Wind, high seas and heavy rain: Therese's worst will hit Fuerteventura early Thursday and
Fuerteventura faces the most delicate hours of the Therese storm, with forecasts pointing to a significant worsening from this afternoon onward, especially during the early hours and Friday morning. Although the day began relatively normally, emergency services warn that the most adverse episode is still to come, with wind, coastal phenomena and locally intense precipitation.
“Right now normality is the prevailing tone,” said Fran Torres, Coordinator of Security and Emergencies for the Cabildo, in an interview on La Voz de Fuerteventura on Radio Insular. He added that the change will be imminent:
“We will start noticing a greater incidence from this afternoon, mainly with the wind and those coastal phenomena.”
According to Torres, the most complex period will arrive in the coming hours, as “through the night and Friday morning, rain may be the most characteristic phenomenon.” The showers will be localized, with intense precipitation possible in specific points of the island’s geography.
He also explained that the storm shows an unusual behavior due to its duration and variability.
“Some situations are changing, which means we need to keep an updated follow‑up,” Torres noted, emphasizing the need to adapt measures as the phenomenon evolves.
One of the main concerns is the wind direction, which is from the southwest—rare for the island. This has forced preventive actions such as the temporary closure of the Puerto del Rosario pier.
“Ports are oriented to protection to the northeast… given this lack of protection, preventive measures have been adopted,” the coordinator said. Carnival events in municipalities like Pájara have also been suspended, and emergency surveillance and response devices have been reinforced.
In total, more than a hundred Cabildo personnel, together with municipal and state resources, remain on standby to address possible incidents. The operation includes infrastructure inspections, clearing of ravines, and strengthening of intervention services.
From the Government of the Canary Islands, Manuel Miranda, Councillor for Territorial Policy, Territorial Cohesion and Water, confirmed that the storm is already causing significant effects on other islands and will gradually move eastward.
“The storm is very close… it will take several days to pass, until the weekend.”
Miranda also warned that the most complicated moments are still ahead.
“In the archipelago, Friday and Saturday are expected to be difficult, especially because of the wind and the sea.” He focused on the coastline, urging citizens to exercise caution, noting that “the sea will be very rough, with very high tides.”
Preventive measures are already affecting daily life on the island.
Classes are being held remotely, except in Fuerteventura and Lanzarote, which will also have no in‑person lessons tomorrow. Restrictions have been imposed to reduce mobility and facilitate emergency operations. Additionally, flight cancellations have been recorded across the archipelago due to wind gusts, a situation that could continue in the coming hours.
Despite the forecast of worsening conditions, alerts in Fuerteventura remain at yellow level, indicating low risk. However, emergency services do not rule out a change in the scenario if the storm intensifies.
“This storm has an instability component that could modify those alerts,” Torres warned, urging the public to stay informed through official channels.
Authorities share a clear message, inviting citizens to adopt self‑protection measures: avoid unnecessary travel, secure objects at home, and exercise heightened caution, especially in coastal areas.