Rain warning for the Canaries, with Calima adding to it on Lanzarote

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The AEMET weather service has issued a yellow-level warning for heavy rain across all the Canary Islands on Wednesday from 11.00 am to 7.59 pm.
Meteorologists are forecasting up to 15 millimetres of rainfall per hour, particularly in the interior of the islands.
In Lanzarote, a strong Calima is also expected, with 53 micrograms of particulate matter per cubic metre, which will cause air quality to deteriorate.

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For several Canary Islands, the Spanish weather agency has issued AEMET a warning of heavy Regen at yellow level, and on Lanzarote there is also strong Calima picking up.

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On Wednesday, the yellow rain warning will be in force from 11.00 am to 7.59 pm for Tenerife, Gran Canaria, La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote. In the case of Tenerife, Gran Canaria and La Palma, the entire island is within the warning area.

Meteorologists are forecasting up to 15 millimetres of rainfall in an hour, with the AEMET putting the probability of this at between 40 and 70 per cent. According to the agency, the rain will fall mainly in the island’s interior.

The situation therefore remains at the lowest warning level. When there was previously an orange alert for Tenerife, Calima had simultaneously caused air quality to deteriorate on several islands. The Met Office had most recently cited the same hourly rainfall in a yellow alert for La Palma. On Lanzarote, the rain will be compounded by a second factor on Wednesday.

A strong Calima on Lanzarote is causing air quality to deteriorate

The Calima forecast by Teneriffa News predicts a severe Calima for Lanzarote on Wednesday, based on the Copernicus CAMS model and measurements from the European Environment Agency. The daily average concentration of PM10 particulate matter there is expected to reach 53 micrograms per cubic metre, meaning the air quality is classified as poor. Rain warnings and Saharan dust are therefore set to coincide on the same day on the island.

The fine dust irritates the eyes and airways. Anyone with asthma, other respiratory or heart conditions, as well as older people and pregnant women, should avoid strenuous physical activity outdoors. Keeping windows and doors closed and drinking plenty of fluids can help reduce the impact.

Torrential downpours can be triggered by rain and thunderstorms in the higher elevations of La Palma and Gran Canaria. The water can rush down through the barrancos right to the coast, which is why particular caution is advised in and around the ravines.

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

For exactly how the weather is developing, see our always up-to-date weather forecast for the Canary Islands. Below you can go straight to…