Heatwave Triggers Fire Alert in Gran Canaria and Tenerife
Gran Canaria and Tenerife are under a fire alert starting from 8am on Wednesday, 23 September, as announced by the Canary Islands’ emergency services. The alert affects all areas of Gran Canaria above 400 metres in elevation.
The alert comes in response to a wave of high temperatures that began on Tuesday, 22 September. Forecasters expect this heat to intensify and spread across the entire archipelago, driven by a warm air mass from Africa.
Temperatures in Gran Canaria are forecast to reach highs of 34°C, with potential peaks of 36°C in southern and western regions, as well as around Tejeda and the Agaete Valley. Minimum temperatures are also expected to rise significantly, with figures around 26-28°C in Gran Canaria and 24-26°C in Tenerife.
On Thursday, temperatures will remain high, particularly in Tenerife, where they may reach or exceed 34°C. The dry, warm air will lead to relative humidity falling below 30% in forest areas, and moderate easterly winds will prevail at altitudes between 200 and 300 metres.
Meteorologists predict an increasing risk of wildfires over the coming days, especially between Thursday and Friday when the heat is expected to spread throughout the archipelago. The situation will be monitored closely, and changes to the alert status may occur based on updated weather predictions and fire risk assessments from AEMET and the Canary Islands Government.
