The Government of the Canary Islands has decided to maintain the pre-alert for rain affecting the entire Archipelago after the technical coordination meeting held on Tuesday morning, the fifth since this episode of rain began, to monitor the meteorological phenomenon in which the General Directorate of Emergencies of the Executive, the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET), the island councils and municipalities of the islands participated, and which was attended by the Deputy Minister of Emergencies and Water of the Canary Islands, Marcos Lorenzo, and the General Director Fernando Figuereo.
AEMET's forecast indicates that the atmospheric instability is leaving behind the westernmost islands and moving towards Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, losing intensity, although with a front that will continue to leave water in a more or less significant way until it subsides this Wednesday.
For this reason, in application of the Specific Emergency Plan of the Canary Islands for Risks of Adverse Meteorological Phenomena (PEFMA), and based on the forecast of the State Meteorological Agency and other available sources, the Government of the Canary Islands will not consider the pre-alert situation for rain to be concluded until the meteorological warnings have ended, and the situation is re-evaluated tomorrow.
In addition, the coincidence of this atmospheric instability with the Carnival festivities, which concentrates a large number of people in the events that take place in the street, has led the Canary Islands Executive to constantly monitor the situation.
During the past early morning, the activity of the Coordinating Center for Emergencies and Security (CECOES) 112 of the Government of the Canary Islands related to this adverse meteorological phenomenon returned to normal and no incidents were recorded.
Self-protection to avoid risks
The Government of the Canary Islands recommends that the population adopt appropriate measures to prevent and avoid risky situations while atmospheric instability continues, especially during Carnival events.
In this sense, it reminds that it is essential to consult the weather forecast and the state of the roads before making any trip, respecting the signs and not accessing roads closed to traffic, as is the case of the accesses to the Teide National Park, in Tenerife, or to the Roque de Los Muchachos in La Palma, and remain attentive to the indications of the security forces.
During heavy rainfall, it is not advisable to drive and, if it is essential, extreme caution should be taken when driving, moderate speed, maintain a safe distance between vehicles and drive preferably on main roads and highways, avoiding access to forest tracks or secondary roads.
With regard to areas where snowfall is likely, special caution is necessary with the formation of ice patches, as it is difficult to determine where on the route they may have formed.
In any case, in case of emergency, do not overestimate your own possibilities, call 112 immediately and wait for the arrival of the emergency services.
