The island of Gran Canaria recorded the highest temperature in Spain during the early hours of Monday, reaching 35.8 degrees Celsius in the municipality of Agüimes. Shortly after, Pájara, in Fuerteventura, registered 34.8 degrees Celsius. These readings occurred at midnight, highlighting an intense heat episode.
The third highest value was noted in Castell de Faro, Granada, with 34.4 degrees Celsius, a figure also reached in Tasarte, in La Aldea, Gran Canaria.
In response, the General Directorate of Emergencies of the Government of the Canary Islands has declared a maximum alert for high temperatures and wildfire risk in Gran Canaria. The alert, effective from 11:00 AM this Monday, August 3rd, anticipates temperatures could exceed 40 degrees Celsius in various parts of the island.
The maximum heat alert is focused on the peaks and the eastern, southern, and western areas of Gran Canaria. The rest of the Canary archipelago remains on alert, according to the Specific Emergency Plan of the Canary Islands for Risks of Adverse Meteorological Phenomena (PEFMA).
The State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) has activated 'red' level notices (extraordinary danger) in Gran Canaria due to extreme heat, which is expected to approach 40 degrees Celsius. In Tenerife, notices are 'orange' level (significant danger), with forecasts of up to 37 degrees Celsius in the eastern, southern, and western areas.
The islands of Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Palma, La Gomera, and El Hierro are under 'yellow' level notices (low danger) for high temperatures. Additionally, La Gomera and Gran Canaria also have yellow alerts for strong winds that could reach 80 kilometers per hour.
On the mainland, 'orange' level warnings are in place for Catalonia and Aragon, anticipating severe storms in the central depression of Lleida and Tarragona, southern Huesca, and the Lower Aragon region of Teruel. These storms may be accompanied by hail larger than 2 centimeters and strong wind gusts.
Furthermore, intense rainfall is expected in these same areas and in central and Pyrenean Huesca and Lleida, with accumulations of up to 20 liters per square meter, leading to the activation of 'yellow' level notices.
