Weather conditions in the Canary Islands are expected to ease this Monday following several days of intense heat, with the regional government lifting its high-temperature alert. However, temperatures will remain high in some areas, with maximums of between 30°C and 32°C expected in mid-altitude areas on the southern and western sides of several islands.
According to the Spanish State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) and the Canary Islands Government’s Directorate-General for Emergencies, the beginning of the week will also bring cloudy skies to northern areas, while very strong gusts of wind could affect some exposed locations.
The main change this Monday concerns the civil protection measures introduced in response to the recent spell of high temperatures. From 8.00 am, the Canary Islands Government lifted the heat alert that had been in force in El Hierro, La Gomera and La Palma, as well as southern Tenerife and the summit and mid-altitude areas of Gran Canaria above 400 metres.
Despite the improvement in temperatures, the authorities have decided to maintain the pre-alert for the risk of forest fires throughout the Canary Islands.
Return of the summer trade winds
The lifting of the heat alert comes as the mass of hot, dry air that has affected the archipelago over recent days gradually retreats. However, the change will not be immediate or uniform across the islands. North-easterly trade winds will bring cooler conditions to slopes directly exposed to them, while inland areas and slopes facing south, east and west are expected to remain considerably warmer.
Temperatures are forecast to fall slightly across inland areas in general. Nevertheless, maximums could still locally reach between 30°C and 32°C in mid-altitude areas of southern Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria. In Tenerife, temperatures could approach 30°C in some southern and western areas.
Cloudy skies and a chance of drizzle
In northern parts of the higher islands — Tenerife, Gran Canaria, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro — moisture associated with the sea of clouds is expected to keep skies overcast at elevations below approximately 1,000 metres. There is also a possibility of light, scattered drizzle, particularly during the early morning and towards the end of the day.
Conditions will be somewhat different in Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, where clearer skies are expected to dominate during the middle of the day.
Strong winds and rougher seas
The north-easterly wind will generally be moderate, although strong gusts are expected at times. Occasionally very strong gusts could affect the south-eastern and north-western slopes of the mountainous islands, southern Jandía in Fuerteventura and the southern coastline of Tenerife’s metropolitan area.
Conditions at sea will also remain unsettled in exposed areas. Aemet forecasts northerly or north-easterly winds of force 5 to 6, producing moderate to rough seas and locally rougher conditions offshore. The southern and south-western coasts will be more sheltered, where lighter breezes and less turbulent sea conditions are expected.
Overall, Monday will mark a gradual transition away from the recent period of intense heat and towards more typical summer trade-wind conditions. However, temperatures of up to 32°C, strong gusts and the continuing risk of forest fires mean that unsettled conditions have not disappeared completely.
