The Canary Islands are currently experiencing an intense late-summer, early-autumn heatwave, with scorching temperatures set to descend later this week. The State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) confirmed that the islands remain under the influence of exceptionally high temperatures, with forecasts of up to 38C in some areas, including Tenerife, sparking several public health authorities to issue high-level alerts.
David Suárez, AEMET’s delegate in the Canaries, warned that the heat episode could continue until the end of the week. AEMET forecasts that the warm spell will continue through to next week (September 22-28), with little rainfall expected across the archipelago. The trend could extend into early October, when temperatures are also likely to remain above average. For locals and tourists who have escaped the grey and wet weather of the UK, authorities have urged people to try to stay in the shade between 12pm and 4pm as UV levels will be high, carry bottled water at all times, particularly on day trips or while walking around resorts and to complete outdoor activities such as hiking and cycling in the morning or evening when it is cooler.
A red-level warning has been activated for Tenerife’s metropolitan area, covering:
- Santa Cruz de Tenerife
- San Cristóbal de La Laguna
- Candelaria
- Tegueste
- Tacoronte
- El Rosario
Residents and visitors in these municipalities are urged to take extreme precautions, especially vulnerable groups such as the elderly, children, and those with health conditions.
Alongside Tenerife’s red alert, other islands face significant warnings:
Orange alert (medium risk):
- Western La Palma: (Fuencaliente, Los Llanos de Aridane, Tijarafe, Tazacorte, Garafía, Puntagorda, El Paso)
- El Hierro: (Frontera, Valverde, El Pinar)
Yellow alert (low risk):
- Gran Canaria: East, West and South Zones: Agüimes, Artenara, Ingenio, Mogán, San Bartolomé de Tirajana, Aldea de San Nicolás, Santa Lucía de Tirajana, Telde, Valsequillo de Gran Canaria; and Cumbres zone of Gran Canaria (Tejeda and Vega de San Mateo)
- Tenerife: Buenavista del Norte, Garachico, La Guancha, Icod de los Vinos, Matanza de Acentejo, La Orotava, Puerto de la Cruz, Los Realejos, San Juan de la Rambla, Santa Úrsula, El Sauzal, Los Silos, El Tanque and La Victoria de Acentejo.
- Lanzarote: Haría, San Bartolomé, Teguise, Tías, Tinajo and Yaiza.
- La Palma: East Zone: Barlovento, Breña Alta, Breña Baja, Puntallana, San Andrés y Sauces, Santa Cruz de La Palma and Villa de Mazo); Cumbres zone of La Palma (El Paso).
Public Health officials have stressed the importance of staying hydrated, avoiding outdoor activities during peak sun hours and looking after those most at risk.
Authorities highlight Santa Cruz (Tenerife), Tazacorte (La Palma), Frontera (El Hierro), San Bartolomé (Lanzarote) and San Bartolomé de Tirajana/Santa Lucía de Tirajana (Gran Canaria) as municipalities where the health risks will be particularly acute.
In addition, the popular holiday archipelago is also contending with suspended dust across the majority of the islands, where visbility has been predicted at 3,000 metres (9,800ft). According to AEMET, “The storm will affect south-facing midlands and peaks, but will increasingly affect low-lying areas and, locally, coastal areas.”