The government of Canary Islands issued a pre-alert for dangerous coastal conditions on Tuesday, 1 September 2026, for La Gomera, Tenerife and Gran Canaria . The measure by the Dirección General de Emergencias comes into effect at 9 pm and is based on assessments by the state meteorological agency AEMET and other meteorological analyses. The notice identifies the main areas of concern as the coasts in the La Gomera–Tenerife Channel and in the Tenerife–Gran Canaria Channel and the south-east of Gran Canaria.
According to the notice, north to north-easterly winds of 30 to 50 kilometres per hour are expected (Beaufort force 5 to 6), with local areas reaching force 7, or 50 to 61 kilometres per hour. Particularly exposed are La Gomera’s east coast, Tenerife’s north-west and south-east coasts, Gran Canaria’s west coast, and sea areas south of the channel between Tenerife and Gran Canaria. Rough swell and, in places, very rough seas are expected. Wave heights of one to two metres are forecast in the northern channels. South-facing stretches of exposed coast may also experience southern swell of a similar height.
The authorities are activating the pre-alert under the Plan Específico de Emergencias de Canarias por Riesgos de Fenómenos Meteorológicos Adversos (PEFMA). The Dirección General de Emergencias is urging people to take extra care and recommends avoiding exposed shorelines, breakwaters and cliffs, securing sports and small craft in harbour, and following instructions from port and municipal authorities. The notice does not impose general beach closures or other restrictions; local measures may nevertheless be introduced at short notice depending on conditions.
The decision follows a weather pattern of stronger trade winds, which may increase wave activity and create dangerous conditions in the specified areas. The statement makes no claims about damage, an extension of the affected areas or an elevation of the alert level. The Canary Islands government says it will monitor developments continuously and issue updates if necessary. For residents and coastal traffic, the advice remains: check conditions regularly, follow official guidance and avoid unnecessary risks near the water.
The pre-alert is explicitly preventive. It signals an increased likelihood of dangerous coastal conditions, without activating the stricter powers associated with a higher alert level. Whether and when it is adjusted will depend on actual changes in wind direction and strength, wave conditions and local exposure.
Editor: Andreas M. Brucker (Article created with AI assistance).