The coastlines of Tenerife were bustling this past Sunday, as scenes reminiscent of peak summer filled the shores due to an unseasonable heatwave across the Canary Islands. Adeje, located in southern Tenerife, recorded Spain’s highest temperature at 34.5 degrees Celsius, surpassing even Gran Canaria’s hot spots.
The high temperatures drew crowds to beaches like Las Teresitas, where, by 1 p.m., traffic signals marked “red” due to overwhelming turnout. In contrast, Las Gaviotas beach remained open with fewer visitors, while Las Teresitas experienced queues, not only due to its popularity but also due to roadwork along the highway leading to the beach.
By morning, temperatures in Santa Cruz had already hit 30.5 degrees Celsius, drawing locals and tourists alike to the shore. The beach parking lots and Titsa buses were filled to capacity, while large motorhomes and camper vans lined the beach, reflecting a surge in people seeking relief by the sea. Nearby kiosks reported a busy day, as tables and umbrellas were fully occupied, primarily by tourists, including many of the 20,700 passengers arriving from cruise ships docked in the port.
Across the island, beaches and pools in both the North and South saw high attendance, and mountainous areas were notably quieter as people gravitated toward coastal areas for relief from the heat. The Government of the Canary Islands responded to the extreme temperatures by reinstating a pre-alert for forest fires on the 7th of November in Tenerife, El Hierro, La Palma, La Gomera, and Gran Canaria, after briefly deactivating it just ten days earlier.
Adeje led as the hottest location in Spain, with other high temperatures recorded at Tenerife Sur airport (33.4 degrees), Arico (33.3 degrees), and Tacoronte (32.7 degrees), all among Spain’s top ten hottest spots. Meanwhile, the coolest temperature in Tenerife was noted at Las Cañadas del Teide, where it dropped to 8.8 degrees at dawn.
Looking ahead, Aemet forecasts a gradual drop in temperatures today, with Tuesday expected to bring cloudier conditions to the north and possible light rain in southern Tenerife.
