The initial front has resulted in landslides on secondary roads in Gran Canaria and some residences have experienced flooding in Lanzarote.
Santa Cruz de Tenerife, APR. (Press Europa) –
The ‘Olivier’ storm is anticipated to reach the islands at 3 pm this afternoon, bringing substantial rainfall that could accumulate to 30 litres per hour.
This information was disclosed during the technical coordination meeting conducted this morning to oversee the adverse weather event expected to traverse the islands from West to East.
Attendees included the Minister of Territorial Policy, Territorial Cohesion and Water, Manuel Miranda, alongside the Deputy Minister of Emergencies, Marcos José Lorenzo, the General Director of Emergency, Fernando Figuereo, representatives from the State Meteorology Agency (Aemet), and the island councils.
La Gomera and El Hierro will begin experiencing the impacts of this front from 6:00 pm.
The adverse weather effects will reach Gran Canaria by 9:00 pm, and from the early hours of Thursday, will affect Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, and La Graciosa, as stated in the aforementioned technical meeting.
The Government of the Canary Islands has maintained alerts for rainfall across all islands, as well as for potential risks of precipitation, storms, strong winds and coastal phenomena affecting the Western Islands, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura.
This weather system is forecast to cross the western archipelago towards the east, driven by southerly winds, resulting in heavy rainfall, according to a governmental update.
These adverse weather conditions are expected to persist into the early hours of Thursday, coinciding with the start of the working day.
Consequently, the Canary Islands Government, via the General Emergency Department, advises residents to limit vehicle movements to essential trips only.
In this regard, it is recommended to allow ample time for travel, drive cautiously, maintaining vigilance on the roads due to potential traffic delays, and ensure the fuel tank is filled, among other precautions.
In the last twelve hours, the passage of the initial front has resulted in rainfall and vigorous lightning strikes over the waters surrounding Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, and Lanzarote.
This situation has resulted in incidents of landslides on secondary roads in Gran Canaria and approximately 15 reports of flooding in residences in Lanzarote; La Gomera has also been affected, particularly in the municipalities of Hermigua and Vallehermoso.
The Government also continues to maintain a pre-alert for flood risk due to rainfall across all islands, as areas susceptible to flooding will be impacted to varying degrees, particularly in municipalities facing southwest, although flooding could occur in urban regions outside these areas.
Hence, there is a flood risk in ravines in the municipalities of Teguise, Haría, Aurtas, and Arrecife in Lanzarote, along with timbered areas in Tuineje, La Oliva, and Puerto del Rosario in Fuerteventura.
Additionally, a risk of flooding exists in the barrancos of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Telde, Agüimes, San Bartolomé de Tirajana, and Mogán.
In Tenerife, this situation could affect ravines in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, La Laguna, La Orotava, Puerto de la Cruz, Los Realejos, Isora, and Adeje, while La Gomera faces risks in Barrancos de Alajeró, Valle Gran Rey, and San Sebastián.
In La Palma, the barrancos within the island’s capital, as well as in Tazacorte and Llanos de Aridane, will be at risk, whereas in El Hierro, the Barranco de las Playas in Valverde could also experience flooding.
Recommendations
In light of the anticipated heavy rainfall, the General Emergency Department of the Canary Islands Government recommends avoiding travel by car unless absolutely necessary. Should travel be essential, extreme caution is advised, particularly in assessing water levels, moderating speed, and ensuring brakes are functioning well.
It is preferable to use main roads or motorways, avoiding forest tracks or secondary routes, and to choose the shortest journeys.
The government also emphasises the importance of refraining from crossing bridges where water levels are high, and not entering flood-prone areas of homes, such as garages or cellars.
The use of elevators should be avoided, and 112 should only be contacted in emergencies; for other inquiries, 012 should be used instead.
Regarding storms, individuals are advised to keep a safe distance from areas damaged by lightning strikes and to avoid being outside during electrical storms.
Given the predictions of strong winds, the population in the Canary Islands is urged to take all necessary precautionary measures.
In urban environments, it is advisable to stay away from older structures, cornices, and walls, as well as to avoid passing buildings under construction or in disrepair.
Residents should also be vigilant regarding urban furniture, scaffolding, cranes, illuminated signs, advertising hoardings, or any other objects that might be dislodged or swept away by the wind.
Furthermore, residents are encouraged to remove pots and any items that could fall from windows, balconies, and roofs, which may pose a safety hazard, and to inspect properties to ensure there are no vulnerable cornices, balconies, or facades that could collapse.
