The Canary Islands are bracing for a significant heat surge, with tropical and equatorial nights expected to last at least until Friday. The State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) has issued orange and yellow alerts for several islands as temperatures are forecast to exceed high thresholds.
In Gran Canaria, highs of up to 40 degrees Celsius are anticipated in the western, southern, and southeastern midlands. Nighttime temperatures will barely drop below 26-28 degrees, making sleep difficult. The orange alert will be in effect from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM for the peaks and the eastern, southern, and western areas of the island.
Lanzarote and Fuerteventura will also be under an orange alert, with predicted highs of 37 degrees, particularly in inland areas and southern slopes. For the rest of the islands, including northern Gran Canaria, northern Tenerife, and eastern La Palma, the alert will be yellow, with highs of 34 degrees, especially in midlands above 600 meters, where minimums will hover around 25-27 degrees.
The General Directorate of Emergencies of the Government of the Canary Islands has declared a maximum temperature alert for the entire archipelago since Monday, due to a hot and dry air mass of African continental origin. This situation is expected to persist, with a gradual decrease anticipated for Friday, pending confirmation.
"Abnormally high" nighttime minimum temperatures are expected, especially in the midlands and peaks of the southern and western slopes of the mountainous islands, and in the interior of the southern half of the eastern islands. The regional government also maintains a forest fire risk alert for El Hierro, La Palma, Tenerife, La Gomera, and Gran Canaria at higher altitudes.
