What changes for visitors to La Palma?
East La Palma dropped from “alerta máxima” to “alerta” at 09:00 on Monday 2 November. The Dirección General de Emergencias (the Canary Islands government’s emergency directorate) cites less rainfall and says the earlier thresholds are no longer generally expected.
This is not an all-clear. The rest of the island stays on “alerta”, and the authority still reports uncertainty over where, how hard and how long the rain will fall.
The change covers the east flank, not the whole island. Anyone living or holidaying in the west or south of La Palma remains under “alerta”.
Where and when are storms still possible?
Storms may flare up again between La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro, where an unstable area lingers. The authority expects locally heavy to very heavy rain.
The risk is greatest in the evening, at night and in the early morning. The night into 3 November is therefore still open.
The statement does not say how much rain has fallen so far. The government has not said when the alert will end.
What applies on Tenerife and Gran Canaria?
Tenerife and Gran Canaria stay on “prealerta”. On Gran Canaria, the authority expects up to 15 millimetres of rain per hour on the north side from midday on 2 November.
On Tuesday 3 November, the instability should spread to the rest of Gran Canaria. If you plan day trips north from a southern resort, factor that in.
How do the alert levels work?
The Canary Islands government sets the levels through its emergency directorate, based on forecasts from the state weather service AEMET. According to background research, the sequence runs prealerta, alerta, alerta máxima and emergency.
AEMET’s colour warnings (yellow, orange, red) are separate, because AEMET issues warnings while the government decides the regional level. It is unclear whether “alerta máxima” is a formal level of the emergency plan or a press term.
What happened during the last alert in October?
On 22 October, RTVC reported the alert covered El Hierro, La Gomera and east La Palma. AEMET issued orange warnings there for up to 30 l/m² in one hour and up to 100 l/m² in 12 hours.
On 23 October, RTVC reported that rockfall closed the LP-202 in Santa Cruz de La Palma between Correos and Callejón Sebastián Arozena. The Cabildo (island government) secured the slope and gave no reopening date.
The LP-302 and LP-214 were also shut briefly. It is unknown whether the LP-202 is still closed on 2 and 3 November.
What should travellers do now?
The government urges residents to follow the emergency directorate’s self-protection advice. In October, RTVC listed these steps: check roofs, gutters and drains, do not park in ravine beds, secure windows, and keep a torch, water and a battery radio ready.
112 Canarias adds: do not walk through ravines and do not cross flooded roads. In an emergency, call 112.
Before any outing, check the Canary Islands government and AEMET advice. The Cabildo de La Palma can advise on the state of footpaths and roads, but no specific closures are confirmed for 2 and 3 November.