An accelerating Storm Therese has thrust gran canaria weather into a precarious position days before the Maspalomas International Carnival. Officials have issued wind, coastal and rain pre-alerts that coincide with the Drag Queen Gala and the Grand Parade, and forecasts show gusts, high seas and concentrated downpours that could disrupt large outdoor gatherings. The overlap of peak carnival activity and a strengthening storm system has left authorities weighing safety measures and organisers bracing for rapid decisions.
Gran Canaria Weather: Carnival at risk as forecasts tighten
The Canary Islands Government has activated a coastal hazard alert and a wind alert for Gran Canaria, while a pre-alert for rain and storms and a PEINCA pre-alert for coastal and flash flood risk have also been issued. The Directorate General of Emergencies warns that the first effects will begin to be felt from Wednesday, March 18 (ET), with westerly winds and rough seas. For San Bartolomé de Tirajana the outlook through Sunday remains unstable, with Thursday shaping up as a particularly critical day for the Drag Queen Gala at the Yumbo Shopping Center and later weekend events, including the Grand Parade.
Deep analysis: what lies behind the warnings and the immediate implications
Storm Therese has prompted the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) to raise alert levels where conditions are worsening. AEMET has escalated alerts from yellow to orange for parts of Tenerife and La Palma, citing a significant increase in south-westerly winds. Northern Tenerife and wide areas of La Palma are forecast to see gusts up to 90 km/h and, in exposed zones around Mount Teide, south-westerly gusts could exceed 100 km/h. Across the archipelago, yellow warnings remain for other islands with gusts forecast up to 80 km/h and wave heights of four to five metres on exposed coasts.
For Gran Canaria specifically, forecasters indicate a mix of westerly gusts that may reach 90 km/h at onset, with AEMET issuing yellow warnings for east, south and west zones for gusts up to 80 km/h and concentrated rainfall possibilities of 15 mm in one hour and 60 mm in 12 hours. The combination of strong wind, heavy showers and rough seas raises acute concerns about coastal access, temporary event structures and runoff into ravines and small waterways. Organisers and emergency services face a narrow window to secure stages, alter routes or postpone activities to reduce risk to participants and spectators.
Expert perspectives and regional ripple effects
The State Meteorological Agency has raised the alert level from yellow to orange where the storm is strongest; this escalation reflects the growing likelihood of hazardous winds and rough seas. The Canary Islands Government has activated coastal and wind alerts for the region and emphasised the elevated risk through the weekend if the system remains stationary northwest of the islands. The Directorate General of Emergencies has highlighted the timing of first impacts beginning Wednesday, March 18 (ET) and urged extreme caution in coastal areas and on roads, with specific advice to avoid ravines and to postpone coastal activities should sea conditions deteriorate.
Beyond Maspalomas, the broader archipelago faces a staggered pattern of risk. Tenerife and La Palma are under heightened wind alerts with potential high-altitude exposure to the strongest gusts, while other islands remain on yellow alert for wind and swells. Sea conditions with four to five metre wave forecasts could disrupt ferry services, coastal recreation and any shoreline operations. The prospect that Storm Therese could remain stalled northwest of the islands would prolong showers and gusty conditions, increasing the cumulative risk of surface runoff and localized flooding.
Emergency planners now must balance the logistics of high-profile events against tangible meteorological threats that include strong gusts, significant wave heights and concentrated rainfall that can produce rapid runoff. The coming 48–72 hours will determine whether carnival fixtures proceed with contingency measures, are relocated indoors, or are postponed to safeguard mobility and access around key venues.
With organisers and authorities monitoring forecasts in real time, the critical question is whether proactive mitigation—temporary closures, accelerated evacuations of vulnerable coastal zones, or event postponements—will be taken in time to prevent harm and logistical disruption as gran canaria weather evolves under Storm Therese.
