Yellow alert issued for thunderstorms across the Canary Islands

The State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) has kept the yellow alert for thunderstorms active, extending it across all of the Canary Islands this Tuesday, 20th August.

According to the agency, the risk is expected to last until 6:00 PM this evening, with thunderstorms likely in the area around the islands, particularly with high bases.

There’s also a chance these storms could be accompanied by locally very strong convective gusts with unpredictable wind directions. The Canary Islands remain on pre-alert for this weather phenomenon, as declared by the Canary Islands government under the Specific Emergency Plan for Adverse Meteorological Risks.

This instability is being caused by the interaction between a subsaharan low-pressure system and an eastern wave to the south-southeast of the Canary Islands, which is leading to increased humidity and the potential for storms.

The forecast points to thunderstorms involving electrical activity (lightning, thunder, etc.), and there's a possibility of strong storms with occasional scattered showers.

Additionally, locally very strong wind gusts with unpredictable directions (dry downbursts) could be recorded.