The Dana that impacted the archipelago on Sunday covered Pico del Teide in a blanket of snow, bringing sub-zero temperatures and widespread rain that drench those out celebrating the carnival. It had been anticipated that the low-pressure system would result in snowfall across the islands, prompting the Canary Islands government to activate a weather pre-alert due to predicted snowfall at elevated areas. Alongside Tenerife, Roque de los Muchos in La Palma also woke up to a snowy blanket, potentially synchronising with the Talco celebrations expected to cover the streets of the capital of La Palma on this Monday during the festivities of the Indians.
Access routes to Teide National Park remained shut with closures at the TF-24 (Hope) and TF-21 (La Orotava) due to ice patches on the roads, while the TF-38 (Chío) was closed from kilometre 13, and the TF-21 was shut from kilometre 59 (recreational area of the slabs, Vilaflor). The Cabildo implemented the Insular Emergency Plan of Tenerife (PEIN) from midnight on Sunday in response to the adverse weather conditions affecting the islands. Furthermore, from 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, the forest tracks were closed and access through the trails leading to the peak of Teide National Park was halted.
Sergio Rodríguez, the president of Cabildo de la Palma, also announced the closure of the LP-4 road between Hoya Grande and Mirca for safety reasons arising from the poor weather conditions. Additionally, the temporary closure of the Roque de los Muchos Visitor Centre was ordered.
The Government of the Canary Islands advised people to refrain from taking unnecessary risks by accessing the peaks of the islands, particularly those where snowfall has occurred, without first checking the condition of the roads and the weather situation.
The day was marked by rain across nearly the entire archipelago. The State Meteorology Agency had issued a yellow warning for El Hierro, La Gomera, La Palma, Tenerife, and Gran Canaria, due to the risk of rainfall accumulating to 15 litres per square metre within an hour. The forecast was accurate, with Vallehermoso recording 51 litres per square metre, the highest rainfall point across the islands on Sunday. In Arico, the total exceeded 39 litres per square metre, while in Agulo, La Gomera, 29 were measured, and Hermigua recorded 27 litres per square metre by 5:00 p.m.
The Dana brought a drop in temperatures, sending Canarian thermometers back into winter mode. Both Roque de los Muchachos and the Cañadas del Teide experienced sub-zero readings. -0.7 degrees were recorded at the summit of La Palma and -0.5 in Izaña during the early hours from Saturday to Sunday. Gran Canaria also saw a significant drop, with La Vega de San Mateo experiencing a chilly night where temperatures fell to 2.2 degrees at dawn. Tejeda recorded 4.4 degrees.
Despite the drop in temperatures, maximum readings allowed for a more pleasant time in other parts of the archipelago, as particularly in the western province islands, rainfall did not commence until after noon. Consequently, temperatures exceeded 23 degrees in both San Bartolomé de Tirajana and San Nicolás village, while Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, and the Majorero municipality of Pájara or Tazacorte in La Palma, reached 22 degrees.
However, the Dana is expected to continue causing instability and inclement weather in the archipelago on Monday, with forecasts indicating that rainfall will persist at least until Tuesday, meaning Carnival Monday will also experience wet conditions. Aemet retains yellow warnings for rainfall risk across Tenerife, Gran Canaria, La Palma, La Gomera, and El Hierro throughout the day. For Tuesday, the State Meteorology Agency has scaled back the warnings, only maintaining them for northern Tenerife and the other islands in the western province.
