Canary Islands Mark 200th Anniversary of Devastating 1826 'San Florencio' Storm

The 200th anniversary of the San Florencio storm in 2026 is more than just a historical milestone; it is a chance to reflect on how the Canary Islands have historically coped with extreme weather. The Aluvión de 1826 Association notes that the storm, which struck on November 7 and 8, 1826, remains a key moment for understanding the archipelago’s vulnerability and its long history of managing natural risks.

According to naturalist Sabino Berthelot, the storm brought over 500 liters of rain per square meter and wind gusts reaching 150 kilometers per hour—far more than the society of the time could handle. The disaster caused widespread destruction, including the loss of the original Virgin of Candelaria statue, her hermitage, and the local Dominican convent. While the exact death toll is unknown, estimates suggest hundreds of lives were lost. Records from the time, such as those by Alfred Diston, show that La Orotava lost 1.6% of its population, while chronicler Francisco María de León described a landscape permanently altered by new ravines and destroyed farmland.

Because the islands were a strategic hub for Atlantic trade, the disaster drew international attention from the press across Europe and the Americas. However, historians note that the event didn't leave as deep a mark on the collective memory as Lanzarote’s volcanic eruptions did, largely because the people of that era were already accustomed to frequent famines and epidemics.

Today, the Aluvión de 1826 Association is using this history to improve modern disaster prevention. With climate change threatening to make such extreme weather more frequent, the group is hosting scientific conferences in La Laguna and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria this autumn. Their goal is to use data from the 1826 flood to better understand current risks and advocate for better urban planning that respects the natural fragility of the Canary Islands.