Tuesday brings calima and a temperature spike across the Canary Islands
Saharan dust is drifting over the eastern islands and Tenerife today, as temperatures climb sharply across the archipelago. Inland Fuerteventura and Lanzarote could hit 34°C or more, while Gran Canaria’s southern and western slopes also feel the heat. The ocean stays mostly calm, with a light to moderate northwest wind keeping things pleasant.
General conditions
Tuesday sees medium and high cloud cover across all islands, with low cloud lingering on northern coasts during the early and late hours. Light calima (Saharan dust) affects the eastern islands and Tenerife. Minimum temperatures are rising, especially in mid-altitude areas of the mountainous islands. Daytime highs are climbing too, noticeably on the southern and western slopes of the eastern islands and Tenerife. Temperatures could surpass 34°C inland on Fuerteventura and Lanzarote, as well as on southern and western slopes of Gran Canaria. It’s also possible that points in southern Tenerife and La Gomera will reach similar highs. Mid-altitude areas in northern Gran Canaria and the Tenerife metropolitan area are likely to hit 30°C or more.
Wind is light to moderate from the northwest across the easternmost islands, with gusts picking up at northern and southern extremes. Elsewhere, a light northerly wind prevails, with stronger intervals on eastern and northwestern slopes. In mid-altitude and summit areas, a moderate southwest wind will shift to a westerly component by nightfall. The ocean sees a northwest Atlantic swell with waves barely reaching 1.5 metres. Sheltered southern coasts will experience slightly choppy conditions.
Island-by-island forecast
Tenerife
Scattered medium and high cloud cover, with low cloud on northern coasts during early and late hours. Light calima. Light north wind, picking up at the far northeast and southwestern coastline. Temperatures are rising. Highs around 30°C in the capital.
Gran Canaria
Low cloud on northern coasts, with medium and high cloud above. Calima present. Light north wind, with possible strong gusts on the east and southeast coast. Very warm conditions. Highs around 27°C in the capital.
Lanzarote
Scattered medium and high cloud, with low cloud on the west coast. Calima. Light northwest wind. Highs around 32°C in Arrecife.
Fuerteventura
High cloud cover, with intervals of low cloud on the west coast. Calima. Light wind, stronger in the south. Highs up to 32°C in the capital.
La Palma
Mostly clear in the north and east in the morning and evening. Elsewhere, intervals of medium and high cloud. Northerly wind on the coast. Possible strong gusts on the northwest coast at midday. Temperatures ranging from 19°C to 26°C in the capital.
La Gomera
Medium and high cloud cover, except on the north coast where low cloud forms during early and late hours. Light wind. Highs around 30°C in the capital.
El Hierro
Medium and high cloud, with low cloud underneath on the north coast during early and late hours. Light north wind. Highs around 24°C in the capital.
La Graciosa
Intervals of high cloud. Calima. Light northwest wind. Temperatures ranging from 20°C to 26°C in Caleta de Sebo.
