The cyclone near the Canary Islands becomes Tropical Storm Hermine

The NHC has just officially confirmed that Tropical Depression Ten has been upgraded to Tropical Storm Hermine, due to its rapidly intensifying strength.

It had been earlier announced that this adverse meteorological event was classed as a Tropical depression, which is the lowest category of tropical cyclones, although it is already now referred to as a Tropical Storm bearing the name Hermine, due to the fact that it has increased in strength rapidly over the last few hours.

This is the current information from the US National Hurricane Center, in charge of monitoring storms forming in the Atlantic:

Tropical Storm Hermine is moving toward the north-northwest near 10 mph (17
km/h), with maximum sustained winds near 40 mph (65 km/h) with higher gusts.

RAINFALL: Hermine is forecast to produce 2 to 4 inches (50 to 100 
mm) of rain, with isolated totals of 6 inches (150 mm), over the 
Canary Islands through this weekend. This rainfall could cause some 
flash flooding in areas of higher terrain.

All Canary Islands are under maximum alert over the weekend

This means that all events are suspended, all activities are canceled as well (including tourist excursions and tours) and also markets like the big market in Teguise, Lanzarote.

Also, the Government has decided to suspend classes next Monday due to the declaration of the maximum alert for rains, floods, storms and winds.

The AEMET has issued a special warning for a tropical cyclone with an indirect impact on the Canary Islands since the nucleus is not expected to directly impact the islands, although it will leave intense rainfall during the weekend and on Monday.

According to the AEMET delegate in the Canary Islands, David Suárez, if this morning there was an 80% probability of tropical cyclone formation, as of noon the National Hurricane Center has confirmed and categorized it as Tropical depression 10, currently in front of Cape Verde, 1,500 km from the Canary Islands.

The deputy director of Civil Protection, Marta Moreno, recalled the importance of self-protection and insisted that Sunday will be a complicated day, with heavy rains and possible flooding, and that it is necessary to anticipate and take civil protection measures on Saturday. In that sense, she pointed out the importance of keeping roofs and gutters clean and also removing from balconies and facades any objects that could fall outside.