Spain's state meteorological agency, AEMET, has expanded heat warnings across the Canary Islands for Monday, July 6, as temperatures soar and a calima dust storm from the Sahara Desert affects the archipelago. Gran Canaria's yellow warning has been upgraded to orange, with maximum temperatures expected to reach 37°C. The Canary Islands Government has issued a pre-alert for high temperatures across all islands, while Gran Canaria and Tenerife are on forest fire alert due to increased wildfire risk.
Gran Canaria Heat Warning Upgraded to Orange
Gran Canaria was under a yellow heat warning on Sunday from 11am to 8pm, with temperatures reaching up to 35°C in the south-east, south, and west midlands, as well as the Tejeda basin. On Monday, AEMET upgraded the warning to orange for the same period, with maximum temperatures potentially climbing to 37°C in those areas. Night-time temperatures are also expected to remain exceptionally high, with minimums of 26°C to 27°C.
Warnings for Other Islands
Fuerteventura will be under a yellow warning for high temperatures from 11am to 8pm on both Sunday and Monday, with temperatures expected to reach 34°C, particularly in inland areas of the south-east. Lanzarote, not under a warning on Sunday, moves to a yellow warning on Monday, with temperatures possibly reaching 34°C in inland and south-eastern parts. Tenerife will also be under a yellow warning on Monday between 11am and 8pm, with maximum temperatures expected to reach 34°C. La Gomera joins the list of islands under a yellow heat warning on Monday, also from 11am to 8pm, with temperatures forecast to peak at 34°C.
Islands Without Warnings
La Palma and El Hierro remain the only two of the seven-island archipelago to escape weather warnings on Monday, though this may change as the week progresses.
Precautions and Wildfire Risk
The Canary Islands Government is urging residents and tourists to take precautions during the heatwave, stay well hydrated, avoid prolonged exposure to the sun during the hottest hours of the day, and follow any advice issued by local authorities. The combination of extreme heat and calima increases the risk of wildfires, particularly on Tenerife and Gran Canaria, according to Canarian Weekly.
