The Government of the Canary Islands declared three warnings for rain, wind and floods on Tuesday and suspended in-person lessons in the western islands (Tenerife, La Palma, El Hierro and La Gomera) due to the possible arrival starting this Wednesday of a cold front associated with the storm. Claudialocated south-west of the British Isles.
The first of the alerts decreed by the General Directorate of Emergencies of the Government of the Canary Islands will come into force this Wednesday at 12:00 due to the arrival of winds of up to 90 kilometers per hour. Rain and flood warnings will be activated gradually: at 3 p.m. starts in La Palma; at 6pm, in El Hierro, La Gomera and Tenerife; to 00:00 on Thursday in Gran Canaria; and 06:00 in Fuerteventura and Lanzarote.
The State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) warned this Tuesday of the possibility of accumulations that will probably exceed 80-100 liters per square meter in 12 hours in the most important islands. The agency has warned, in turn, that the storm is coming Claudia They will affect the archipelago between Wednesday and Thursday, with strong or very strong showers, persistent and accompanied by thunderstorms, especially in the central and western area of the islands.
Precipitation will be more intense on the south-western slopes, where Aemet warns of the possibility of flash floods in ravines and streams, with the risk of local flooding. Additionally, very strong gusts of wind are expected from the south-west, which could cause falling branches, trees or vulnerable structural elements, as well as a coastal storm impacting harbors and promenades.
Instability will increase throughout Wednesday, with thunderstorms likely to be particularly intense on La Palma, where rainfall could accumulate up to 100 liters per square meter in 12 hours, spreading to the rest of the western islands during the afternoon and night. Aemet predicts that showers will be persistent in the central areas facing south-west, with winds reaching maximum intensity from midday.
On Thursday the front will continue to move eastward, affecting the central and eastern islands, where local rainfall could also be abundant. Although the wind will tend to ease towards the end of the day, adverse conditions could persist at sea and in the mountains.
Given this situation, the government announced on Tuesday its decision to suspend in-person classes from Wednesday. The suspension, however, is limited to the afternoon hours: from 1.30 pm to midnight. in La Palma and from 3pm to 6pm in Tenerife, El Hierro and La Gomera. Likewise, it is recommended to cancel complementary and extracurricular activities, while the Civil Protection and the General Directorate of Emergencies are studying additional measures for Thursday. The University of La Laguna has announced that it will also suspend in-person classes.
Some municipalities, such as Telde or Mogán (Gran Canaria), have asked the population not to park their cars in the ravine beds and will urgently clean them during this Tuesday. Furthermore, Tenerife Cabido has limited access to hiking trails, recreational areas and forest paths, as well as Teide National Park and other protected natural spaces. The Arrecife City Council also decreed the activation of the Municipal Emergency Plan (PEMU) as a preventive measure.
