Rain warning for all the Canary Islands, after Calima hits two islands

The Spanish Meteorological Agency AEMET has issued a yellow alert for rain across all seven Canary Islands for Wednesday. On Tenerife, Gran Canaria and La Palma, the alert applies to the entire island, but El Hierro, La Gomera, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote are also affected. It begins at 11.00 and ends at 19.59. However, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote are already battling Calima on Tuesday.

During the warning period, rainfall of up to 15 millimetres per hour is possible; the Met Office estimates the probability of this at between 40 and 70 per cent. According to its assessment, the island’s interior is likely to be hardest hit.

It was precisely this maximum rate of 15 millimetres per hour that AEMET had already set in its yellow rain warning for La Palma; at that time, Saharan dust was also present over several islands. As then, Calima is once again worsening the air ahead of Wednesday’s rain, on Tuesday on two islands.

Calima: Poor air quality on Fuerteventura and Lanzarote

On Tuesday, a strong Calima will be over Fuerteventura and Lanzarote. The figures are taken from the Calima forecast by Teneriffa News, which is based on the Copernicus CAMS model and measurements from the European Environment Agency. As regards PM10 particulate matter, Fuerteventura has a daily average of 62 micrograms per cubic metre and Lanzarote 59 micrograms; air quality is therefore considered poor on both islands. Most recently, several islands were affected simultaneously when an orange-level rain warning and strong Calima winds hit the Canary Islands.

In the higher elevations of La Palma and Gran Canaria, heavy rainfall can trigger flash floods that race down the barrancos to the coast. Particular caution is therefore advised in the ravines and along their edges. Storm Therese provided a clear example of what this can look like, when, in Mogán, the water flooded the Barranco de Arguineguín.

The fine dust from the Sahara irritates the eyes and respiratory tract. Anyone with asthma or other lung or heart conditions, as well as older people and pregnant women, should avoid strenuous physical activity outdoors. You can minimise your exposure by keeping windows and doors closed and drinking plenty of fluids.

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