A severe Calima is currently sweeping across the Canary Islands, and anyone travelling on the islands is breathing poorer air in many places. La Palma is the worst affected: on Wednesday, the daily average concentration of particulate matter (PM10) there will reach 92 micrograms per cubic metre, whilst on La Gomera the figure stands at 88. That is according to the Calima forecast from Teneriffa News, which has the Saharan dust hanging over El Hierro, La Palma, La Gomera, Tenerife and Gran Canaria from Wednesday to Friday.
For Gran Canaria and El Hierro, the model forecasts 80 micrograms for Wednesday, and 79 for Tenerife. Air quality is therefore classified as poor on all five western and central islands. These figures are based on the Copernicus CAMS model and measurements from the European Environment Agency.
A little later, the dust will reach Fuerteventura and Lanzarote, where strong Calima conditions will also prevail from Thursday to Friday. On Fuerteventura, particulate matter levels will rise to 58 micrograms on Thursday, whilst on Lanzarote they will be 53 micrograms on both Thursday and Friday. This Friday, all the Canary Islands will be experiencing severe Calima at the same time.
Calima in the Canary Islands: the west bears the brunt of the dust
The difference between the islands is clear, as the peak level recorded on La Palma is 39 micrograms higher than that recorded on Lanzarote on Friday. Despite the lower concentration, however, air quality is also considered poor on the eastern islands.
Dust from the Sahara repeatedly causes particulate matter levels on the islands to spike, as demonstrated by the analysis carried out by the AirCanLab air quality laboratory on future EU limit values. Nevertheless, the laboratory did not identify a problem with air pollution in the Canary Islands.
The eyes and respiratory tract may become irritated by the fine dust. Anyone with asthma or other lung or heart conditions, as well as the elderly and pregnant women, should avoid physical exertion outdoors, as stated in the guidance for at-risk groups during Calima. Symptoms can be alleviated 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
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…
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