The State Meteorological Agency, Aemet, forecasts the arrival of calima in the Canary Islands from this Wednesday, 15 July. The episode is expected to bring airborne dust mainly in the upper layers of the atmosphere, together with a rise in temperatures across parts of the archipelago.
According to the official forecast, the dust will initially remain at higher altitudes. This means the sky may appear hazy or milky in some areas, although a severe episode or a widespread reduction in visibility at coastal level is not expected at first.
The arrival of the calima will coincide with warmer conditions. Temperatures may locally reach 34°C in the mid-altitude areas of the south-east, south and west of Gran Canaria, which is expected to be one of the areas most affected by the rise in temperatures.
Dust may continue over the next few days
The current forecast suggests that the presence of airborne dust may not be limited to Wednesday. The episode could continue on Thursday and Friday, particularly at higher altitudes and on south- and east-facing slopes.
However, Aemet has not yet confirmed a severe or widespread calima episode at ground level across the entire archipelago. The concentration of dust, its exact evolution and the islands most affected will depend on atmospheric conditions and will be clarified in the agency’s daily updates.
Over the weekend, the forecast points to generally stable weather in the Canary Islands, with trade winds prevailing and little rainfall expected. From Saturday onwards, the development of the calima becomes more uncertain, so it should not be assumed that the dust will remain at the same intensity until Sunday.
Aemet has already published its forecast for the Canary Islands up to Sunday, 19 July, although the situation may change depending on the movement of the air mass from North Africa and the behaviour of the winds.
Gran Canaria expected to record the highest temperatures
The rise in temperatures will be most noticeable in inland and mid-altitude areas. Gran Canaria is expected to see the highest values, with local highs of around 34°C on the southern, south-eastern and western slopes.
On the other islands, temperatures may also rise, although the increase will be more moderate in coastal areas exposed to the trade winds. In the low-lying northern areas of the more mountainous islands, cloudy spells may occur during the early and late hours of the day.
The combination of higher temperatures, dry air and suspended dust may increase the sensation of heat, especially in mid-altitude areas and locations less exposed to the cooling effect of the trade winds.
A light calima episode for now
For the moment, the forecast points to a light haze rather than a major Saharan dust intrusion. There is also no official confirmation that the dust will reach ground level in a significant way across all the islands.
Even so, calima episodes can change depending on wind direction, atmospheric stability and the movement of dust-laden air from North Africa. For this reason, the areas affected and the duration of the episode will need to be monitored through Aemet’s upcoming updates.
In general, the Canary Islands can expect hazier skies, warmer temperatures and a possible continuation of airborne dust over the next few days, although the intensity of the episode is expected to remain limited for now.
