A small rock in the Atlantic

Weather Pre-alert

A pre-alert means don't panic yet, but check before you go out.

High winds are expected tomorrow (Thursday) in the eastern Canaries: Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, and Fuertaventura, and the day after (Friday) in all the islands. They expect gusts up to 75 km/h / 46 mph. That's Force 8 on the Beaufort Scale: "Twigs broken from trees. Cars veer on road."

So Friday might not be the best day for ridge walks or a boat trip.

Labels: Canaries, Canary Isands, La Palma, La Plama, Weather

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The cloud waterfall.

Because the island sits in the trade winds, damp air hits the northeast of the island and has to rise, where it turns into clouds. Because La Palma has a north-south spine called the Cumbre Nueva, the cloud quite often reaches up to the ridge and then tumbles over as the cloud waterfall. This is extremely pretty, and best viewed from around the western side of the tunnel. You can also look down on it from the Los Andennes mirador on the road to the observatory.

Sometimes, when the winds blow from the west, the waterfall tumbles down the eastern side of the ridge.

Occasionally, it keeps going after sunset, and you can see it lit by the full moon, which makes you wonder if you've slipped through to Narnia or Middle Earth.

Just once, I saw a spectacular sunset illuminate it candyfloss-pink.

I didn't have a camera.

I swore.

Labels: Canaries, Canary islands, La Palma, Weather

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A Blustery Day

Some people reckon that the Canaries have the best climate in the world, but right now, it's blowing a gale out there. Yesterday was bad, and today is worse - we've had gusts up to force ten. The schools in Mazo, the Breñas and Santa Cruz were all shut this morning (my son was delighted, of course). The dentist didn't open either. Since the gale is from the west, the airport is shut.

It wouldn't seem nearly so odd in the UK. But the island normally sits in the trade winds, which means that we have steady winds from the north-east. It also tends to create a cloud that steadily builds up on the east side of the island. Today, with the wind coming the other side, the cloud was on the west and the east was mostly sunny - with occasional pouring rain.

Of course that means that we also got rainbows.

Labels: Canaries, Canary islands, La Palma, Weather

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What to put in your suitcase

The Palmeran climate's a lot less predictable than it used to be. We had an unusually dry winter, but so far spring is wetter than usual. In any case, at this time of year, the weather's very changeable. It's not like Ireland - if you don't like the weather just wait five minute and it'll change - but half an hour ago it was pouring, and now it's just cloudy.

So do bring the waterproofs if you're planning to go walking. Bring good boots too, unless you're planning to walk mainly on roads. The trails vary, and some are very rough. Do NOT try to hike round the Caldera rim in high-heeled shoes! (I did see someone trying once. She didn't get far!)

Then there's the change in climate due to altitude. Down at the airport (260 ft, or 80 m above sea level) it's currently 15ºC. Up at the Roque, (7,900 ft or 2464 m) it's just below zero (-0.6ºC). So unless you're planning to sit on the beach for the whole holiday, you'll want a jumper or even a fleece. Bring the swimsuits too - they don't take up much space, and we've been getting intervals of glorious sunshine. Ten years ago, we only got the calima - the wind off the Sahara - for a few days in the middle of summer. But we had it for a few days in January, and even the locals headed for the beach.

Very often, the west of the island (including Cancajos) is sunny in the morning, and the cloud builds out from the mountain as the day goes on. So the beach is the last place to cloud over. The East of the island (including Puerto Naos and the Princess hotel) is much sunnier and drier.

I've created a page with links to weather stations around the island here. At the moment, it's still very basic, but it will improve as I find more weather stations and webcams.

Labels: Canaries, Canary islands, La Palma, Weather