What applies on La Palma until Thursday?
The Dirección General de Emergencias, the Canary government's emergency service, keeps La Palma on the “alerta” level for rain from 11:30 on Wednesday 11 November. It draws on data from the state weather service AEMET and on the PEFMA emergency plan for dangerous weather.
In the east and on the summits, up to 100 mm of rain could fall in 12 hours by 18:00. The authority names Breña Baja, Breña Alta, Santa Cruz de La Palma and the north of the Caldera de Taburiente in particular.
Up to 30 mm an hour could fall across the island until 00:00 on Thursday 12 November. From 18:00 the authority expects 60 mm in 12 hours in the east, on the summits and in the west.
The authority speaks of intense, persistent rain. The notice gives no end date for the alert.
What does it mean for visitors in the south?
The official text names no resorts in the south, and no closures or school measures. It describes rain across the whole island, centred on the east and the summits.
Anyone living or holidaying in the south should expect showers of up to 30 mm an hour. The authority expects the most rain in the east, on the summits and in the Caldera de Taburiente.
It warns of more water in the barrancos (ravines), local flooding, landslides and damage to roads. Water can also reach lower down the valley, where less rain falls.
Walkers should check local access restrictions first. Travellers on flights or ferries should ask the airline or ferry company, as a warning alone does not mean a cancellation.
What does the emergency service advise?
The authority advises avoiding road journeys where possible. Nobody should cross barrancos, even dry ones, or low-lying spots, or park in them.
Doors, windows and loose objects should be secured. Keep away from the coast and the sea.
In an emergency, call 112. For information only, the Canary government has given the number 012 in earlier warnings.
The full advice on heavy rain and flood risk is attached to the notice. It is on the official website.
What is the situation on the other islands?
El Hierro, La Gomera, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote are on the “prealerta” pre-alert level. Only La Palma is on the higher “alerta” level.
Rain continues into the early hours of Thursday 12 November on Tenerife, La Gomera and El Hierro. On Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote it may still rain on Thursday morning.
The authority does not rule out thunderstorms, mainly on the eastern islands and in the north of Tenerife. Anyone travelling between islands in the coming days should check their connections beforehand.
How does this alert compare with earlier ones?
On 2 November the east of La Palma was already on “alerta máxima”, the highest level. According to the figures published then, 62 l/m² fell in one hour and 138 l/m² in 12 hours.
In the medianías (mid-altitude areas) of Breña Baja, 181.3 l/m² fell in five hours. La Palma airport recorded 76.2 and Santa Cruz de La Palma 46.6 l/m².
That night the power failed across the island, and Endesa, the electricity supplier, restored it at about 10:30. The emergency control centre CECOES 112 counted around a hundred call-outs on four islands, mostly for power cuts, water in homes, backed-up drains and landslides.
During Storm Bruna on 7 and 8 November, the warnings at the time covered rain and wind alerts on La Palma, El Hierro, La Gomera, Tenerife and Gran Canaria. Forecasters expected 30 l/m² an hour and gusts of about 90 km/h.
More than 20 flights were cancelled on La Palma. Other reports give nine cancellations and eleven diversions.
What is still unknown?
The official text mentions no wind warning, road closures or school measures for 11 November. No other official report has turned up for them so far.
A regional forecast also announced wind with gusts from 90 km/h for 10 and 11 November, mainly on La Palma.
Current warnings are on the official website. The rain forecast runs to 00:00 on Thursday 12 November; the authority has not said what applies after that.