Meteorologist Jan Schenk speaks of an unusual situation in the weather talk with FOCUS online.

Unusual weather conditions with rain from the south

Trigger is on Low pressure areawhich shifts slowly and affects the islands over several days. “That takes a relatively long time. That means we constantly have precipitation,” explains Schenk. What’s particularly noticeable is that the rain is coming from an unfamiliar direction. “Especially from southern directions. That’s unusual. Normally the rain comes from the north.”

Extreme amounts of rain in a short period of time

The forecast rainfall amounts are exceptionally high for the region. “It (the weather model) now brings in another 200 liters,” says Schenk, referring to the current models. Islands such as are particularly affected TenerifeLa Palma and Gran Canaria.

The rain hits a region that actually has a completely different climate: “The Canary Islands are located at the height of the Sahara. In principle, the climate in the south is desert.” The risk of flooding is correspondingly high. Schenk clearly warns against this.

Mountains increase the rainfall

An additional factor is the high mountains on the islands. The almost 4000 meter high Teide on Tenerife has a significant influence on the weather. “It’s raining like crazy there,” said Schenk. This causes rainfall to increase locally.

Meter-high waves on the coasts

In addition to the rain, there are also high ones Waves for danger. Schenk speaks of three to six meters. This can lead to dangerous situations, especially on the coast. Although the waves are expected to subside over the weekend, the situation currently remains tense.

Storm conditions will last for several days

The situation will only slowly ease at the beginning of next week. Until then, the weather in the Canary Islands will remain turbulent. Schenk’s conclusion: “Please be careful on the Canary Islands. There’s a real storm alarm going on right now.”