Alert Across the Canary Islands

The Directorate General of Emergencies has updated the coastal‑phenomena alert for the Canary Islands.

The Government of the Canary Islands announced an alert starting at 15:00 h today, due to a rapid deterioration of sea conditions throughout the autonomous community, especially along coasts most exposed to north‑ and west‑bound swells.

The decision follows the Specific Emergency Plan for Adverse Meteorological Phenomena (PEFMA) and is based on data from the State Meteorological Agency and other sources, which forecast a north‑west sea combined with waves reaching 4–5 metres in height.

Although the alert applies to the entire archipelago, the forecast identifies the eastern coasts of El Hierro, Tenerife, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, as well as the southeast coast of La Palma, as the least exposed areas, with comparatively milder wave activity.

Additional hazards include:

• A long wave period exceeding 12 seconds.
• High tide coefficients on Thursday (78) and Friday (72), and a medium coefficient on Saturday (60), indicating a large tidal range during low and high tides.

Given these conditions, the regional authorities urge residents and visitors to:

• Avoid risky situations: do not stay on piers, breakwaters, or any area close to the sea where you could be struck or dragged by waves.
• Postpone nautical and sporting activities scheduled for the next few days.
• Refrain from fishing in hazardous zones and avoid swimming on remote or poorly monitored beaches, where local eddies, strong surf, and rip currents may be present.
• Do not approach the sea if unusually high waves are observed, even if the water suddenly calms, and certainly avoid taking photos or videos near breaking waves.
• Respect all warning flags and follow the instructions of lifeguards and security personnel, especially in areas where swimming is prohibited.
• Call emergency services (1‑1‑2) immediately if anyone falls into the water.

“The priority is to protect lives by preventing accidents caused by the current sea state,” the authorities emphasized.