Wednesday weather: alisios keep things cool as mainland Spain bakes
While much of Spain faces a new heatwave, the Canary Islands are enjoying a much cooler and more stable spell thanks to a steady blow from the alisio (trade wind). Wednesday, 22 July, will see strong gusts in the usual spots—the northwest and southeast of the mountainous islands, and across the central-south of the eastern islands—with the metropolitan area of Tenerife likely catching a breeze by the afternoon.
General conditions
Clouds: Low clouds will cling to the northern coasts early and late in the day, but will tend to pull away from the shore as the hours progress. Elsewhere, skies will be mostly clear, although a layer of calima (Saharan dust) at altitude will soften the blue overhead.
Temperatures: Little change from recent days, with highs around 30°C in the southern midlands. Most coastal areas will feel pleasant.
Ocean: The Atlantic will be rough across northern shores, with waves of around two metres offshore. Sheltered southern coasts will offer calmer conditions.
Island by island
Tenerife: Scattered clouds across the north, especially around the Anaga massif. The capital will see temperatures between 22°C and 29°C. Calima remains at altitude, with a strong alisio hammering the southeast coast.
Gran Canaria: Watch out – the wind will bring strong gusts, exceeding 80 km/h in the west and southeast of the island. Low clouds in the north will gradually clear. Calima is present. Temperatures unchanged.
Lanzarote: Breezes will pick up notably across the centre and south of the island. Some morning cloud cover on the north and west coasts will retreat as the day goes on. Temperatures in Arrecife range from 22°C to 28°C.
Fuerteventura: Intense alisio winds across the south, with little cloud cover—any patches on the western side will quickly disappear. The capital will see highs of 27°C and lows of 21°C.
La Palma: Low clouds will sit over the north and east of the island, losing ground around midday. Strong gusts are expected in the southeast. Temperatures similar to elsewhere.
La Gomera: Fewer clouds than elsewhere, with the north seeing some early-morning cover. The rest of the island will enjoy sunshine, with calima at altitude and strong winds in the usual places. Temperatures holding steady.
El Hierro: A mainly clear day, with any early clouds quickly burning off. Wind will blow strongly at the extremities. Temperatures between 16°C and 21°C.
La Graciosa: Some scattered clouds in the morning, but they will fade away. The wind will remain noticeable, particularly out at sea. Temperatures stable.
Calima and UV reminder
Calima at altitude will continue to filter the sunlight across the archipelago. While not a ground-level event, it may tint the sky and reduce visibility slightly. As always, UV levels will be high, so sun protection is a must.
