The Canary Islands government declared a rain alert for El Hierro, La Gomera and La Palma from 00.00 on Thursday, 22 October, under the PEFMA emergency plan.
Aemet's orange warnings cover all of El Hierro and La Gomera and the eastern slope of La Palma, where up to 100 litres per square metre is forecast over 12 hours.
Rain gauges recorded 59.6 litres per square metre at San Andrés y Sauces (La Palma) and 53.2 at Tafira (Gran Canaria) by 07.00 local time on Thursday, 22 October.
Storm Austen, named by the UK Met Office, is expected to bring waves above seven metres to the northern peninsular coasts, mainly on Friday, 23 October.
The Canary Islands government, acting through its Directorate General for Emergencies, has declared a rain alert for El Hierro, La Gomera and La Palma, effective from 00.00 on Thursday, 22 October. The decision applies the regional emergency plan for adverse weather (PEFMA) and rests on forecasts from the Spanish State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) and other sources. A pre-alert remains in force for the rest of the archipelago, the regional government said in a statement.
Aemet has raised its warnings for the three islands to orange, valid until 18.00 on Thursday, 22 October. El Hierro and La Gomera are under orange across their entire territory, with showers that could bring 30 litres per square metre in one hour, possibly accompanied by thunderstorms. On La Palma the orange warning covers the eastern slope, where up to 100 litres per square metre could accumulate over 12 hours. Yellow warnings cover the summits and western slope of La Palma until the same hour.
An isolated upper-level depression, known as a dana, began moving toward the archipelago on Monday, 19 October, and has brought heavy rain, mostly to the western islands. Readings collected by Aemet up to 07.00 local time on Thursday, 22 October, show the highest totals on La Palma and Gran Canaria. San Andrés y Sauces on La Palma recorded 59.6 litres per square metre, Tafira on Gran Canaria 53.2 and Agüimes on Gran Canaria 41.4. The airport on Gran Canaria logged 20.7 and El Pinar on El Hierro 17.6.
Data from the article text
An orange warning was briefly activated for Gran Canaria early on Thursday, 22 October, because of a storm over the north of the island. In the latest update, only La Palma, El Hierro and La Gomera remained under orange. Aemet spokesman Rubén del Campo said nearly 150 litres per square metre had been collected in Valverde on El Hierro, and he warned that the western islands would keep seeing very strong showers, possibly with thunderstorms. In his words:
“Great caution in the archipelago, especially near ravines, because these can experience sudden floods.”
The regional government asked residents to avoid car journeys where possible. If travel cannot be avoided, drivers should stick to main roads, stay off secondary routes and forest tracks, slow down, increase braking distances and pay attention to water depth. People should not cross or park in low-lying areas or dry riverbeds, which can flood suddenly, and should not enter garages or basements or use lifts in buildings. During storms, residents are advised to close doors and windows, keep away from towers, fences and other metal structures, and avoid sheltering under trees. The government points to its emergencies website for more measures and asks people to call 112 in any emergency.
Elsewhere in Spain, the peninsula is expected to enjoy several days of calm weather after the earlier downpours, with the Canary Islands as the main exception. A storm approaching the peninsula will bring cloudy skies and rain to Galicia, with strong wind over the north of that region and in Asturias. Storm Austen, named by the UK Met Office, will affect the northern coasts of the peninsula mainly on Friday, 23 October, when waves could exceed seven metres. Temperatures are forecast to rise, with maximums above 25°C in the southeast of the peninsula, and to settle at seasonal levels by the weekend of 24 and 25 October. Temperatures are expected to climb again early in the week of 26 October and stay above normal values.
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Aemet raised orange warnings for El Hierro, La Gomera and the eastern side of La Palma until 18.00 on Thursday, 22 October, after a dana brought heavy rain to the western islands and Gran Canaria.
AI text based on reports by eldiario.es, EL PAÍS and europa press. Published .