Storm Emilia is here on Lanzarote

Storm Emilia arrived on Lanzarote yesterday (Friday, 12^th December) and will continue for much of today, bringing high winds, rough seas and rain.

The worst-affected areas so far have been the north and central areas of the island, with Los Valles and Haría registering more than 20 mms of rainfall in total. A sharp drop in temperatures has also arrived, with higher-lying areas seeing readings of 11 degrees Celsius

Yellow alerts (the lowest level) remain in place today, Saturday 13^th, for rain that could reach up to 20 mms in an hour, winds of up to 70 kph and possible storms. An orange alert for rough seas is also in place, causing authorities to close off access to Los Charcones and the abandoned Atlante del Sol hotel near Playa Blanca.

Public events scheduled for today such as the markets at Haría and Arrecife, Costa Teguise’s Christmas market and the Navilan Christmas Fair have been cancelled, along with many sporting events. Authorities have also warned islanders to take care when driving, as roads could be slippery or flooded.

The poor weather is expected to continue for much of the day but is predicted to ease this evening. So far, only a yellow alert for rough seas is in place for Sunday 14^th, and events such as Teguise Market have not yet been cancelled.