Fire risk alerts have been issued by the Canary Islands Government’s Emergency Directorate, effective from 10:00 tomorrow, affecting El Hierro, La Palma, La Gomera, and Tenerife, as well as certain areas of Gran Canaria.
This decision follows a rise in temperatures associated with a tropical heatwave, characterised by high temperatures, low humidity, and moderate winds, particularly on the southern and western slopes. These conditions heighten the risk of wildfires due to increased availability of flammable vegetation.
In Tenerife, the alert is now extended to the northern region, with temperatures expected to reach around 36 degrees Celsius in many areas of the forested midlands, especially in the south where local highs could reach 37 degrees. The northern midlands may see temperatures between 32 and 33 degrees, with some northeastern areas possibly hitting 34 degrees.
In Gran Canaria, the alert covers the northern-facing slopes above 600 metres and the western, southern, and eastern slopes above 400 metres. The most extreme conditions are expected in the southwest highlands, where temperatures could generally exceed 37 degrees, with local peaks of 38 degrees and possibly reaching 40 degrees in some spots. Humidity is anticipated to be below 30%, with winds in many areas exceeding 30 kilometres per hour.
La Gomera is forecasted to experience temperatures of up to 37 degrees in the southern midlands, while La Palma may see highs of 35 degrees in the Caldera de Taburiente and 34 degrees in various northwestern and mountainous regions.
El Hierro could exceed 34 to 35 degrees across much of its southern and mountainous areas, with the rest of the forested surface reaching around 32 degrees. The Emergency Directorate has also highlighted low humidity levels in the higher elevations of the western islands, coupled with moderate northern winds.
