Easter Sunday will be blustery for holidaymakers in the Canary Islands, as strong winds and rough sea conditions have triggered yellow weather warnings in several popular tourist spots. Spain’s national weather agency AEMET has issued alerts for gusts expected to reach up to 43mph, particularly in areas in Tenerife, Gran Canaria, and La Gomera. Conditions at sea are also expected to be especially hazardous, with winds hitting up to about 37.9mph and waves reaching as high as six feet, particularly on the southeastern shores of Tenerife and Gran Canaria.

Tourists are being cautioned to be extra careful around mountainous or coastal areas today. The current AEMET forecast says that northeast winds with gusts of up to 43mph are expected to impact the peaks, southern midlands and north-western and eastern slopes of La Gomera, as well as the summits, southeastern slopes, and western areas of Gran Canaria. 

The local government of the Canary Islands said yesterday: "The Government of the Canary Islands, through the Directorate General for Emergencies, updates the situation and declares a pre-alert for winds on all the islands, as of 16:00 hours today, Saturday 19 April.

"This decision is taken taking into account the information provided by the State Meteorological Agency and other available sources, and in application of the Specific Emergency Plan for the Canary Islands due to the Risk of Adverse Meteorological Phenomena (PEFMA)."

It listed the scope pf areas being El Hierro, La Gomera, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, La Palma (El Paso and coast of Garafía, Fuencaliente and Mazo), Tenerife (Coast of Buenavista del Norte, San Miguel, Granadilla, Arico, de Fasnia, and Güímar) and Gran Canaria (Cumbres, and coast of Gáldar, Agaete, Artenara, La Aldea, San Bartolomé de Tirajana, Santa Lucía de Tirajana, Agüimes, Ingenio and Telde).

It also stated that moderate to strong north-easterly winds with strong to very strong gusts were likely. 

The statement also mentioned that wind gusts could occasionally exceed 43mph, with average wind speeds expected to range between 18.6mph and 31mph.

Although today brings the worst of the weather, AEMET has said that no severe warnings will remain in place by Monday, April 21.

The weather is set to improve steadily throughout the week, with Tenerife expected to hit a summery 27C by Sunday, April 27.