Following several days of clear weather and nighttime frosts across much of the Peninsula, the weekend of January 18 and 19 will see predominantly stable conditions. However, the Canary Islands are gearing up for a notable shift: the approach of an Atlantic storm, expected to impact the archipelago from Tuesday the 21st, bringing with it widespread rain and potential deterioration in sea conditions, according to the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET).
This meteorological agency has already designated a name for this adverse weather system, opting for a Canarian flavour: Garoé. The revered tree of El Hierro will lend its name to this seventh storm of the season, which is already having an effect on the Azores Islands.
For the rest of the territory, exceptions to stability will emerge in the Mediterranean region, where persistent showers are anticipated in Cabo de la Nao, and in the Balearic Islands, where the Gabri storm will bring about light rain and overcast skies, albeit diminishing in intensity. By Sunday afternoon, the first Atlantic front will make its arrival, bringing rain to Galicia and the northwestern part of the peninsula.
Forecast for the Upcoming Week
On Tuesday January 21, the mountainous islands will experience intervals of cloudiness, with the western islands (La Palma, El Hierro and La Gomera) seeing more extensive cloud cover during the morning and in the late afternoon. In the eastern islands, slightly cloudy skies will tend to dominate, although precipitation cannot be completely ruled out, especially in the southwestern region of Gran Canaria.
Light to moderate rain is anticipated in the west and south of the western islands, extending in the afternoon to the east of Tenerife. Coastal temperatures will likely show a slight increase, particularly in terms of minimums, while there will be a moderate decrease in the central peaks of Tenerife.
Weather in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria last Wednesday, January 15 / The Province
The winds will be moderate to strong from the southwest, particularly intense on the northwest and southeast slopes as well as at higher elevations. On the peaks of Tenerife and La Palma, one can expect strong gusts, potentially reaching very strong levels, particularly in Tenerife, with a shift towards westerly winds in the late afternoon across the western islands.
The Atlantic storm will continue to generate rainfall throughout Wednesday the 22nd and Thursday the 23rd. This precipitation will nourish a significant portion of the archipelago, benefiting the agricultural areas of the Canaries, although it will remain more prevalent in the western islands and mountainous regions. According to an initial forecast from AEMET, rain is expected to taper off from Friday the 24th, signifying a slight improvement in meteorological conditions across the archipelago.
Weather Across the Rest of Spain
Beginning Monday the 20th, a deep Atlantic storm will herald a stark change in conditions. The warm and humid winds from the southwest are set to deliver widespread rainfall. Heaviest downpours will be focused on the Atlantic slope, particularly in the southwestern quadrant, accompanied by storms and substantial rainfall accumulations. The Cantabrian and Mediterranean slopes will also see rain, albeit in a more scattered manner.
Calima in the Canary Islands this week, as viewed from satellite / The Province
Strong gusts of wind with a southerly component are anticipated on the Atlantic and Cantabrian slopes, especially in coastal and mountainous regions. The state of the sea will deteriorate starting Tuesday the 21st, particularly impacting the Gulf of Cádiz, Galicia, and the Cantabrian Sea.
