Canary Islands Record High Temperatures and Fire Risk
On Sunday, the Canary Islands witnessed extreme temperatures, with Tasarte in La Aldea de San Nicolás hitting a scorching 43 degrees Celsius. The regional government had issued a heat alert across the archipelago, underscoring the heightened risk of forest fires on several islands.
The State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) reported that other areas in Gran Canaria also faced intense heat. Lomo Pedro Alfonso in San Bartolomé de Tirajana reached 40 degrees, while Agüimes recorded 39.7 degrees. The Doramas Forest Centre in Telde noted 38.6 degrees, and Las Tirajanas, also in San Bartolomé, saw 38.4 degrees.
In Tenerife, the highest temperature of 37.3 degrees was in Güímar, followed closely by Santa Cruz de Tenerife at 37.1 degrees.
Further temperatures exceeded 35 degrees in Playa Blanca, Yaiza, as well as in El Paso and La Dehesa in La Palma and El Hierro, which reached 35.5 degrees and 35.3 degrees, respectively. Other notable temperatures included 34.9 degrees in Vallehermoso-Dama, La Gomera, and 34.1 degrees in Antigua, Fuerteventura.
In light of a warm, dry air mass from Africa affecting the islands, the Canary government maintains a maximum alert for Gran Canaria and a broader temperature warning for the entire region.
Additionally, the emergency fire protection plan (INFOCA) remains in effect for El Hierro, La Gomera, La Palma, Tenerife, and Gran Canaria at altitudes above 400 metres, due to the combination of high temperatures, low humidity, and fire spread risk.
