Calima Fuerteventura today: Saharan dust forecast & air quality

Calima on Fuerteventura

Fuerteventura is considered the island in the Canary Islands with the highest levels of dust pollution. Its location in close proximity to the Sahara and the often strong winds make the island particularly susceptible to Calima weather conditions.

In 2025, the Canary Islands‘ air quality monitoring network took readings at five stations in the Puerto del Rosario area. The annual average was 23 micrograms of PM10 particles per cubic metre of air. This was the highest average figure of all the Canary Islands. On 17 days, the figure exceeded the daily limit of 50 micrograms set by the EU. On seven of those days, it was even higher than 100. On 11 August, the island-wide figure reached 229 micrograms, whilst the El Charco station recorded as high as 332 micrograms.

Calima days occurred in almost every season of 2025: in January and February, in June, in August and September, and in November and December. The model predicted 35 Calima days. By the end of September 2026, there had already been 34 Calima days.

As Fuerteventura is flat and rarely retains trade wind clouds that can act as a protective layer, the Calima affects the whole island with roughly the same intensity.

How we measure Calima on Fuerteventura

The forecast is based on the European Union’s Copernicus Atmospheric Monitoring Service (CAMS). This service calculates Saharan dust and particulate matter up to five days in advance. We update the figures every three hours. A day is classified as a ‚Calima day‘ when the model indicates a high concentration of dust, which is primarily attributable to sand dust rather than particulate matter from sources such as ports or road traffic. The classification ranges from ‚good‘ to ‚extremely poor‘ and follows the European Air Quality Index.

Teneriffa News checks its data against all the measurements taken in 2025. This enables us to continuously refine our calculations and forecasts.

What you should bear in mind during Calima on Fuerteventura

The Canary Islands Health Authority recommends avoiding prolonged periods outdoors during a Calima event. You should also ensure you drink plenty of fluids. Physical exertion, particularly outdoors, should be avoided.

The advice is aimed primarily at children, the elderly and those who are unwell. People with asthma, COPD or cardiovascular diseases are considered to be at risk. The full text of the Canary Islands Health Authority’s advice in Spanish can be found here.