Gran Canaria has been placed under a rare red weather alert as the island prepares for temperatures of up to 40C.
The alert, issued by Spain's national weather agency Aemet, covers the southern half of the island for Monday. The northern half is under a yellow warning, with highs of 37C expected. Aemet has also issued warnings for all the other Canary Islands, where temperatures are forecast to reach 37C.
Maximum alert level triggered
The forecast has prompted the Canary Islands government to raise the alert level to maximum for high temperatures in Gran Canaria.
"A period of high temperatures lasting several days will have a greater impact, especially on Gran Canaria, where it will primarily affect the Tejeda basin and the mid-altitude areas of the southeast and west, with temperatures potentially exceeding 40C in some locations. In Tenerife, it will also affect mid-altitude areas, as well as southeast-facing areas of the metropolitan area and, locally, coastal zones," the government said.
"The episode will be accompanied by a low temperature inversion, initially located around 400 meters in Gran Canaria and between 500 and 700 meters in the western islands, with a tendency to gradually decrease. This situation will favor a warm and dry environment in the midlands and higher elevations. The influx of African air may be accompanied by light haze, mainly in the eastern islands, although significant concentrations of surface dust are not initially expected."
Safety precautions urged
Tourists have been advised to remain in shady areas and stay inside cooler rooms, keep hydrated, avoid exercise during the hottest part of the day, and avoid consuming alcoholic beverages. Those taking medication are encouraged to consult their doctor about whether it may affect the body's ability to regulate temperature.
In addition to the heat warnings, Aemet has issued yellow wind alerts for La Palma and southern Gran Canaria, where gusts of 80km/h are possible.
Outlook for Tuesday
Warnings remain in place on Tuesday, although the red alert for Gran Canaria has been downgraded to amber for the time being. Temperatures are set to stay high, with the possibility of Gran Canaria exceeding 40C in local areas.
The western islands of La Palma, El Hierro, La Gomera and Tenerife will remain hot, with highs of 37C expected, while the eastern islands of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura will be slightly cooler at 34C.
