Storm Francis to Hit Canary Islands on New Year's Day

The Canary Islands are set to start 2026 with a powerful storm named Francis. This weather system is expected to hit the islands this Thursday, bringing heavy rain, strong winds, rough seas, and snow to the higher mountains, according to Spain's State Meteorological Agency (Aemet).

Francis is the sixth storm to be named this season, which began on September 1st, 2025. It was named by the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA). After leaving the Canary Islands, the storm will move towards western Spain on Friday, with rain spreading across the rest of the country by the weekend.

Aemet predicts that the main weather front from Francis will move across the Canary Islands from west to east on New Year's Day. This will lead to very heavy local rainfall, with thunderstorms in some places. Weather models suggest that over 50 liters of rain per square meter could fall in exposed areas, particularly on the western sides of La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro, Tenerife, and Gran Canaria.

Because the islands have such varied terrain, it's hard to say exactly how much rain will fall. However, experts warn that any island could experience periods of intense rain. Even after the main storm front has passed, further showers are expected.

One notable forecast is the chance of snow on the highest peaks. Snow could fall on Mount Teide and, more specifically, on Roque de los Muchachos in La Palma, though on La Palma, it would only be at certain high altitudes. This is due to cold air moving in at high altitudes, which makes the atmosphere unstable and creates conditions for bad weather in elevated regions.

Besides the rain and snow, Storm Francis will also bring winds from the west and southwest. Gusts could reach over 60 or 70 kilometers per hour in exposed areas. The seas will be rough, so people should be extremely careful along the coast.

Francis is the latest in a series of strong storms this season. Before it, the islands have already seen Alice, Benjamin, Claudia, Davide, and Emilia. These storms are named as part of a system agreed upon by meteorological services in southwestern Europe to help communicate risks to the public more effectively.