A significant influx of warm, dry air, coupled with a severe calima, has triggered an alert across the Canary Islands, lasting until Sunday for unusually high spring temperatures, potentially hitting peaks of up to 34°C—remarkably 10 degrees above the seasonal norm and akin to summer conditions.
This atmospheric condition, characterized by the influx of hot air from Africa laden with Saharan dust, marks a stark deviation from typical spring weather, forecasting an episode of heightened temperatures that could soar beyond 30°C and even reach 34°C, alongside a noticeable increase in night-time lows.
This exceptional weather scenario is attributed to a dense air mass bearing copious amounts of Saharan mineral dust, driving a significant temperature surge to levels more commonly seen in the summer months, an anomaly for this time of year.
Consequently, the Canary Islands Government has issued a high temperature alert effective from noon today, particularly for the inland regions of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, where temperatures are expected to ascend to 32°C as early as today. Though slightly less intense, the southern and western flanks of Gran Canaria and Tenerife are also set to experience this warmth, with no area spared from the potential impacts.
The alert is poised to expand tomorrow to encompass Tenerife, La Gomera, La Palma, and El Hierro, where the amalgamation of this hot air mass, vigorous winds, and clear skies will push temperatures over the 30°C mark.
It is forecasted that the interior and southern locales of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, the southern parts of Gran Canaria, and the south and northeast of Tenerife, along with areas in La Gomera, El Hierro, and the southwest of La Palma, will see temperatures reach or even exceed 34°C. Regions shielded by the trade winds might escape the brunt of this heatwave, which is expected to persist until the following Monday.
Amidst these temperature alerts, a forest fire risk warning has been activated from 8.00 am today. The Island Councils have preemptively mobilized firefighting units and enacted restrictions on access and activities within forested areas to mitigate the risk of wildfires, exacerbated by the forecasted strong winds—gusts surpassing 100 kilometres per hour in several locales yesterday—a pre-alert for significant coastal waves, and flooding risks on the coasts of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, particularly during high tide, underlining the multi-faceted nature of this adverse weather episode.
