August proved to be an exceptionally warm month in the Canary Islands, with recorded temperatures exceeding typical levels. The monthly average reached 24.4 ºC, marking a +1.3 ºC anomaly compared to the reference average, making it the seventh warmest August since 1961. This information was released on Friday by the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) in its ‘Climatic Overview of the Canary Islands’. It noted that accumulated precipitation averaged 3.2 litres/m², representing 152% of the expected value, making August notably wet and the fifth wettest since 1961, according to the reference series from 1991 to 2020.
Provincial Temperature Breakdown
By province, the average temperature in Las Palmas was 25.3 ºC (+1.4 ºC), while in Santa Cruz de Tenerife it stood at 23.3 ºC (+1.2 ºC).
The highest average was recorded in Las Palmas with 29.2 ºC (+1.6 ºC), compared to 27.5 ºC (+1.5 ºC) in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The average minimum was 21.4 ºC (+1.2 ºC) in the eastern islands and 19.1 ºC (+1 ºC) in the western islands.
Record Temperatures
The highest monthly average temperature was observed in Maspalomas, Gran Canaria, at 25.2 ºC, surpassing the previous record of 25 ºC set in 2004. The lowest average was recorded in Vallehermoso-Alto Igualero (La Gomera), at 19 degrees, exceeding the 18.9 ºC noted in 2023.
The absolute peak temperatures last month were recorded in Antigua (Fuerteventura) at 41.9 ºC, Haría (Lanzarote) at 39.4 ºC, Tías (Lanzarote) at 42.87 ºC, and Puerto de la Cruz (Tenerife) at 36.4 ºC.
Temperature Fluctuations
August in the Canary Islands began with slightly below-average temperatures during the first three days, due to the influence of the Atlantic anticyclone located northeast of the Azores, which generated northeasterly winds bringing in cooler, more humid air.
From 5 August onwards, an intense heat episode began, peaking on 10 August with an average temperature of 29.2 ºC, which was 6.2 ºC above normal, according to Aemet data.
During this period, red warnings were issued for most areas of Tenerife and Gran Canaria, and orange warnings for other regions and islands.
On 8 August, the Canary Islands government declared the maximum alert for temperatures across the archipelago for the first time, with several stations recording temperatures of 40 degrees or more, particularly in the southern, southwestern, and southeastern midlands of Gran Canaria, as well as in the Tejeda and Tirajana basins.
Temperature Declines
Temperatures began to decline from 11 August, albeit without significant synoptic changes, and it was not until 14 August that the decrease began to be felt in terms of sensible weather, due to the eastward movement of the African ridge and the strengthening of the Atlantic anticyclone.
After a brief and mild resurgence in temperatures between 16 and 18 August, during which the average temperature hovered around 26 ºC (+2 ºC compared to the reference), it returned to approximately 25 ºC, remaining stable between 20 and 23 August.
On 22 and 23 August, the passage of an eastern wave brought medium and high cloud cover, increasing the thickness of the moist layer over the islands. From 24 August, a strengthening of the trade winds, with a greater northerly component, lowered the average temperature to levels below the reference, a situation that continued until 31 August.
EFE
