What changes on Wednesday for visitors in the south?
Visitors in the south cannot swim on Wednesday, not even in the resorts. Red flags fly on the beaches in the north, west and south of Lanzarote, according to the Cabildo, and the ban lasts as long as the alert.
The Cabildo de Lanzarote y La Graciosa (the island government) has declared a “situación de alerta” (alert status) for Wednesday 11 November 2026. It runs from 00:00 on Wednesday to 00:00 on Thursday 12 November and rests on the island’s PEIN emergency plan.
The report does not mention a physical closure of the beaches. The red flag and the swimming ban are what count, and the headline about “closed beaches” goes further than the text.
The Cabildo also advises avoiding all nautical activity on both islands. Fishing boats should stay in port in the north, west and south of Lanzarote and on La Graciosa.
If you are near the coast, keep away from the shoreline, piers, breakwaters and promenades, and skip unnecessary journeys. Do not park in barrancos (dry beds of torrents) and do not drive through flooded roads.
Postpone hiking and cycling. Call 112 in an emergency.
Which schools stay shut on 11 November?
Five small village schools close on Wednesday. A Cabildo resolution suspends lessons and afternoon activities at Muñique, Tao, Soo and La Caleta de Famara in Teguise, and at El Cuchillo in Tinajo.
The report calls the measure a “proposal”. It does not say whether it is binding or only a recommendation.
All schools on La Graciosa teach online on 11 November, according to the regional education department, the Consejería de Educación, Formación Profesional, Actividad Física y Deportes. That applies where lessons can be moved, and it is not known whether every school stage is covered.
The report does not mention schools in Lanzarote’s larger municipalities. Whether they stay open is unconfirmed, and no separate statement from the Cabildo or the education department had appeared by Tuesday evening.
Parents should ask their school directly. In November 2025 the education authority announced suspensions on the emergency service’s advice and closed schools where online teaching was not possible.
The advice is also to suspend public sport, leisure and outdoor activities in the same five villages. The same goes for the whole of La Graciosa.
How strong will the wind, waves and rain be?
The Gobierno has issued a wind warning for all islands from 18:00 on Tuesday 10 November. It is based on data from the state weather service AEMET and the regional PEFMA emergency plan for adverse weather, and the level could rise.
The Dirección General de Emergencias of the Gobierno de Canarias (the regional government) maintains a warning for coastal hazards and strong wind. A pre-warning for rain applies in Lanzarote, La Graciosa and Fuerteventura.
The forecast gives waves of 3 to 4 metres with north-westerly swell and south-westerly wind of force 7, locally with very strong gusts. Showers of up to 15 millimetres of rain in an hour could pool water and send it running off.
For Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, the forecast expects gusts of around 90 kilometres per hour overnight into Wednesday. They hit mainly north and north-west slopes.
Charles follows the low Bruna, and AEMET issued a special warning for 10 to 12 November. Orange warnings for heavy rain and very strong gusts apply, according to the emergency service, which does not say which islands they cover.
The sources give no warning colour for Lanzarote or La Graciosa. A rainfall total for Lanzarote is also missing, while AEMET expects 80 to 100 litres per square metre for Tenerife and La Palma.
What about the general strike, ferries and flights?
The alert coincides with a general strike on 11 November, called by the unions CCOO and UGT over the housing crisis and low wages. Under the decision, Cabildo services must work in full and keep to the strike’s minimum services.
The consortium for security, emergencies, rescue and firefighting on Lanzarote must keep at least 90% of its staff on duty. No details were found on the strike’s hours or the sectors affected.
There is no confirmed information on flights from Lanzarote, on the Órzola–La Graciosa and Playa Blanca–Fuerteventura ferries, or on road closures. If you travel on Wednesday or hold a booked crossing, check with the operator.
Lanzarote showed on 12 April 2025 how fast rain can cause problems. Only a pre-warning applied beforehand, then the island declared an “emergencia por inundaciones pluviales” (rain flood emergency) for the first time.
There were 222 call-outs, 152 in Teguise and 70 in Arrecife. In Tahíche more than 100 litres per square metre fell within a few hours, and the LZ-20 bridge to San Bartolomé was closed.
What happens after 12 November?
The alert ends at 00:00 on 12 November. The Cabildo or the Dirección General de Emergencias would announce an extension or an earlier end, and nothing had been announced by Tuesday evening.
AEMET expects the rain to peak on Wednesday and ease from Thursday. No damage or incidents have been reported yet, because the storm had not reached Lanzarote by then.
Anyone wanting to swim again on Thursday should watch the beach flags, as nobody has announced an earlier end to the ban. Current warnings are published by 112 Canarias and AEMET.
This storm is not the first of the season. During the low Claudia in November 2025, Lanzarote had four warnings, and the Cabildo closed facilities and suspended outdoor activities.