Canary Islands Brace for Intense Heatwave and Saharan Dust

The Canary Islands are bracing for a significant heatwave this weekend, with the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) warning that the islands’ climate resilience will be put to the test. The rising temperatures will affect the entire archipelago, accompanied by persistent Saharan dust (calima) and strong wind gusts.

Tenerife and Gran Canaria are the primary areas of concern. Tenerife is under a yellow weather warning for Saturday, with temperatures expected to hit 35°C. Gran Canaria faces an even tougher situation, with peaks exceeding 37°C during the day. A major health risk is the lack of overnight cooling; temperatures in southern Tenerife are expected to stay above 25°C, while Gran Canaria will see minimums of 26°C. These "tropical nights" pose a particular risk to vulnerable groups.

Current alerts are set to expire on Saturday evening—5:00 p.m. for Tenerife and 7:00 p.m. for Gran Canaria. However, Aemet warns that the situation remains unstable, and new alerts for Sunday cannot be ruled out as the heat persists.

Across the rest of the archipelago, temperatures will rise to between 30°C and 32°C in southern areas. Conditions will be further complicated by intensifying Saharan dust, particularly in the eastern islands, alongside strong winds and potential light, isolated rain at higher altitudes.

This heatwave reflects a growing trend of thermal anomalies that has forced local authorities to update their emergency protocols. The increasing frequency of tropical nights has become a significant challenge for public health and energy management, marking a shift in how the Canary Islands must plan for their changing climate.