The Canary Islands Government has issued a maximum wind alert for La Palma and parts of Tenerife as Storm Charles approaches, with gusts expected to reach up to 140 kilometres per hour. This high alert will take effect at midnight on Wednesday, 11 November, coinciding with the storm’s peak intensity.
The rest of Tenerife, along with El Hierro, La Gomera, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, and Lanzarote, will be under a wind alert that started at 6.00 pm on Tuesday, 10 November. The alert was prompted by an assessment from Spain’s State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) and falls under the Specific Emergency Plan for Adverse Meteorological Phenomena (PEFMA).
Storm Charles is predicted to bring strong to very strong south-westerly winds that will intensify throughout Tuesday evening before peaking early Wednesday. Authorities have warned that conditions will be especially dangerous from late Tuesday night through Wednesday morning, particularly in mountainous areas and exposed coastlines.
La Palma is expected to face some of the worst conditions, with gusts potentially reaching 140 km/h in the eastern and northern parts of the island. The western side may experience gusts up to 120 km/h. The storm’s strong winds combined with the island’s terrain will create hazardous conditions along ridges and elevated roads, with the worst winds expected overnight into Wednesday morning.
In Tenerife, the highest alert will be in mountainous areas like Teide National Park, where gusts could reach approximately 136 km/h. The north-western ridge is also expected to be severely impacted, with winds up to 130 km/h. Other parts of the island may face gusts around 110 km/h, and high winds are likely to persist into Wednesday afternoon.
Aemet has issued their own wind warnings, detailing expected maximum gusts and the critical periods for various regions, indicating that strong winds could also affect La Gomera and El Hierro.
The alert has extended to coastal areas, with warnings of waves reaching 3 to 4 metres and rough seas. Residents are urged to exercise caution around exposed coastlines, especially on La Palma, El Hierro, La Gomera, and northern Tenerife, where conditions will be particularly risky.
High tidal coefficients during this period could exacerbate the impact of large waves. Residents are advised to avoid coastal exposure during high tide and secure loose outdoor objects to prevent them from becoming hazards.
The most dangerous conditions associated with Storm Charles are expected to develop late on Tuesday, worsening overnight, with the peak likely occurring during the early hours of Wednesday. As the storm progresses, improvements may not be uniform across the archipelago.
Emergency officials are monitoring the situation closely and advise residents and visitors to heed safety warnings and prepare for challenging weather conditions through Wednesday.
