The State Meteorological Agency, Aemet, has issued a yellow warning for high temperatures in Gran Canaria this Thursday, as thermometers are expected to reach 34°C and may locally rise to 37°C in some mid-altitude areas.
The areas most affected will be the south, west and the Tejeda basin, where the heat will be especially intense during the central hours of the day.
The rise in temperatures will also be felt across the rest of the archipelago. Maximum temperatures are expected to exceed 32°C in parts of Tenerife, Fuerteventura, La Gomera and El Hierro. The heat will be accompanied by strong gusts of wind on exposed slopes and a slight presence of haze, especially in higher areas.
The episode of high temperatures will mainly affect mid-altitude areas and mountain peaks across the islands, while north-facing coastal areas will remain cloudier and with little change in temperatures.
According to Aemet, north-easterly winds will continue to blow across the archipelago, with strong gusts at times. The most intense gusts are expected along the south-eastern and north-western slopes of the higher islands.
Where the heat will be most intense this Thursday
The most significant conditions will be concentrated in Gran Canaria. The Tejeda basin and the mid-altitude areas of the south-east, south and west will remain under a yellow warning between 11.00am and 8.00pm due to maximum temperatures of 34°C, which may locally rise to 37°C. The island may also experience a slight presence of calima at high altitudes.
In Tenerife, temperatures will rise slightly to moderately in mid-altitude areas and on the peaks. Maximum values are expected to reach 30°C to 32°C in the east, south and west of the island, as well as in lower-lying areas on the southern slopes of the metropolitan area.
In the southern mid-altitude areas of Tenerife, temperatures may locally reach 34°C. Similar conditions are expected in La Gomera and El Hierro, where maximum temperatures will range between 30°C and 32°C in the higher southern areas, with isolated values of up to 34°C.
In Fuerteventura, temperatures are expected to reach 32°C in the southern interior and along the south-eastern coast, with possible peaks of 34°C. In Lanzarote, maximum temperatures could reach 30°C in the south-east.
Very strong gusts and rough seas
The wind will continue to blow as a north-easterly trade wind, generally moderate to strong. Aemet forecasts locally very strong gusts during the second half of the day on the south-eastern and north-western slopes of the mountainous islands.
Very strong gusts may also affect the southern slopes of the Tenerife metropolitan area and the south of Jandía, in Fuerteventura.
At sea, winds will mainly blow from the north or north-east at force 4 to 5. Rough to very rough seas are expected across much of Canary Islands waters, along with a northerly swell producing waves between one and two metres high.
Heat risk alert
The Canary Islands Government, through the Directorate-General for Emergencies, has updated the situation by declaring a forest fire risk alert and a pre-alert for high maximum temperatures across the archipelago from 11.00am on Thursday, 13 August.
The measures come in response to the expected combination of high temperatures, dry conditions, wind and the presence of haze in elevated areas.
Forest fire risk alert
In Tenerife, the forest fire risk alert affects the mountain peaks and mid-altitude areas on the south- and west-facing slopes. In Gran Canaria, the alert covers the mountain peaks, north-facing slopes above 600 metres, and west-, south- and east-facing slopes above 400 metres.
La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro remain under pre-alert status, according to the official INFOCA bulletin.
Pre-alert for high temperatures
In Gran Canaria, the pre-alert for high temperatures applies to the mountain peaks, the higher mid-altitude areas in the north and, in general, the western, southern and eastern slopes of the island. In Tenerife, the pre-alert affects the mountain peaks and the mid-altitude areas on the south- and west-facing slopes.
Although the episode will not affect all areas equally, authorities are urging the public to take precautions, especially in inland, elevated and south-facing areas where the heat will be most intense.
