The State Meteorological Agency, Aemet, has issued a yellow warning for coastal phenomena in the Canary Islands this Monday, 20 July, affecting the east, south and west of both Tenerife and Gran Canaria.
The warning will remain active throughout the day and into the early hours of Tuesday due to the expected impact of strong north-easterly winds and rough seas, particularly in the channel between the two islands. According to the forecast, winds may reach force 7, creating difficult sea conditions and heavy swells in exposed coastal and offshore areas.
The situation is expected to be most noticeable in the inter-island channel, where the combination of strong trade winds and rough seas may complicate maritime conditions. Aemet has therefore placed coastal and navigation areas under a low-risk yellow warning.
Strong trade winds and calima across the archipelago
The general weather forecast for the Canary Islands points to mostly clear or partly cloudy skies across much of the archipelago. However, intervals of low cloud are expected on the northern slopes of the islands during the early and late hours of the day.
In addition, calima will remain present at higher altitudes across the eight islands. This means that the sky may appear hazy or slightly milky in some areas, although the dust is expected mainly in the upper layers of the atmosphere.
The trade winds will also be a key feature of Monday’s weather. They will blow with moderate to strong intensity on the south-eastern and north-western slopes of the higher islands, as well as in parts of the southern interior of Lanzarote and the Jandía peninsula in Fuerteventura.
Occasionally very strong gusts are forecast in these areas, especially at the beginning and end of the day. Along the south-western coasts, breezes will be more common and may soften conditions locally.
Temperatures rise, with 34°C expected in the south and west of Gran Canaria
Temperatures will remain largely unchanged or rise slightly, especially on eastern and inland slopes. The highest values are expected in Gran Canaria, where temperatures in the south and west may reach or exceed 34°C.
Elsewhere in the archipelago, temperatures will also remain high in several areas. Parts of southern Tenerife, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro are expected to approach or exceed 30°C.
In the island capitals, maximum temperatures will vary between 25°C in Valverde and 30°C in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Arrecife. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Santa Cruz de La Palma are forecast to reach 27°C, while Puerto del Rosario will also record a maximum of 27°C. In San Sebastián de La Gomera, temperatures may rise to 29°C.
Areas affected by the warning in Tenerife and Gran Canaria
According to Aemet’s official bulletin, the yellow warning affects coastal and maritime areas where north-easterly wind gusts may reach between 50 and 61 kilometres per hour.
In Tenerife, the warning applies to the eastern, southern and western areas of the island. The greatest impact is expected to the south of the channel separating Tenerife from Gran Canaria. The warning is scheduled to end at 00:59 on Tuesday, 21 July.
In Gran Canaria, the warning affects the eastern, southern and western coasts, with particular attention to offshore areas in the south-east and the southern part of the channel between the two islands. The end time is the same: 00:59 on Tuesday.
At sea, north and north-easterly winds of force 4 to 6 are expected, increasing to force 7 further offshore. These conditions may produce swells or strong swells, along with swell waves of one to two metres.
Overall, Monday will bring a combination of strong trade winds, calima at higher altitudes, rising temperatures and rough sea conditions between Tenerife and Gran Canaria. The authorities advise caution in coastal areas affected by the warning and recommend following official updates as the day progresses.
