Canary Islands Calima hits six islands on Thursday

A strong Calima will cloud the air over La Palma, La Gomera and Tenerife on Thursday. The Calima forecast from Teneriffa News classifies the air quality on all three islands as poor. This is based on the Copernicus CAMS model and measurements from the European Environment Agency.

Of the three islands, La Palma is the most affected. There, the daily average concentration of PM10 particulate matter is 65 micrograms per cubic metre, whilst on La Gomera it is 64. Tenerife records 59 micrograms per cubic metre, whilst Lanzarote has the lowest level of all six islands for which the forecast indicates severe Calima, at 54 micrograms per cubic metre.

On Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote, the Saharan dust will linger for longer. Gran Canaria will reach 69 micrograms per cubic metre as early as Thursday, but the highest level in the entire forecast – 71 micrograms per cubic metre – will not be recorded until Monday on Fuerteventura. Lanzarote will see the longest period of high levels.

Canary Islands: Calima to continue on Lanzarote until Saturday

In Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura, the strong Calima will last from Thursday to Friday. Fuerteventura will not reach its daily average until Friday, when particulate matter levels will stand at 67 micrograms per cubic metre. Air quality there is also considered poor.

In Lanzarote, air pollution levels will also rise from Thursday and continue until Saturday. On Friday, the daily average concentration of particulate matter there will be 67 micrograms per cubic metre; air quality is classified as poor.

Fine Saharan dust irritates the eyes and airways. People with asthma, other respiratory or heart conditions, the elderly and pregnant women should avoid physical exertion outdoors. Keeping windows and doors closed and drinking plenty of fluids can help.

How strong is the Calima today? Calima forecast and readings for the Canary Islands