along their edges. On Gran Canaria, Storm Therese flooded the Barranco de Arguineguín in Mogán.

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