Canary Islands hit twice: three warnings and strong Calima

The Spanish Meteorological Agency AEMET has issued warnings for rain, wind and rough seas on La Palma for Friday and Saturday. All three warnings are at Yellow level; according to the AEMET, the probability of these events occurring ranges from 40 to 70 per cent in each case. At the same time, Calima is hanging over Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. The rain will come first: on Friday, up to 15 millimetres per hour could fall across the whole island from midnight to 2.59 pm, most likely in the south and west, according to meteorologists.

On Saturday, the weather will turn windy. From 12 noon until midnight, the AEMET is forecasting gusts of up to 70 kilometres per hour across the whole of La Palma, with the strongest winds expected in the mountainous areas, the north-west and on the east coast.

From 6.00 pm, a rough seas warning will also be in force on the west coast until midnight. Winds from the south to south-west are expected there at 50 to 61 kilometres per hour, corresponding to wind force 7, particularly in the north-west. Wind and coastal warnings will therefore be in force simultaneously on the west coast for these six hours.

Calima: Poor air quality on Lanzarote and Fuerteventura

Whilst rain is expected on La Palma, Saharan dust is blanketing two other islands. The Calima forecast by Teneriffa News is based on the Copernicus CAMS model and on measurements from the European Environment Agency. For Thursday, it indicates severe Calima conditions on Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. The daily average concentration of particulate matter (PM10) is 55 micrograms per cubic metre on Lanzarote and 51 micrograms on Fuerteventura, meaning air quality is poor on both islands.

This combination is nothing new. Calima had already arrived following an earlier orange rain warning for three islands, bringing poor air quality to the Canary Islands. A yellow rain warning on a Sunday had also previously been in place for La Palma.

Calima and heavy rain pose health and flash-flood risks

The fine dust over Lanzarote and Fuerteventura irritates the eyes and airways. People with asthma, other respiratory conditions or heart disease, as well as the elderly and pregnant women, should avoid physical exertion outdoors. Keeping windows and doors closed and drinking plenty of fluids helps to reduce the impact.

On La Palma, rain and thunderstorms at higher altitudes can trigger torrents that rush down through the barrancos to the coast. Particular caution is therefore advised in and around the ravines. Storm Therese demonstrated just how quickly such a Barranco can swell in the Barranco de Arguineguín in Mogán on Gran Canaria.

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