Atlantic storm threatens Canary Islands with heavy rain

La Palma, in Spain’s Canary Islands, faces locally heavy rain on Friday as an Atlantic storm approaches. The Spanish State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) warns that downpours could cause local flooding and rivers to rise. Its first rain front is expected to reach north-west mainland Spain by Friday evening.

Rain spreads from the islands

Rain is due across the western Canary Islands on Friday morning. Aemet says the heavier showers could reach other western islands as well as La Palma. By evening, western Galicia could see locally heavy showers, with very strong gusts possible on high ground there and in the Cantabrian Mountains.

The storm is expected to deepen west of the Azores and approach north-west mainland Spain early next week. Late on Saturday, heavy or very heavy showers with thunderstorms are forecast for the western Canary Islands. They are expected to spread across the archipelago on Sunday.

Strong winds and high waves

More rain fronts are forecast to cross western mainland Spain from Sunday to Tuesday. Aemet expects the most rain in south-west Andalusia, Extremadura, Gredos and the Atlantic side of Galicia. The storm’s exact position is still uncertain, so it cannot yet say which areas will be hit hardest.

Rough seas are expected around the Canary Islands from late Saturday. From Sunday, strong winds and waves of five to six metres are forecast off western Galicia, while waves off western Andalusia could approach four metres.

Aemet says rain could also reach parts of Spain’s Mediterranean side, but its forecast names no specific impact for Mallorca. Rain is expected to ease from Wednesday, though heavy showers remain possible in the Canary Islands and on the mainland.

Topics: Weather · Storms · Palma

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com