Brits heading to the popular Spanish holiday archipelago of the Canary Islands this weekend on the hunt for sun and sea will be left sorely disappointed as the islands are battling adverse weather conditions. Conditions are so poor that the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) has been forced to issue yellow and orange weather warnings.
The weather alerts are in place across much of the archipelago for Saturday (July 5) and Sunday (July 6), due to strong winds and hazardous coastal conditions. Authorities are urging residents and tourists to take precautions, particularly near exposed coastal areas and higher ground. It is recommended to secure outdoor objects that could be blown away, avoid risky maritime activities and keep updated through official channels for any changes to the warnings. Lanzarote and Fuerteventura appear to be the only islands that have escaped the bad weather.
La Gomera
La Gomera is expected to be the most affected island, with an orange warning for wind in place from midnight on Saturday until 11:59pm. Gusts could reach 90 km/h (56 mph), particularly on the western and eastern-southeastern coasts, with the strongest winds expected until midday and then again overnight. The alert level will be reduced to yellow on Sunday, with gusts up to 80 km/h (50 mph).
For coastal conditions, a yellow warning for rough seas is active until 11:59pm on Saturday. Northerly to north-easterly winds at sea could reach 50-61 km/h (31-38 mph) (Force 7), occasionally up to 74 km/h (46mph) (Force 8) offshore. The same warning will continue throughout Sunday.
On top of this, a high temperature warning is also in place until 6:59pm, with a 40-70% chance of high temperatures of up to 34C, especially affecting south- and west-facing midlands and high altitudes.
Tenerife
Tenerife is under a yellow wind warning until 11:59pm on Saturday, affecting the east, south and west of the island with gusts up to 70 km/h (44 mph), particularly strong from Saturday into Sunday, with gusts reaching up to 80 km/h (50 mph), also impacting the metropolitan area.
For coastal areas, a yellow warning for rough seas is in place until 8:59pm on Saturday. On Sunday, the warning level will rise to orange from midnight until 2:59am, with offshore winds expected to reach 62-74 km/h (39-46 mph) (force 8) in the northwest and southeast.
There is also a 40-70% probability of temperatures reaching up to 36C in the east, south and west of Tenerife, in place until 6:59pm on Saturday, especially affecting south- and west-facing midlands.
Gran Canaria
Gran Canaria is facing a yellow wind warning until 11:59pm on Saturday, affecting the east, south and west with gusts between 80 km/h (50 mph) and 90 km/h (56 mph). The same warning continues throughout Sunday.
The island also has a yellow warning for rough seas until 8:59pm on Saturday, again rising to orange from midnight until 2:59am on Sunday, with strong north or north-easterly winds offshore.
There is also a 40-70% chance of temperatures reaching a scorching 37C across the island, in place until 6:59pm, particularly affecting the southern and western midlands and the Tejeda basin.
La Palma
La Palma has a yellow wind warning until 11:59pm on Saturday, with gusts up to 80 km/h (50 mph), especially along the southeastern and northwestern coasts, occasionally reaching 90 km/h (56 mph) overnight. This warning is renewed on Sunday.
A yellow coastal warning is also active until the end of Saturday, continuing through Sunday. Northerly to north-easterly winds of 50-61 km/h (31-38 mph) (Force 7), occasionally up to 74 km/h (46 mph) (force 8) offshore, are expected in the northwest and southeast.
There is also a 40-70% probability of temperatures reaching up to 34C in the peaks and west of La Palma, in place until 6:59pm on Saturday, especially affecting south- and west-facing midlands and high altitudes.
El Hierro
El Hierro is under a yellow wind warning until 11:59pm Saturday, affecting the entire island, with gusts up to 80 km/h (50 mph), possibly reaching 90 km/h (56 mph) along the coast during the early hours of Saturday. The same conditions are forecast for Sunday.
For coastal areas, a yellow warning for rough seas is in effect all day on Saturday, continuing on Sunday. Winds offshore could reach up to 74 km/h (46mph) (force 8).
There is also a 40-70% probability of temperatures reaching up to 34C across the island, in place until 6:59pm on Saturday, especially affecting south- and west-facing midlands and high altitudes.