Calima El Hierro today: forecast and readings

Calima on El Hierro

Although El Hierro is the furthest of all the Canary Islands from the Sahara, the island does occasionally experience Calima weather conditions. However, El Hierro is the least frequently affected of all the Canary Islands. The Echedo station near Valverde is situated at an altitude of 375 metres. In 2025, an average of twelve micrograms of PM10 particles per cubic metre of air was measured.

The island exceeded the EU’s daily limit of 50 micrograms on just five days. However, when a Calima reaches the island, the levels are high: on 17 September, Echedo recorded 281 micrograms – one of the highest daily readings of the year in the Canary Islands.

In 2025, the days affected by dust occurred exclusively in September and November. The model recorded 34 Calima days during this period. In the following year, there were 23 such days up to the end of September. The majority of these were due to mild Calima conditions, during which the readings at Echedo remained below the threshold value.

In its warnings, the Aemet lists El Hierro as a single, undivided area. If a warning regarding airborne dust is in force there, it will be displayed at the top of this page.

How we calculate the Calima forecast for El Hierro

The forecast is based on the EU’s Copernicus Atmospheric Service (CAMS). It calculates Saharan dust and particulate matter up to five days in advance. The figures are updated every three hours. On El Hierro, this applies to a point near Valverde. Calima model cells usually cover around 45 kilometres. El Hierro is therefore covered in its entirety.

A ‚Calima‘ day is defined as a day on which the model indicates a high concentration of dust, the majority of which consists of fine particulate matter from the Sahara. Exhaust fumes from towns and ports are therefore not included in the Calima classification. The classification ranges from ‚good‘ to ‚extremely poor‘ and follows the European Air Quality Index.

Teneriffa News compared all the measured values from last year with his own forecast and can therefore say with certainty that the Calima forecasts are accurate. In addition to the forecast, the latest readings from the air quality monitoring network are also displayed, so that readers can form their own opinion.

What you should bear in mind during a Calima event on El Hierro

The Canary Islands Health Authority warns against spending too much time outdoors during a Calima event. People who are unwell, the elderly and children in particular should take care. A Calima event can cause the airways to dry out. You can find out exactly what the health authority’s recommendations are here.