UK tourists warned as Canary Islands placed under yellow alert

The entire coastlines of El Hierroa, La Palma, La Gomera, Fuertevnetura and Lanzarote are covered by the warnings

Fuerteventura has been placed under a yellow alert(Image: Hans-Peter Merten/Getty Images)

Spain’s meteorological agency, Aemet, has put out yellow alerts urging holidaymakers in the Canary Islands to “exercise caution” near the coast. This comes as yellow warnings took effect in the early hours of Tuesday, January 21.

The advisories, that run until midnight, cover all of El Hierro, La Palma, La Gomera, Fuerteventura, and Lanzarote, along with the northern coasts of Tenerife and Gran Canaria, where Aemet is forecasting significant swells reaching “four to five metres.”

Canarian Weekly advises both locals and visitors in these coastal areas to stay vigilant and pay attention to the warning flags on beaches during this period. While yellow flags indicate moderate sea conditions that require caution, red flags signal dangerous conditions prohibiting swimming.

It’s recommended to keep abreast of the latest weather updates and avoid any risky activities near the water while alerts remain in place. Looking ahead this week, the Canary Islands can expect overcast skies with a possibility of light rainfall. Aemet also forecasts strong winds for parts of Tenerife and La Palma, which are likely to impact the ocean swell, reports the Manchester Evening News.

For Tuesday specifically, Aemet has projected: “Strong south-westerly wind on the peaks of Tenerife, with westerly wind on the peaks of La Palma, with very strong gusts.”

Forecasters have described the weather outlook saying, “During the first half of the day, cloudy or overcast in the western province and in the southwest of Gran Canaria, with probable light to moderate rainfall, especially on the southern and western slopes, less probable in Gran Canaria.”

“Cloudy intervals in the rest of the areas. In the afternoon, wide clearings and generally weak rainfall not ruled out in the mountainous islands. Cloudy intervals in Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. Minimum temperatures slightly rising.”

“Maximum temperatures with little change. Wind from the southwest or west, moderate with intervals of strong on the northwest and southeast slopes, as well as in high areas. On the peaks of Tenerife and La Palma, strong wind with very strong gusts.”