Heavy rain in the Canary Islands: what to do, and what the alerts mean
On most days it doesn't rain in the Canary Islands, so few people prepare for it. But when a rain front comes through, a lot of water can come down in a short time, and that water doesn't stay where it falls: it gathers on the steep slopes and in the dry stream beds, the barrancos, and rushes downhill. In this article we have collected the official advice of the Canary government's emergency directorate (Dirección General de Emergencias), and we explain the alerts you will come across when this happens.
The two most important rules, if this is all you read: in heavy rain, don't go into a barranco, either to hike or to camp, and don't drive into water when you can't see how deep it is. If water starts coming into your car, the official advice is to leave it.
Important: alerts can differ from island to island, and even within a single island, and they change within hours. What you read here is based on information from the Canary government and the Spanish state weather service (AEMET) available in October 2026. On the day, always check the latest official alert.
It rarely rains, but when it does, it really rains
A recent example shows the scale. On 1 October 2026 the Canary government issued a rain alert for the north and east of La Palma, and according to its press release up to 150 millimetres of rain were expected within 12 hours, locally more than 180 millimetres. That is up to 150 litres of water per square metre in a single half day, and locally even more.
That alert was not an exception. The government's alert log lists three rain alerts in the first ten days of October 2026: on 1 October for La Palma (a prealerta, later raised to alerta), and on 6 October and 9 October for several islands (a prealerta both times). The 9 October alert covered Lanzarote, La Graciosa, Fuerteventura and the northern slopes of Gran Canaria and Tenerife.
Much of the danger comes from the terrain. A barranco is the islands' typical deep-cut ravine or gorge. For most of the year it is dry, and often a hiking trail runs along it, but in heavy rain it is the natural drain: this is where the water from the slopes collects. That is why the Canary government's advice includes this: never camp in places that can flood, such as barranco beds, not even in summer.
Two alert systems, two sets of names
When rain is forecast, you may come across two kinds of alert, and it's worth knowing that they don't mean the same thing.
AEMET's colours describe the forecast: how much danger the expected weather poses. AEMET uses three levels and gives a recommendation for each:
Yellow: the danger is low, but there may be damage in vulnerable places. The recommendation: stay alert and follow the latest forecast.
Orange: the danger is significant, and serious damage can occur. The recommendation: be prepared, take precautions and follow the latest forecast.
Red: the danger is extraordinary. The recommendation: take preventive measures, act on the authorities' instructions, and don't travel unless it is strictly necessary.
The Canary government's levels, on the other hand, are official emergency levels. The Dirección General de Emergencias declares them based on AEMET's forecast and other sources, under the Canary emergency plan for adverse weather (PEFMA). The alert log uses three names, in increasing order of severity: prealerta (pre-alert), alerta (alert) and alerta máxima (maximum alert).
The level can change within a single day. In the La Palma case on 1 October, the government declared a prealerta at 8:30 in the morning, raised it to alerta at 14:15, and closed it at 11:00 the following day. Anyone who checked in the morning saw something quite different from anyone who checked in the afternoon.
If you've planned a hike
Heavy rain affects hikers fastest. On trails that run through barrancos the water arrives quickly, and on mountain roads stones and earth can slide down.
On Tenerife in March 2026, during the storm named Therese, the Cabildo (the island's government), according to press reports, declared the highest level (alerta máxima) for the metropolitan area under its own island emergency plan, while an alert was in force on the rest of the island. Teide National Park was evacuated, and access to trails, forest tracks and recreation areas was banned. The barrancos of Santa Cruz (Santos, El Hierro, El Bufadero) were watched continuously because their flow had risen sharply.
In practice, this means:
Don't set off on a barranco hike while a rain alert is in force, even if it isn't raining where you are. A barranco collects the water from the slopes above it.
On the day of your hike, check whether the trail or the road leading to it has been closed.
If the water starts rising in the stream bed, the general principle of the official advice applies here too: head for higher ground, and don't carry on along the bed.
We have a separate guide to the Masca Gorge, one of Tenerife's best-known barranco hikes: Barranco de Masca: a guide to the village, the hike and booking. If you want to make sense of the trail markings: GR, PR and SL: how to read the trail signs in the Canary Islands.
If you're in the car or on the road
The Canary government advises you to avoid driving in heavy rain if you can. If you really have to:
Pay close attention to how deep the water is, slow down, and check your brakes.
Stick to main roads and motorways where possible, avoid forest tracks and minor roads, and use a low gear.
Don't cross a bridge with water flowing over it.
If water starts coming into the car, it is better to leave it.
The official advice even covers having to cross fast-flowing water: in that case, tie a rope around your waist with the other end secured to a fixed or heavy object. That alone shows how seriously fast-flowing water has to be taken: if nothing forces you into that situation, don't cross.
If it catches you at your accommodation or at home
If your accommodation is not in a barranco bed or another risky spot, stay indoors if possible.
Don't go down into rooms that can flood, such as a garage or basement.
Don't use the lift, because the power can go off at any moment. Switch off the electricity.
Make sure no toxic or flammable substances get into the water.
If necessary, don't hesitate to leave the building: go to higher ground, or to wherever the authorities are directing residents.
If the water cuts you off on an upper floor of the building, don't try to swim out, because the current can sweep you away. It is better to wait for help.
There are a few rules for after the emergency too: only go back in once the experts say it is safe, don't strike a match or use anything that gives off sparks when you go in, not even a light switch, and drink only bottled water.
112 or 012
The Canary government specifically asks you to call 112 only in an emergency. If you need information, for example about a closure or an alert, use the Canary government's information line, 012.
Where to check the official information
Canary government alerts: on the Dirección General de Emergencias alert page (Historial de Alertas) you can see both declared and closed alerts, with the times and the areas affected.
AEMET warnings: on the Meteoalerta page you can see the yellow, orange and red warnings by island and by zone.
Local media: the government advises following the instructions given out in the media before heavy rain arrives.
If the sea is rough as well, you can read about coastal warnings here: Coastal warnings in the Canary Islands: what they mean and what to do. For Saharan dust, the calima, see: Calima in the Canary Islands: what to do when the sky turns yellow. Our general weather guide: Islands of eternal spring? A complete guide to the weather in the Canary Islands, and safety tips island by island: Safety in the Canary Islands, island by island: the sea, booked hikes and the new traffic rules. If your trip is coming up: Do I need travel insurance for the Canary Islands?.
Sources: Gobierno de Canarias, Dirección General de Emergencias: Consejos Lluvias (self-protection advice for heavy rain), the alert log (Historial de Alertas) and the rain alert pages for 1 October and 9 October 2026; Gobierno de Canarias, press release on the La Palma rain alert (1 October 2026); AEMET, Meteoalerta, explanation of the warning levels; Diario de Avisos, report on the measures ordered on Tenerife during storm Therese (24 March 2026).
Cover photo (cropped): rain over Roque Bentaiga, Gran Canaria. Tony Hisgett, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
