Monday: red alert heat and strong winds
The first week of August is starting with a bang. The Canary Islands are in for intense heat, lingering calima in the upper atmosphere, and locally very strong gusts of the trade wind. AEMET has activated a red warning for maximum temperatures in Gran Canaria.
General conditions
Skies will be mostly clear from dawn, staying that way until nightfall. Expect low clouds to roll in during the night at altitudes below 400 metres on the north and northeast coasts of the larger islands, and possibly in northern and western spots of the eastern islands.
Temperatures will see little change, but the heat will be severe. Maximums could reach or exceed 42ºC in Gran Canaria, 40ºC in La Palma, 38ºC in Fuerteventura and Tenerife, and 36ºC in El Hierro and La Gomera.
The wind will blow moderately from the northeast, with strong areas at sea between the islands, in the east and south of Lanzarote, in the interior and south of Fuerteventura, and in the southeast and west-northwest municipalities of the other islands. Gusts of 60 to 80 km/h are likely.
At sea, conditions will be rough, with waves over 1.5 metres at most beaches and bathing areas.
Island-by-island forecast
Tenerife
Low clouds are possible below 400 metres in the northeast, mainly at night. Elsewhere, expect sun and temperatures above 30ºC, with maximums around or exceeding 38ºC.
Gran Canaria
AEMET has issued a red warning for high temperatures. For the fifth consecutive day, the maximum will exceed 40ºC. The trade wind will be moderate to strong and gusty in the southeast and northwest.
Lanzarote
The trade wind will be strong and gusty, except in the northwest of the island. Expect sun, barely perceptible remnants of calima, and maximum temperatures of 35-36ºC.
Fuerteventura
Clear skies with a slight haze of calima. The trade wind will be moderate with strong intervals in the interior and on the Jandía peninsula.
La Palma
Low clouds may form below 400 metres in the northeast, at least during the night. Maximum temperatures could hover around 38-40ºC.
La Gomera
Sunny and hot. Wind gusts of 60-90 km/h are expected, though the municipalities of Agulo and Hermigua will be spared.
El Hierro
Sun, heat, and a moderate northeast wind with locally strong gusts at times.
La Graciosa
Sunny and hot. Maximum temperatures will reach 29-31ºC.
Fire risk
The regional government has activated its maximum alert for forest fires and high temperatures in Gran Canaria starting this Monday. Extreme caution is advised.
