Mother Nature just rewrote the script for Westeros. Severe weather from Storm Therese has battered the Canary Islands throughout March and April 2026, triggering widespread infrastructure blackouts and municipal evacuations. The localized climate crisis has now completely derailed production on the second season of the Game of Thrones prequel A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Historic rainfall caused the Las Niñas Dam to overflow, totally submerging HBO’s physical sets in Gran Canaria.
HBO is officially packing its bags. The submerged sets were originally constructed to depict the drought-stricken region of the Reach, adapting George R.R. Martin’s The Sworn Sword. Ironically, the fake drought is now underwater. Producers officially abandoned their scheduled shooting reservation, which was slated to run until May 15, 2026.
Cast, crew, and salvaged equipment are currently rushing to mainland Spain. They need drier conditions to maintain the show’s strict 2027 release window. A massive logistical shift is underway to keep the broader entertainment pipeline intact. A detailed report by Screen Rant outlines the severe physical damage to the sprawling outdoor build.
The storm system forced urgent evacuations in surrounding municipalities like Agaete and Mogán. Island officials are prioritizing civilian safety over Hollywood production schedules. The intense rainfall pushed the Presa de las Niñas reservoir to water levels Gran Canaria has not recorded in 15 years. It is a genuine environmental hazard. According to updates from ComingSoon, the production team realized the impossibility of waiting for the water to recede.
This departure leaves a massive mess behind. Gran Canaria’s Environment Minister, Raul Garcia Brink, confirmed the production’s exit from the island. He also dropped a major legal mandate on the studio. HBO must submit a formal action and recovery plan to extract the sunken Westeros sets once the dam’s water levels finally drop to a safe baseline. They cannot just leave the submerged debris in a protected reservoir.
The production previously planted 50 Canary Island pines as a forestry compensation measure before the evacuation order hit. Those saplings are likely the only piece of the Reach staying on the island. IGN reports that mainland Spain will now host the remainder of the shoot. The scramble for new locations on the Peninsula is active right now. HBO has no time to waste.