Authorities in the Canary Islands have asked people to stock up on necessary emergency supplies, and prepare for the storm.

This weekend, heavy rainfall and strong winds with storm strength, equivalent to more than 118 km/h are expected.

On Friday afternoon, Spanish emergency authorities issued a tropical cyclone warning in the Canary Islands from midnight. The warning issued has the highest level of danger, according to the red hazard warning in Norway.

Worst week

The Canary Islands are a Spanish archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean that includes a number of popular holiday islands, including Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, and Tenerife.

The worst storm is expected on Sunday morning, with up to 30 millimeters of rain in an hour and a total of 100 millimeters per twelfth hour.

Strong winds are also possible, with storm strengths of up to 120 kilometers per hour. The storm is expected to last through Monday.

All schools will be closed on Monday.

– The land here is very dry, so when there is a large amount of rain, there is a lot of flooding, solid and flowing in the streets. In Las Palmas there are rivers in the streets when it really rains, Leo Lunde told Dagbladet. The Norwegian lives on Las Palmas in Gran Canaria, and has lived on the island for ten years.

Making preparations

Such storms often cause power outages in the Canary Islands.

Every day, Lunde works as a journalist and editor at Canary newspaper. Now she was as well prepared for the storm as possible – cleaning drains and removing outdoor furniture from the roof terrace. The artificial grass has been removed, so the water can be sucked into the ground.

– We have been asked by the authorities to have the necessary equipment such as flashlights, gas stoves, candles and enough food and water for several days, he said.

So he has done that.

Weather warnings like that have come before too – without being flashy. Then ended up with just a few scattered raindrops. Lunde was sure it would work this time.

– We need rain. It’s very dry here and very little rain in recent years. But of course I hope it’s not so bad that it affects people and property, says Leo Lunde.