Rain, wind, storms, waves, snow and fog trigger warnings this Saturday in thirteen provinces, Ceuta and Melilla

Access roads in high mountain regions of the Canary Islands are subject to restrictions due to heavy snow accumulation at altitudes below 1,400 meters, while other areas of the archipelago record snow depths between 1,700 and 2,000 meters. According to the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET), these conditions affect mobility and require extreme caution. In this context, Storm Emilia, located near Morocco, keeps thirteen provinces on the peninsula, as well as Ceuta and Melilla, under official warning due to the occurrence of heavy rains, winds, thunderstorms, strong waves and banks of fog, the agency explained, according to media reports.

Saturday will be characterized by adverse meteorological events directly related to the instability caused by Storm Emilia, whose reach extends to the peninsular areas and the archipelagos. As AEMET reports, level orange warning signals remain activated in Cádiz, Ceuta and several Canary Islands, posing a high risk to the safety of the population. The forecasts indicate torrential rain in the south of Andalusia and in areas close to the strait, where rainfall is expected to exceed 100 liters per square meter in short periods, with particular impact on the Cadiz coast and surrounding areas. The weather agency stressed the importance of following self-protection measures and authorities’ recommendations, as this rainfall poses a threat to infrastructure, services and travel.

According to the same source, Malaga and several islands of the Canary archipelago – including La Gomera, La Palma, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote – are under yellow alert for possible rainfall of a certain intensity, which requires constant monitoring and the adoption of preventive measures in the event of possible incidents. Strong winds are another risk factor, especially in the Strait and Alborán Sea, where a yellow warning remains in effect in the provinces of Almería, Cádiz, Málaga and Ceuta due to strong gusts. Orange alert applies on the Canary Islands, Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro and Gran Canaria, as very strong gusts as well as recurring showers and storms are to be expected, especially on the northern slopes of these islands.

The AEMET explained that Cadiz, Ceuta, Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote are under yellow watch due to the likelihood of thunderstorms related to the influence of Storm Emilia. This situation increases the possibility of power outages and affects the development of outdoor activities. When analyzing the state of the sea, AEMET reported the presence of yellow warnings along the coast of Almería, Cádiz, Granada, Málaga, Asturias (both west and east), Cantabria, Guipúzcoa, Vizcaya, Ceuta and Melilla. Particularly noteworthy is the case of Galicia, where an orange alert is in effect in the provinces of A Coruña, Lugo and Pontevedra due to the forecast of waves of considerable size. The coastal stretches of the Canary Archipelago also present complicated sea conditions that affect navigation and safety in coastal areas.

The dense fog, the agency said, mainly affected the province of Lugo, which is why a yellow warning was activated due to reduced visibility, making road traffic difficult and requiring caution when planning travel inland in the east and north of the peninsula. Adding to the fog warnings are forecasts of light frost in mountainous areas to the north, which increases the risk on the roads and may affect the performance of outdoor activities.

According to the AEMET, the pattern of rainfall appears to be irregular in the south of Andalusia, Ceuta, Melilla, the Balearic Islands and the eastern part of the peninsula. In the western third of the Cantabrian Sea, however, light rainfall will persist, while in Catalonia the probability of precipitation is low. Places such as Málaga, Cádiz and Ceuta experience persistent rainfall of significant intensity, sometimes accompanied by sudden storms.

Regarding cloud cover, the agency described clouds as prevailing over most of the area, although clear skies prevailed at times in the northern half. The Mediterranean areas have higher cloud density throughout the day. In the Canary Archipelago, rainfall is concentrated mainly in the north of the islands with greater relief. Snow accumulation in these sectors poses an additional challenge to mobility and the development of everyday activities.

In terms of temperatures, the AEMET indicated that maximum temperatures are increasing in the western half of the peninsula, with this increase being more pronounced in the westernmost part, on the upper Ebro and on the eastern slope of the southern plateau. In contrast, the southern areas of the Iberian system and the Canary Islands are experiencing a decrease in maximum temperatures. On the other hand, minimum temperatures are falling mainly in the Canary Archipelago, on the Cantabrian coast and in the north of the peninsula, while they are recording an upward trend on the Mediterranean coast, in the southeast and in the east of Andalusia. Slight thermal fluctuations are noticeable in the rest of the country.

Regarding the wind, the state authority stated that the northerly current prevails in the Canary Islands, which increases significantly on the islands with an increased alert level. In the peninsula, the eastern component predominates, with particular influence on the southern coastal regions, the Mediterranean environment, the Balearic Islands and the southern half, where the easterly wind can be strengthened in the strait and the Alborán Sea. The rest of Spain will experience lower intensity winds.

The AEMET highlighted the impact of these harmful phenomena on the development of daily life, on travel planning and on the safety of maritime activities, which require continuous monitoring and strict adherence to official self-protection recommendations. Emergency services and authorities continue to actively monitor meteorological developments and insist on taking the greatest possible precautionary measures throughout the national territory and on its coasts, given the risks associated with Storm Emilia.