canary islands first summer heatwave june 2026

Canary Islands face first summer heatwave with 40°C temperatures

Canary Islands brace for first summer heat spike

Just a week after the planet switched to summer mode, and having narrowly escaped the heatwaves that have scorched Spain and Europe, the Canary Islands face their first high-temperature episode of the season today and tomorrow. This is an express spike in heat, with thermometers set to record values six degrees above normal, and it will confirm the return of tropical nights.

The shift in temperatures began to be felt on Monday, especially in central and southern Gran Canaria, where several municipalities had already exceeded 30°C in the early morning hours. However, the worst is expected to arrive on Tuesday, when the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) forecasts that thermometers will suddenly soar, reaching between 36°C and 40°C across the islands with the most pronounced relief.

‘Short but very intense’ heat spike

“This is a short but very intense situation,” says David Suárez, Aemet’s delegate in the Canary Islands, who warns that temperatures will exceed normal averages for this time of year by five to six degrees. “The average temperature in the Canary Islands for this month is between 21°C and 21.5°C, and we could reach averages of up to 27°C,” he insists. Despite its short duration, Aemet already views this episode as a possible precursor to a much longer event: “Another rise in temperatures is expected towards the weekend.”

What is causing the sudden heat?

The culprit behind this abrupt temperature increase is a shift in the atmospheric pattern over the Atlantic near the Canary Islands. On one hand, the Azores High has moved from its usual position and “stretched” as far north as Spain and southern Europe, according to Suárez. In this position, the trade winds it generates change direction, accelerating the process. On the other hand, wind blowing from the east off the African ridge has a clear path to move toward the Canary Islands, dragging a dense cloud of suspended dust with it.

Calima dust cloud and coastal fog

“It will not penetrate the lower levels of the atmosphere,” the regional delegate insists. But this does not mean its impact will be minor. The calima will be found closer to the peaks and mid-altitude areas, while humidity and cool wind will predominate on the coast, especially on the northern slopes. “This could cause fog to form on the coast because the inversion layer is very low,” Suárez points out. However, he rules out that this fog could affect operations at Tenerife North Airport – which often suffers from these thermal contrasts – in the coming days. “The inversion is at about 300 metres, so it will remain below the airport,” he indicates.

Weather warnings activated across the islands

Aemet has already activated warnings for high temperatures for both Monday and Tuesday, with Tuesday expected to be the hottest day of this express episode. On Monday, a yellow warning was activated for eastern, southern and western Gran Canaria; on Tuesday, warnings will become widespread. The situation is expected to intensify: all islands except Fuerteventura and Lanzarote will be under a yellow warning for high temperatures, with southern Gran Canaria under an orange warning. Daytime temperatures are expected to exceed 30°C widely and reach 40°C in some specific locations.

The heat will also be accompanied by strong winds, which will affect sea conditions, Lanzarote and some south-facing coastal areas.

Emergency pre-alerts and wildfire risk

Based on the forecast, the Government of the Canary Islands, through the Directorate General for Emergencies, has declared two pre-alert situations across the islands. The first, for wind, came into effect at 03:00 hours on Monday. The second, for maximum temperatures, was activated at 11:00 hours across all islands and has been raised to alert level in Gran Canaria.

Emergencies has also declared an alert situation for the Risk of Forest Fires in Gran Canaria from 14:00 hours on Monday, and across the rest of the islands from 07:00 hours on Tuesday. The decision has been taken in application of the Canary Islands Specific Emergency Plan for Adverse Meteorological Phenomena (PEFMA).

Official warnings and public safety advice

Rosa Dávila, president of the Cabildo of Tenerife, has called for “maximum caution” in the coming days. The island president reminded the public that these conditions “also increase the risk of forest fire,” and urged responsibility in natural spaces, woodland areas and places exposed to wind. The Cabildo is maintaining monitoring of the situation and coordination of emergency services to ensure safety across the island.

The institution insists on the need to follow official recommendations and avoid risky behaviour during the hottest days. The advice focuses on avoiding activities that could generate sparks or fire, not discarding cigarette butts, not leaving waste and respecting any restrictions authorities may impose. It is also advisable to postpone excursions or camping if weather conditions worsen.

Return of tropical and torrid nights

With this rise in temperatures comes the return of tropical nights (above 20°C) or torrid nights (above 25°C). After a month of May in which only 2.05% of nights were classified as tropical, the Canary Islands can expect “high nighttime temperatures, which could be above 25°C in south-facing areas,” insists Suárez, who warns that there will be areas of Gran Canaria where nights could become hellish (above 30°C).

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