Canary Islands temperatures drop as heatwave eases amid ongoing wind and sea warnings

The State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) reports that temperatures in the Canary Islands will begin to drop this Thursday. While the extreme heat is starting to ease, residents are urged to remain cautious, as high temperatures and strong winds continue to pose risks on land and at sea.

The weather remains challenging due to a combination of cooling temperatures and powerful trade winds. Yellow weather warnings are in place across most of the islands—excluding Fuerteventura—with particularly strong gusts expected in the southeast and northwest of Tenerife and along the mountain ridges. Coastal conditions are also hazardous, with warnings for the western islands and Gran Canaria. With sea conditions reaching force 6 to 7 and significant swells, authorities advise against all nautical activities.

The cooling trend is uneven across the archipelago. While Santa Cruz de Tenerife expects temperatures between 24 and 31 degrees, other areas remain quite hot. Mid-altitude regions in the south and west of Tenerife, Gran Canaria, La Palma, La Gomera, and El Hierro, along with the southern interior of Fuerteventura, will still see highs of 34 degrees. The southeast coast of Gran Canaria remains particularly affected, with "tropical nights" where temperatures refuse to drop below 25 degrees, adding to the strain caused by the recent heatwave.

This event highlights the islands' growing vulnerability to heatwaves, which experts note have become more frequent and longer-lasting over the past decade. The combination of warm air and strong trade winds is common in the region, but the persistence of these hot nights presents a significant challenge for public health. While today marks a transition toward more stable weather, the heat remains a serious concern for those living in the islands.