The meteorological summer in the Canary Islands is set to extend into next month, as forecasted yesterday in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria by the delegate of the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) in the Islands, David Suárez. This prediction is bolstered by the current reality, as much of the archipelago has been experiencing extreme temperatures since yesterday, particularly affecting the Tenerife metropolitan area.
This information was communicated by the General Directorate of Public Health of the Government of the Canary Islands, whose officials, upon receiving the updated forecasts from Aemet, renewed health risk warnings due to this adverse climate, particularly emphasising the message for residents in the municipalities of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, La Laguna, El Rosario, Candelaria, Tegueste, and El Rosario. In these areas, a red alert (the highest risk level) has been issued.
Furthermore, the significance of this inclement weather is evident, as it began yesterday and is not expected to conclude until Saturday, with tomorrow, Thursday, being the most challenging day.
Current Weather Alerts
According to the updated forecast, Public Health officials have reiterated the red alert for the metropolitan area of Tenerife. They have also issued orange alerts for the west of La Palma and El Hierro, and yellow alerts for Lanzarote and northern Tenerife. The yellow alert that has been in effect since last Monday for Gran Canaria and eastern La Palma continues.
As a result, the current active alerts in the Canary Islands are as follows:
- Red alert (high risk): Santa Cruz de Tenerife, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Candelaria, Tegueste, Tacoronte, El Rosario.
- Orange alert (medium risk): La Palma: Eastern area of La Palma: Fuencaliente, Garafía, Los Llanos de Aridane, Puntagorda, Tazacorte, and Tijarafe; as well as the summits of La Palma (El Paso). El Hierro: Frontera, Valverde, and El Pinar de El Hierro.
- Yellow alert (low risk): La Palma: Eastern area: Barlovento, Breña Alta, Breña Baja, Puntallana, San Andrés and Sauces, Santa Cruz de La Palma, and Villa de Mazo; summits of La Palma (El Paso). Gran Canaria: Eastern, Western, and Southern areas: Agüimes, Artenara, Ingenio, Mogán, San Bartolomé de Tirajana, Aldea de San Nicolás, Santa Lucía de Tirajana, Telde, and Valsequillo de Gran Canaria; and summits of Gran Canaria (Tejeda and Vega de San Mateo). Tenerife: Buenavista del Norte, Garachico, La Guancha, Icod de los Vinos, Matanza de Acentejo, La Orotava, Puerto de la Cruz, Los Realejos, San Juan de la Rambla, Santa Úrsula, El Sauzal, Los Silos, El Tanque, and La Victoria de Acentejo. Lanzarote: Haría, San Bartolomé, Teguise, Tías, Tinajo, and Yaiza.
Health Risks Due to Extreme Temperatures
To understand the seriousness of this situation and to raise awareness, especially for those who may be particularly affected due to health issues, it is noteworthy that temperatures are expected to exceed the thresholds in the indicated meteosalud areas, with maximum temperatures reaching up to 38 degrees. The municipalities with the highest risk, according to Public Health, will be San Bartolomé (Lanzarote), San Bartolomé de Tirajana, and Santa Lucía de Tirajana (Gran Canaria), Frontera (El Hierro), Santa Cruz (Tenerife), and Tazacorte (La Palma).
