The Garoé storm has burst into Spain and the Canary Islands as one of the most outstanding phenomena of the season, leaving behind abundant rains, strong winds and a notable rising temperaturesThis storm, named by the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere, has triggered numerous alerts in several communities due to the potential impact of rainfall, southerly winds and coastal phenomena.
The storm has been particularly intense in the southwest of the peninsula and the Canary Islands. In parts of Western Andalusia, Extremadura and northern Cáceres, rainfall amounts exceeding 1000 mph have been recorded. 200 mm thanks to the southerly winds, known as "rainy winds". In the Canary Islands, the situation has activated meteorological pre-alerts for wind and coastal phenomena, with waves that have reached 5 meters in some points.
Heavy rainfall and risk of flooding
Since his arrival, Garoé has brought widespread rains which have impacted almost the entire peninsula, being more intense in provinces such as Huelva, Seville and Cáceres. In these areas, the accumulated 12 hours have surpassed the 90 mm, which has led to the activation of orange alerts in Huelva and yellow alerts in Seville. In addition, the Special Emergency Plan for Flood Risk (PERI) was activated to mitigate the effects in vulnerable areas.
In the Canary Islands, the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) has declared a yellow alert for both rainfall and winds, with the west of La Palma and Tenerife being the most affected areas. Despite the intensity of the rain, temperatures have risen in most of the islands, restricting the snowfall at levels above the 2.200 meters. The influence of other storms such as Nuria It can also affect the behavior of this type of phenomena in the region.
Impact on temperatures: the end of frosts
With the passage of this storm, temperatures have shown a notable rise in large areas of the country. This is especially evident in the north of Extremadura, Andalusia and both Canary Islands, where the nighttime minimum temperatures have stopped being below zero, reaching more temperate values between the 12 and 16 degreesTo better understand the behavior of these disturbances, you can consult information on other recent storms that have affected the climate in Spain and the Canary Islands.
Winds and coastal phenomena
The wind has been another of the main protagonists of this phenomenon. In the Canary Islands, the gusts have exceeded 90 km/h on Teide and in points west of La Palma and Tenerife. In the southwest of the peninsula, winds have reached speeds of more than 70 km/h, especially affecting the coasts of Galicia and the Gulf of Cadiz. wind dynamics and its impact on coastal phenomena such as waves are essential to understanding the seriousness of the situation.
As for the maritime situation, the waves have reached the 5 meters on the Galician coast and the northern Canary Islands, causing disruptions to shipping routes and self-protection recommendations from local authorities. For more details on how winds affect the weather, see the different types of winds in Spain.
New storms on the horizon
Although storm Garoé has begun to weaken in some areas, its impact will still be felt in the coming days. It is expected that storms will persist until Thursday. Rain in areas such as northern Cáceres and western Andalusia, before giving way to new storms that will bring more rainfall to the northwest of the peninsula. The evolution of these storms can be further analyzed in other phenomena in the month.
For the weekend, weather models anticipate new Atlantic fronts that could extend to the center and west of the peninsula. These phenomena will bring with them a drop in temperatures and possibly, snowfall at lower altitudes. Forecasts for changes in the weather, related to storms such as Garoé, can also be found at more information about storms.
Storm Garoé has left a significant mark on Spain and the Canary Islands, standing out for both its Torrential rains as well as the change in temperatures. While some regions will breathe a sigh of relief after this much-needed rain, others will need to be alert to the potential associated risks, such as floods y ground slides.