Canary Islands Issue Weather Alert for Saharan Dust and Strong Winds

The Canary Islands are bracing for difficult weather this Friday, with the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) warning of heavy dust and strong winds. A yellow weather alert has been issued for Tenerife, where residents are urged to take extra care, particularly in mountainous and mid-altitude areas.

The "calima"—a dust haze blown in from the Sahara—will be most intense across the higher ground of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, as well as the peaks and southern slopes of the more mountainous islands. Temperatures are expected to rise, with the most significant heat felt on southwestern slopes. While daytime temperatures will climb, nighttime lows will remain steady, with a chance of light frost on Tenerife’s highest peaks.

Strong northeasterly winds will pick up throughout the day. In Tenerife, gusts could reach dangerous levels, especially along the Cordillera Dorsal and the northwestern tip of the island. Similar conditions are expected in La Gomera and El Hierro, where winds will strengthen by the afternoon. In La Palma, the El Paso area is expected to see particularly intense gusts sweeping down toward the western coast.

Skies will be partly cloudy across the northern and northeastern parts of the mountainous islands, with only a slight chance of light, isolated rain. The rest of the archipelago should remain mostly clear.

Expected temperatures for the island capitals are as follows:

• Santa Cruz de Tenerife: 15°C to 22°C
• San Sebastián de La Gomera: 15°C to 23°C
• Santa Cruz de La Palma: 13°C to 21°C
• Valverde: 11°C to 15°C

This weather event serves as a reminder of how Saharan air masses can interact with the islands' rugged landscape to create challenging conditions, requiring ongoing vigilance from emergency services.