Own guidance system
Canal Playa traffic light
The Canal Playa traffic light is an own guidance rating to help interpret beach conditions. It is not an official flag and does not replace lifeguards, councils, signage, emergency services or official warnings.
Green: favourable
Yellow: caution
Red: not recommended
Blue: insufficient data
Important: in case of an official red flag, coastal warning, health closure or lifeguard instruction, official information always prevails over any Canal Playa rating.
What factors are assessed
| Factor | Guidance weight | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Swell | High | Affects bathing, natural pools and safety. |
| Wind | High | Affects comfort, surface currents and wind sports. |
| Active warnings | Critical | Can directly lower the rating. |
| Water health quality | Critical | If there is insufficient data, it should not be shown as fully reliable green. |
| Temperature, sky and UV | Complementary | Helps assess comfort and sun exposure. |
Pilot base rules
The first version calculates a score from 0 to 100 using wind, swell and available health quality. Areas with incomplete data move to blue unless wind or swell advise caution or not recommended.
- Green (Favourable): favourable wind and swell, no critical factors and sufficient data.
- Yellow (Caution): moderate wind, moderate swell, sensitive natural pools or any caution factor.
- Red (Check before going): strong wind, high swell, delicate conditions for natural pools or warning/closure when connected.
- Blue (No data): lack of sufficient official data to assess safely.
Planned sources
Canal Playa will prioritise official or authorised sources: AEMET, AEMET OpenData, Portus/Puertos del Estado, NÁYADE and competent administrations. Windy or Ventusky may serve as visual references or future authorised layers, but data will not be copied from their websites without a valid licence/API.
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