Claudia arrives in Lanzarote in weakened state

Storm Claudia reached Lanzarote in a weakened state last night, bringing moderate rain and some strong wind overnight.

After days of anticipation, the storm’s arrival was an anticlimax, with some high winds and rain, with 1.4 mms being measured at Lanzarote Airport by 8 am. As day broke, much of the island was under grey skies, with light rainfall, warm temperatures and moderate winds.

Nevertheless, the island remains under an orange alert for rain until 3 pm, with yellow alerts for wind and storms until 5 pm, and rough seas until 3 pm.

Schools will remain closed, and the Cabildo has cancelled all open-air activities scheduled for today, as well as closing all the island’s Tourist Centres.

Two flights from London and Edinburgh were diverted to Fuerteventura last night, and a third plane from Barcelona was directed to Gran Canaria.  Meanwhile three large cruise ships changed their itinerary after Arrecife closed its port, affecting 4,000 cruise passengers.