Canary Islands Issue Swell Alert for Weekend Winds, Rough Seas

The Canary Islands are set for a weekend of strong winds and rough seas. The weather will be so intense that the Canary Islands Government has issued a swell alert for the entire region. Strong winds will particularly hit the western islands and Gran Canaria, while other islands will be on a wind pre-alert.

These alerts won't start at the same time. The rough sea alert begins at 12:00 PM this Saturday. The wind alerts and pre-alerts will come into effect sometime between Saturday and Sunday.

With rough seas expected, the regional government is urging everyone to take precautions to avoid dangerous situations. This applies across the whole archipelago, but especially to the north and west coasts of La Palma, La Gomera, and El Hierro; the north coasts of Tenerife and Gran Canaria; the channels between islands; and also Lanzarote and Fuerteventura.

Forecasters predict combined northwest swells of over 4-5 meters, with long, powerful waves. Saturday's new moon and spring tides will also contribute to the rough conditions.

As for the wind, a general northwest wind is expected, changing to northerly on Sunday afternoon. It will mostly affect the peaks and eastern and western slopes of the mountainous islands, as well as Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, particularly during the middle of the day.

Gusts could reach or exceed 70 kilometers per hour, with even stronger gusts of over 90 kilometers per hour possible on the highest mountain peaks.

The Canary Islands Government advises residents and visitors to follow these safety tips: