Thursday, October 11, 2007
Weather alert in Tenerife for heavy rains
There's one thing we forgot about the upcoming puente or long weekend with a national holiday in it: Sod's Law and its affect on the weather! No, this is not an exclusively British weather phenomenon. Happens here too.
Based on information from the Spanish Meteorological Institute, the Canarian Government is declaring a state of orange alert, predicted to be in force from 00:00 hours on Friday, October 12th to 00:00 hours on Saturday, October 13th, because a storm and heavy rains, in the region of 30 liters per square meter, are expected in Tenerife and on the island of La Palma.
In the Canarian logic prevails and "you can't make this up" departments, the reports say it will affect, "Tenerife: Costa norte, La Orotava, Vilafor, Este, Oeste y Sur." (Tenerife: north coast, La Orotava, Vilaflor, East, West and South.) Well, I reckon that just about covers the entire island.
Seems redundant to list ... Oh well, mine is not to reason why. :)
We've certainly had heavier rains than 30 liters per square meter before, however, the report seems to suggest that they are expecting flooding.
An earlier report admitted that Las zonas afectadas por el incendio aún no están preparadas para las lluvias (The areas affected by the fire, still aren't prepared for the rains.) Mainly because, without the protection of ground cover, the topsoil and ash will be more liable to wash away and create rivers of slurry. So, putting two and two together, I think we can see why.
To the usual grocery list of recommendations to avoid flooded areas, water avalanches, gorges, falling rocks, is added some stronger wording: "avoid circulating" (in vehicles), abandon basements, disconnect the electricity, gas and water and do not touch electrical appliances if they are wet.
And, if you're on holiday, please follow the government's recommendation not to camp in areas liable to flooding. Now you're only allowed to camp in designated camp sites in the first place, so we wonder - we have no idea - how many camp sites were set up in areas liable to flooding? :)
Still, if rain washes away the beach volleyball, there are still many indoor pursuits available. You may be able to think of one or two for yourself, but as will be the case in Gran Canaria, while local authorities, banks and many small shops will be closed for the day, here too tourist areas are largely unaffected (by bank holidays) and the big shopping centers will be open.
Otherwise, stay attentive to the indications of the authorities.
Siga todas novedades de la alerta por tormenta que hay en la provincia de Tenerife. This is fun, if you read Spanish, you can get a blow by blow account of the weather situation from Canarias 7: a sorta "live blogging the alert", complete with interactive Google map and all. Try to stay awake.
The last two entries (arriving in reverse chronological order):
11.08: En Tenerife también el tiempo está estable. (In Tenerife also, the weather is stable.)
11.05: Sigue la situación de tranquilidad en la isla de La Palma. (The situation of tranquility continues in the island of La Palma.)
And Canarias24horas does it with diagrams and satellite pictures: Declarada situación de alerta por lluvias en Tenerife y La Palma.
All joking aside, I'm quite used to storms on these islands and this afternoon there is an ominous total lack of wind, which, when it dropped caused a really eerie quiet and a sharp rise in temperature to "uncomfortably muggy".
Such conditions do, generally, come before not very nice storms.
Labels: Tenerife Weather, Weather
