Live Music on La Gomera: Soon a thing of the past ? Updated

 When I first came to La Gomera many years ago all the buses on the island were displaying the motto 'La Gomera es musica', which doesn't need any translation. There was a vibrant live music scene and music of all kinds was freely played and enjoyed by locals and visitors. 

Over the past few years this was more and more curtailed by the authorities and a lot of spontaneity and 'joie de vivre' was lost. Occasionally music sessions and live gigs happened in phases when all seemed to start up again, but over the past few weeks  the quietest music was banned and even paying customers who had a bit of a music session were told by police to stop the music. Owners of bars and restaurants were threatened with huge fines and/or closure, even though they kept the volume down and stopped the music strictly at 11pm ! In most tourism-dependent communities around the world live entertainment is just getting into full swing at that time. 

Paradoxically the salsa bands that frequently play outdoors at extremely loud levels all over the island are allowed to continue at full blast until daybreak, while tax-paying publicans and restaurant owners are finding it hard to attract customers to their premises without live music. A campaign for live music has begun and posters in three languages with slogans like 'Everybody loves music' have appeared in many locations.

There is also an important economic factor attached, as La Gomera was attracting more and more holidaying professional musicians who were looking for an inspiring and interesting place to travel to, and they were also known to be good spenders. They don't necessarily need and/or want to play music during their holidays, but they do want to be entertained and want to have at least the possibility to join in some fun. 'Music tourism' could be a major new source of revenue for La Gomera.

Every day I get asked by tourists where there is live music to be found, and daily I have to listen to complaints by regular visitors that La Gomera and particularly Valle Gran Rey used to have a much better atmosphere and ambience a few years back. The 'Valle Luna' festival did not receive any funding nor logistical support this year while thousands were spent on glossy, but ill-translated brochures.  Does La Gomera really want to loose its diversity and appeal ? 

At the moment it doesn't look too good but I urge the authorities to allow people to have some small measure of live entertainment in these grim times of crisis and to interpret some repressive laws a little bit more leniently ! This is done in tourist destinations all over the world - some just a short hop away.

There won't be any messing by the musicians on La Gomera anyway...

I just hope the following clip and images will not be the last I took of music sessions and events here:

Musicians leaving  La Gomera on
Armas Ferry for another Canary Island

Local music and tradition needs
to be alive and not in a museum !

The fascination of music

Added 27-04-13:
Lately a few (very few) pub gigs were allowed again, but some of the conditions were just ridiculous. Some had to be held on the pavement outside and in front of the premises ! In one case the venue was given a short strip of pavement to a width of just 3 feet on which the musician(s) were allowed to play just outside the door, as the image below proves:

Red arrow points to white demarcation line on the pavement within which the musician(s)
must remain outdoors. Not only the two tourists behind the guitarist find this rule ridiculous.

Good News 16-05-13:

It has been confirmed that the Valle Luna Festival will take place again in 2014. See:VALLE LUNA FESTIVAL 2014

Update summer '13:

Things are gradually improving and some live music is still happening here and more is promised for the autumn/winter season. The photo below was taken in July showing former resident Claus Vaith playing live with his friend Malte during a short visit to La Gomera. Claus used to play regularly during his many years on La Gomera and now plays professionally in Germany. 

Claus Vaith and Malte live on La Gomera July 2013

Update autumn '13:

Things are improving bit by bit while some of the crazy interpretations of the law are still hampering progress. On October 5th a Rock Festival in aid of the Valle Luna Festival will take place and generally there is more of varied international live music to be heard again to somewhat counterbalance the frequent and extremely loud all-night barrage of the ever-same salsa-pop music (aka 'the tourist's headache') that seems to be a law onto itself.

Recently rocking  La Gomera: 'So What!' from Tenerife.  Nomen est omen!

...See post with latest updates on Valle Luna Festival 2014

See update: Live music returning to Valle Gran Rey

Further update Nov. 2016: Live music making cautious comeback

New attraction fenced off

The new viewpoint 'Mirador de Abrante' in Agulo, which was officially handed over less than three months ago (see previous posts:Spectacular New Attraction: and:'Mirador De Abrante' Sky Walk Officially Handed Ov...) has just recently been fenced off with an ugly-looking tall fence which was secured to the existing fencing, plus a padlocked gate with a sign saying 'Entry to this site prohibited'. It could hardly be for safety reasons because the sheer cliffs to either side of the 'skywalk' and landscaped viewpoint are still accessible and a hiking trail leads along the cliffs. While I was there a couple of days ago I saw visitors just bypassing the fence and entering the area from the West of the gate, which is a bit dangerous to do, but open. The administration of Agulo is planning minor works at the viewpoint (such as installing a pay-telescope, a sun dial, seating, etc.) but this hardly justifies the erection of security fencing fit for a prison. Wouldn't it be more important to finish the access road ?
UPDATE Aug. 9th: Area around Agulo 'sky walk' now reopened

Mirador de Abrante sky walk now looks like a prison

World's largest message in a bottle

A bit of controversy has surrounded the Norwegian soft drinks company Solo's  release of 'the word's largest message in a bottle' in the open seas of the western Canary Islands after it was towed past La Gomera and then left to itself just off El Hierro.The 'bottle' weighs 2.5 tons, is 26 feet long and has the required navigation lights for a drifting object in international waters, not to mention solar panels, satellite-connection and tracking technology. A 140-liter fresh water tank with remote controlled nozzles will clear the lenses of the custom made camera which will upload a picture every 8 hours. While some admire the PR stunt, others fear the object will pose a hazard to shipping.
Well-known polar explorer Jarle Andhoy is the godfather of the expedition and there is a competition  to predict the area where the bottle will end up. For every mile the object has travelled the winner will receive one bottle of the soft drink. You can follow its progress here: http://www.solo.no/en                
Maybe they should have launched it on April 1st ?

Official launch in the Marina of San Miguel de
Abona, Tenerife (C)Photo: Stuart Wilson/Solo

New Transatlantic World Record !

Charlie Pitcher has broken the world record for solo-rowing across the Atlantic ! He set off from La Gomera on this row for charity on February 6th and had to beat the previous record of 40 days and about 10 hours ( see my previous post: Transatlantic solo rower set to break world record... ). Yesterday he arrived in Barbados well ahead of that in just 35 days. The rower and his boat are reported to be in good condition. Congratulations from La Gomera ! You can read the press release just published here:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/5obmyy6dgafbj1j/gZkD25oq89/Press%20Release%2013%3A03%3A13%20Charlie%20Pitcher.pdf

Charlie Pitchers rowing boat in which he broke the world
record - it is only about 20ft long. ©transatlanticsolo.com

Verdant Valle Gran Rey

Valle Gran Rey, La Gomera, March 2013: You'd never think this was a blazing inferno last August.

Snow on Tenerife

Yes, there's snow on Tenerife, but high up on Mount Teide. Its 3,718-metre (12,198 ft) summit is the highest point in Spain and the highest point above sea level in the islands of the Atlantic. In winter the top of this still active volcano is often covered in snow. At sea level it is very warm and people are out on the beaches sunbathing and swimming in the sea.

Mount Teide on Tenerife seen from La Gomera

Thieving tourists

This may be a controversial theory, but it appears that always before and around Easter the number of thefts from small shops increases dramatically. The shops here on La Gomera are reporting this phenomenon once again this year. While at other times of the year theft is relatively rare, the pre-Easter Lent period seems to be less connected with fasting, but more with stealing.
La Gomera is almost crime-free and shopkeepers here are very trusting, which makes the experience of theft committed by cheerful tourists even more painful.
Most boutiques and souvenir shops are fighting for survival in these times of increasing overheads and reduced turnover due to the financial crisis and need to make a small profit to survive the much quieter off season periods. But the thieving has started again to reduce the small margins even further. Even our tiny 'super'markets are affected.
Now one shopkeeper has appealed on 'Facebook' to the culprits, telling them that the small shops here were all established with much love and hard work and that most are fighting for survival. There's a warning for all shops included in the posting.
Another experience that shopkeepers make around Easter is that tourists seem to do 'unauthorised swaps', that is they leave an old or worn item in the shop and take a new, more valuable item with them without paying.
Even shops that have surveillance cameras (mostly because the insurance company insists) report the same, as the thefts are well executed and happen when the shops are relatively full and the cameras are blocked by customers. It is also becoming clear that the thieving tourists are 'not the poorest' and sometimes one of them buys a small item while talking a lot, as a distraction - showing a wallet stuffed with large banknotes and
credit cards ! They also appear to be well educated, very polite and friendly.
This detrimental Easter phenomenon is not unique to the Canaries, but it also appears to happen around the same period of time in shops in the West of Ireland every year. Kleptomania ? Thrill-seeking ? Revenge on capitalism ? Why Easter ? Any explanation ?

Death in Argaga, La Gomera, during storm March '13 +SPECTACULAR VIDEO of previous accident there

Will fences and more signs prevent accidents ?

The storm died down just as predicted and all modes of transport are operating normally again. All warnings and alerts have been lifted and the weather forecast is for lots of sunshine this weekend as high pressure is becoming established again.
Here in Valle Gran Rey there still is shock and disbelief after the death of a 26 years old German tourist (see updates 17 + 19 of Storm will affect Canary Islands (+ 21 updates) ) on Monday during the storm. The victim had attempted to walk to a ravine called Argaga with a friend when she was killed by falling rocks just after a very heavy squally shower. She had been warned and advised not to walk out there, but decided to risk it anyway in the face of the worst possible weather conditions and a red alert.
Let me explain about the extremely dangerous path they took:
Argaga is in the municpal area of Vallehermoso, but can only be reached by following a private dirt track from the harbour of Vueltas in Valle Gran Rey which follows the coastline for about half a mile below a several hundred feet high sheer cliff. This path is extremely dangerous even in the finest weather, as every now and again rockfalls do occur in this area and there are 3 huge signs plus another regular sign warning of the risk. In bad weather this path becomes a deadly trap. Some images taken yesterday will explain the location better (click to enlarge):

Warning sign even in English

Only about two weeks before this fatal accident there was another death caused by a minor rockfall in Playa de las Arenas, aka 'Schweinebucht' (see my post: Mother of two killed by minor rockfall on La Gomer...) .
My sincere condolences to all concerned.
Now let me stress that thousands and thousands have walked, cycled and driven out there  without any problems. There are three attractions in the Argaga ravine: 
First the 'Finca Argayall, which is a retreat and yoga centre operating like an alternative hotel (see: http://www.en.argayall.com ). Then there is a fruit farm where more than 160 varieties of fruit are cultivated and guided tours with fruit tastings are offered twice a week (see: http://fruchtgarten.com/ger/index.htm ) and the hippie caves at Playa de las Arenas, better known as 'Schweinebucht' , where the young mother died tragically two weeks ago. There are also about half a dozen private houses in Argaga and a banana plantation owned by an Englishman. The whole Argaga ravine is privately owned and also contains some demanding and dangerous hiking trails, which regularly see the rescue helicopter being called when inexperienced hikers attempt the ascent to the mountains from there.
Now the local administrations of V.G.R. and Vallehermoso want to close the track completely and erect fencing at the end of the harbour beach to prevent access and put up more signs. V.G.R. wants to spend 8000 (!!!) Euros on this project which to me sounds like they plan the erection of an 'iron curtain'.
The existing signage is loud and clear and whoever wants to risk walking out there is well aware of the danger. When you're under that sheer cliff and see fallen rocks and debris around you, you don't even need any signs to put 2+2 together ! Should every dangerous bend on a road that has caused fatalities, indeed all dangerous locations, be closed and fenced ? Accidents DO happen and humans DO take risks and will continue to do so no matter how safe the location.
A few years ago I made a personal decision not to use that track anymore when returning from Argaga I found a huge wedge of razor-sharp rock stuck a foot deep in the ground exactly between the imprints of my boots in the dust left from walking out there just an hour before....
Others had much narrower escapes as the video below illustrates (watch the white car !). It also shows what that track is like in heavy rain, and you can watch big lumps of rock crashing into the harbour:

The story behind the video:

Harry,the driver of the white car, had just finished work at the 'Finca Argayall' that day (Feb. 17th 2010) and could see bad weather rapidly closing in, but being tired after work wanted to make a dash for home. He knew that it was dangerous and also knew that if he din't make it home in a hurry that he might be stuck out there for hours, as it is often more dangerous AFTER the rain when loosened material heats up and expands in the sunshine.

What happened then is seen in the video, but what you don't see is that just before he reverses the car a lump of rock fell straight through the roof of the car, missing him by a couple of inches. The car was also scraping on fallen rocks on the ground and got stuck in the end. Harry scrambled out and escaped on foot, leaving a totally wrecked car.

I meet him directly after his miraculous escape in a local bar where he once had worked and where I was sheltering from the rain. He was as white as a sheet and badly in need of a stiff drink !

Very sadly, less than three years after the incident he died in his mid-forties at home on the sofa of a heart attack.

P.S.: While I was writing this post the rescue helicopter was circling the mountain behind my house once again. A local man put it to me a couple of days ago: ''The helicopter hardly ever has to come for one of the locals. Why don't the visitors stick to the hundreds of miles of SAFE walks and paths and why do they feel attracted to danger and go places we avoid in poor weather ? This is getting worse every year !''

High winds and high seas in Canary Islands today

As they should be read in context, I have added today's updates to the main post - just click the following: Storm will affect Canary Islands

...or if you're on the HOME page just scroll down a bit.
UPDATE March 7th: STORM IS GONE !

Storm in Canaries today and tomorrow

As this is a ongoing story, I have added today's updates to the main post - just click the following: Storm will affect Canary Islands

...or if you're on the HOME page just scroll down a bit
UPDATE March 7th: STORM IS GONE !

Storm soon to hit Canary Islands

As this is a developing story, I have added today's updates to yesterday's post - just click the following: Storm will affect Canary Islands

...or if you're on the HOME page just scroll down a bit.
UPDATE March 7th: STORM IS GONE !

Storm will affect Canary Islands (+ 22 updates), March 2013

Due to a large blocking-high near Britain and Ireland the Atlantic low pressure systems are forced further south and a storm system is beginning to develop rapidly west of Madeira. It is expected to track east and reach a minimum pressure of about 974 hPa by Monday just north of the Canary Islands near Madeira.
This situation will bring unsettled rainy weather to the Canaries from today until the beginning of next week. The most worrying factors will be the winds and the state of the sea. Winds from a southerly direction will be strengthening gradually to veer west later this weekend and reach gale to strong gale force with stronger gusts particularly on exposed higher ground. Significant wave height (with the gales blowing over a heavy westerly swell) could reach more than 5 metres on exposed coasts. Some heavy spells of rain and thunderstorms (to a lesser extent) could also affect us.
Don't plan any hiking tours, etc. for Sunday, Monday, Tuesday - and avoid exposed coasts !

I will update this post regularly:

+1st UPDATE 01/03/13 @ 10:30 am: The Spanish met. service have issued the first weather warnings for for the western Canaries and Gran Canaria for Sunday 03-03-13 from 12noon: Very heavy and persistent showers with up to 30mm/hour and 100 mm in 12hrs, as well as  wind gusts of up to 100km/h (Bf: storm force 10), even up to 120 km/h in the mountains.

+2nd UPDATE 01/03/13 @ 7:30 pm: From Tuesday the weather should improve a lot, but will remain unsettled and windy - thankfully to a much lesser degree.

+3rd UPDATE 01/03/13 @ 8 pm: The Canarian Meteorological Association have issued a rare RED weather alert for the above situation. They emphasise the threat to coastal regions by waves of between 5 and 7 metres on exposed coasts in the western regions - and to exposed high ground by wind gusts of up to and above 120 km/h (that is around Force 12 Bf = hurricane force !). The situation will first affect the western regions in the Canaries and will then extend to the eastern islands. Very heavy showers can be expected almost anywhere.

Please do not expect extremes everywhere, but DO be careful and and DO take precautions - even if conditions appear to be pleasant for a while !!!

+4th UPDATE Saturday O2/03/13 @ 00:30 am: 

Here's a general synopsis of the situation right now superimposed on a recent satellite picture which was published by Jose Luis of ACANMET in their forum. I've just changed some of the text annotation to English and put  a light green oval around the Canary Islands. The white text over the yellow arrow says: ''In 36 hours we'll have it (the storm) near the archipelago''. It illustrates the disturbed weather very well. Thanks and a great job, Jose Luis!

+5th UPDATE Saturday 02/03/13 @ 9:30 am:
New additional severe weather warnings have just been issued by the Spanish met. office AEMET for all  day Monday, 5th of March '13: 
Coasts will be affected by heavy seas with waves of up to 5 metres.
Winds could reach 100 km/h or more.
Heavy showers can be expected.

+6th UPDATE Saturday 02/03/13 @ 1:30 pm: 
The government of the Canary Islands has issued a severe weather alert which comes into effect from 9am on Sunday 3rd of March '13:
 People are advised to avoid unnecessary journeys and to stay away from exposed coasts, ravines, forests, power and phone lines, etc., and to secure garden furniture,scaffolding, etc.. Some sporting fixtures and open air events have already been cancelled.

Satelite image @ 6am, with 'Funktop'
 enhancemnt (Canaries in red oval)

+7th UPDATE, Sunday 03/03/13 @ 9am:


The day is starting completely overcast and after a calm night the wind is slowly increasing and turning gusty.
All emergency services in the Canary Islands have been put on standby and the authorities have asked the population and visitors to remain indoors and not to travel unless absolutely necessary. They're also advising to take the maximum care and all possible precautionary measures.






+8th UPDATE, Sunday 03/03/13 @ 10:30am:
The latest wind warnings by AEMET have increased maximum winds speeds to 120 km/h - that is Bf hurricane force 12  - for gusts in exposed areas in the western islands.
The storm system is moving in from the West and so the Eastern Canary Islands will be affected last and (hopefully) to a lesser degree.

If you have to travel later today or tomorrow, do be extremely careful and allow extra time. My personal opinion is that all traffic by road, sea and air could be severely disrupted from later today until Tuesday - and especially tomorrow, Monday March 4th. Expect cancellations and check with the operators of whatever service you're planning to use.

+9th UPDATE, Sunday 03/03/13 @ 4:30 pm: 

The government of the Canary Islands has declared the highest alert level (ALERTA MAXIMA) for the western Canaries and for Gran Canaria. They now expect winds gusting well above hurricane force 12 Bf with speeds possibly exceeding 130 km/h in places. 

A press conference is expected to be held shortly.

It certainly is gradually getting worse by the hour and I'm just back from securing everything I could around two presently vacant neighbouring houses as well. It looks like tonight is going to be a long sleepless night. I just hope the power supply and the phone lines will hold. If you don't hear from me every now and again you'll know that they didn't hold. 
I'll give you details of the press conference later...

+10th UPDATE, Sunday 03/03/13 @ 6:30 pm:
Not much new at the press conference. I've already reported all the relevant information in my previous updates. The only news was that all schools and universities in La Gomera, La Palma, El Hierro, Tenerife and Gran Canaria (all the islands that will bear the initial brunt of the storm) will remain closed tomorrow.
Some minor incidents and traffic disruptions have already been reported from western islands. 
The winds here in Valle Gran Rey on La Gomera have risen to a gale by now and the barometer keeps falling rapidly. The sea is very angry-looking and it is beginning to rain lightly. There was heavy rain in La Palma already and more than 100 mm have been reported at one station there.

+11th UPDATE, Sunday 03/03/13 @ 9 pm:
There are reports of road closures in the western Canaries and the last ferries to leave La Gomera were unable to berth in the port of Los Cristianos on Tenerife due to the strong wind and some waves coming in over the harbour wall. They will probably now continue to Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The Fred. Olsen ferry to La Palma was unable to dock there and is now going back to Tenerife. My guess is that there won't be ANY sailings anywhere in the Canaries tomorrow, but DO check with your ferry company. Some flights in the second half of today were cancelled or diverted, but most did operate.
There was some flooding on La Palma and very strong winds up to 140 km/h and an articulated truck was overturned by the storm.
Reports of thunderstorms, heavy rain and winds well over 100 km/h are coming in from Tenerife and parts of Gran Canaria.
Here in Valle Gran Rey on La Gomera some stretches of road have been closed due to flooding of the barranco, as it has been raining continuously for a good while now, and some of that rain has been extremely heavy, accompanied by strong gusts of wind. As I write the rain is stopping, however.
Rockfalls and landslides have caused road closures and traffic restrictions in several locations in the western islands.
Ah yes, the Canarian meteorological association have named the storm 'Arteara' (after a place on Gran Canaria). It is their third named storm this winter season and the most vicious by far.
... and they say Arteara's worst wind is yet to come.


+12th UPDATE  Monday 04/03/13 @ 1 am:

GFS forecast model for 12 noon Monday,
March 4th '13, (Canaries in red oval)

Last night's sailing by Fred. Olsen's huge trimaran car ferry from Gran Canaria to Tenerife hit some very large waves that caused the boat to roll so heavily that many cars on the car deck were pushed into each other and badly damaged. The ferry port of Agaete on Gran Canaria has now been closed as has the important ferry port of Los Cristianos on Tenerife, the port of Santa Cruz de La Palma, the ferry port of El Hierro and the port of San Sebastian de La Gomera. All this leaves most of us in the Canaries cut off from each other (and from vital supplies),and lots of travellers are stranded.
There were many minor incidents, small scale power cuts, localised flooding and blocked stretches of road reported from around the archipelago. On the island of El Hierro a several hundred year old dragon tree (an emblematic tree in the Canaries) sadly was felled by the gales.
Madeira has also been severely affected by the storm as has Morocco.

After a couple of hours of relative calm in Valle Gran Rey on La Gomera the wind is beginning to increase again and has backed SW...



+13th UPDATE, Monday 04/03/13 @ 3:30 am:

Significant wave height in metres for noon,Tuesday
 March 5th '13 (OPC) Tenerife is shown in the red circle

Sleepless night as predicted - I'm just too excited by this event and have been through this many a night in the West of Ireland when it was even worse and you didn't know if the roof would stay on.
Anyway the wind is rising rapidly again, the barometer is falling rapidly again and a short shower of rain is lashing not down, but sideways again !
The highest wind gust last night was recorded in Valverde, on El Hierro, by the official AEMET station, clocking a whopping 154 km/h (that's 96 mp/h to you, or 83 knots to me) ! Tenerife got the second-strogest gust at Izaña (140 km/h), 3rd place went to Gran Canaria (Tejeda,131 km/h) and La Gomera came fourth with 125 km/h recorded at Alto de Igualero, followed with just 1km/h less by the airport of La Palma - all well over the starting line for hurricane force.
The main worry over the next 18 hours should be the wind, and over the coming 36 hrs it's the significant wave height, which is increasing gradually with wind over a heavy swell.


+14th UPDATE, Monday 04/03/13 @ 8 am:

No change - ALL WARNINGS REMAIN 'IN FORCE' FOR TODAY.

Image taken a few minutes ago, with waves in front of Hotel Gran Rey on La Gomera.
Wave height is expected to increase significantly until tomorrow.

+15th UPDATE, Monday 04/03/13 @ 9 am:
AEMET, the Spanish met. office have now issued their highest (RED) alert, as well as the Canarian ACM, for all of La Gomera and El Hierro plus for the mountains of Tenerife, La Palma and Gran Canaria. 
Winds exceeding speeds of 130 km/h in gusts can be expected there and the danger is IMMINENT, but more likely from around 11am.
Lesser, but still very significant danger exists in all other regions of the Canary Islands and further alerts for more areas may be issued later.
For detailed information go to the AEMET website by clicking the following link:              
http://www.aemet.es/en/eltiempo/prediccion/avisos?w=hoy&k=coo&datos=img

+16th UPDATE, Monday 04/03/13 @ 1 pm:

At about 11:30am we had an extremely heavy squally shower  that caused waterfalls in the steep mountainsides in Valle Gran Rey - and the electricity went until short while ago. The blustery squall itself didn't last too long, but as I write the next one is approaching rapidly. The temperature has dropped considerably with the first one and that means that the cold front associated with the storm depression is near or on us. It is a similar situation all over the Canaries and the coming hours should be interesting...
The only ferry now connecting La Gomera to the outside world is the ship of the Armas line that is sailing from Santa Cruz de Tenerife (instead of Los Cristianos) at the moment in the hope of berthing in San Sebastian de La Gomera and then attempting the return to Tenerife - weather permitting, that is !  The Fred. Olsen line have said that sailings are 'hardly probable' which I interpret as 'forget it'. 
As I was writing the last words, the latest squall knocked out the power again for 10 mins. so I'll better finish this quickly.
All over the Canaries now: Traffic (sea, air, road) disruption - but not too bad. Lots of minor incidents and accidents. A larger landslide/ rockfall blocking the  minor road to two small villages here on La Gomera. 
BUT THANKFULLY THERE WERE NO REPORTS OF CASUALTIES UP TO NOW.
ALL WARNINGS REMAIN UNTIL BEING REVISED.


+17th UPDATE, Monday 04/03/13 @ 4:30 pm:
...well unfortunately we now have a casualty here in Valle Gran Rey. One person was very seriously injured by a rockfall. I won't say any more  - ONLY TO STRESS AGAIN THAT IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO BE OUT AND ABOUT IN THIS WEATHER. Don't be deceived by short periods of sunshine and slacker winds. Only venture out when necessary and then with extreme caution.
Since my last post it has been raining almost continuously, interspersed with very heavy squalls with fierce gusts of wind and, of course, power outages of various duration. The barranco, a normally dry riverbed, is like a river in spate now. The weather is still worsening and the waves are getting larger and more organised all the time. 
Police and ambulances are racing with sirens blaring again just now, but I don't know what happened.

The MAXIMUM ALERT declared by the government has been extended to     !!!!!!!!!!!!       ALL CANARY ISLANDS now.                          

Huge area of thunderstorms very close to Canaries now

+18th UPDATE, Monday 04/03/13 @ 7 pm:

OPC chart promising better weather in Canary Islands
(in red oval) for Wednesday, March 6th 2013

Some light at the end of the (wind)tunnel at last: Most forecast models have changed and it seems likely that from later tomorrow, Tuesday, the storm system will have begun to fill and move away and this will allow for a ridge of high pressure to move in over the Canary Islands on Wednesday, bringing much better weather.
However, warnings and alerts will remain in effect for tomorrow, Tuesday 5th of March (albeit downgraded a bit).
Wind, waves and occasional squally showers may still reach dangerous levels in the first half of tomorrow.

+The previous warnings for tonight remain ! There is the additional risk of thunderstorms, which could strike anywhere in the archipelago tonight.

The Fred Olsen ferry company has cancelled all sailings today until further notice and the planned sailing tonight by Armas from Gomera to Tenerife has been cancelled, as have many inter island flights. This situation will be revised tomorrow. As I write another severe squall is buffeting the house and a thunderstorm is lurking just west.


+19th UPDATE, Monday 04/03/13 @ 10 pm:
Sadly the casualty mentioned in my 17th update has now died of her severe injuries at the university hospital on Tenerife. She was a 26 year old German tourist who had been walking along a dirt track below a very tall sheer cliff leading from the harbour of Valle Gran Rey to a remote place called Argaga, when she was struck by falling rocks. She was rescued promptly by two different units of the emergency services and transferred later by helicopter-ambulance to Tenerife - all in atrocious weather conditions. She is the only fatality during storm 'Arteara' in the Canary Islands.
Meanwhile 'Arteara' shows no signs of easing at all and is still roaring wildly.
I'll leave it at that for today. 


+20th UPDATE, Tuesday 05/03/13 @ 9 am:              

Gust (km/h)
Station	Province	Hour	km/h
Izaña	Tenerife	00:10	174
Valverde	El Hierro	14:10	140
Vallehermoso, Alto Igualero	La Gomera	00:20	131
Tejeda, Cruz de Tejeda	Gran Canaria	13:20	121
Candelaria	Tenerife	15:30	121

   Click on stations to get detailed reports

Last night the storm peaked with severe gusts reported everywhere in the Canary Islands. As you can see above, the AEMET stations recorded a 131 km/h near Igualero on La Gomera yesterday, less than 15 miles from where I live and last night gust  they recorded nearly the same. There were heavy downpours of rain in many locations as well and some thunderstorms. It certainly was the peak of the storm where I live in Valle Gran Rey and my house was pummelled all night by severe gusts and  repeatedly very heavy showers pelted the roof.
All in all the Canary Islands escaped relatively unharmed after being battered by a very rare continuous storm that lasted more than 50 hours.
Schools and colleges have re-opened today
Warnings and alerts will remain in effect for today, Tuesday 5th of March 2013 until further notice.
At the moment winds are still strong and gusty, but decreasing, and the heavy swell is still causing problems for maritime traffic. Hundreds of people are stranded in the port of Los Cristianos on Tenerife because ferries were unable to berth. The Armas ferry that tied up in the port of San Sebastian de la Gomera yesterday was forced to leave for Santa Cruz de Tenerife during the night due to heavy seas entering the harbour. Several stretches of coastal roads have been closed, e.g. here in V.G.R. the stretch between La Playa and La Puntilla, due to waves breaking over the protective wall.
THE OUTLOOK:
Conditions should improve substantially later in the day as winds will gradually ease and the squally showers will become less frequent. The heavy swell at sea will slowly decrease from tonight. Lots of sunny spells, too. I expect warnings and alerts to be lifted later in the day, but please remain cautious today.
High tide is around 7pm tonight in the Canaries.
Tomorrow should see a return to more 'normal' Canary Islands weather.

+News just in: Fred. Olsen ferries will resume all sailings.
To La Gomera the following revised timetable applies today only (delays are possible, though):

Gomera - Cristianos 10:00 Horas
Gomera - Cristianos 12:00 Horas
Gomera - Cristianos 17:30 Horas

Cristianos - Gomera 09:00 Horas

Cristianos - Gomera 11:00 Horas

Cristianos - Gomera 14:00 Horas

Cristianos - Gomera 19:00 Horas

+21st UPDATE, Tuesday 05/03/13 @ 2 pm:  

Conditions are gradually improving, but during the occasional squalls it is still quite wild. News just in: There have been several larger rockfalls and/or mudslides on La Gomera, forcing the temporary closure of some stretches of road (e.g. Alajero - Pajarito and the road to El Rejo between the junction near Agando and the branch-off to El Cedro). Crews are out clearing the debris and it is hoped that these roads will reopen later today. 

The authorities are reminding motorists and pedestrians to remain extremely cautious  on roads and paths. 

The danger from rocks and soil loosened by  storms and/or heavy rains is often greater after the event when the sun is shining on the unstable material.

The threat to coastal regions remains until at least tomorrow morning as it will take quite some time for this swell to subside (the photo below was taken just a while ago of an average wave in front of Hotel Gran Rey at around LOW tide - CAUTION: High tide is around 7 pm tonight !):

Storm in Canary Islands, March 5th, 2013

22nd UPDATE, Tuesday 05/03/13 @ 10:30 pm:  

All's well that ends well - and thanks for the rain...

Just now the situation is calm and there aren't any more squalls, gusts,showers, high waves... 

THE STORM IS OVER!!! 

Back to normal tomorrow with CAUTION after a rare event. REMAIN VIGILANT TONIGHT AND TOMORROW MORNING!

 

+++++ SOME MORE WEATHER CHARTS:

OPC Chart for Tuesday March 5th showing the 'retreat' of the lows
and building high pressure to the South of the Canary Islands

OPC chart valid noon Sunday showing storm and new low forming

NOAA chart for Saturday night, March 2nd '13

NOAA chart for noon on Monday, March 4th, 2013

Significant wave height for Tues. March 5th at noon.The small red
arrow points to La Gomera and Tenerife being on the 6 metre line.

UPDATE March 7th: STORM IS GONE !