Calima La Gomera today: Saharan dust forecast & air quality

Calima on La Gomera

In 2025, La Gomera exceeded the limit values for a Calima on 13 days. These stand at 50 micrograms of PM10 particles per cubic metre of air. These values are set by the EU. On five of these days, air quality levels over La Gomera even exceeded 100. The most severe Calima event recorded levels of between 277 and 308 micrograms.

San Sebastián is situated on the island’s east coast, directly opposite Tenerife. When an easterly wind blows, the dust reaches the island’s capital directly. The north, on the other hand, is more frequently influenced by the trade winds, which often act as a protective barrier against the Calima.

Calima forecast for La Gomera

The Calima forecast is based on the EU’s Copernicus Atmospheric Monitoring Service (CAMS). This service calculates Saharan dust and particulate matter up to five days in advance. We update our figures every three hours based on these calculations and our own analyses. The model grid cell for La Gomera measures around 45 kilometres, thus covering the entire group of Canary Islands.

Teneriffa News has compared the computational model with all the measured values for the year 2025. We are therefore able to reliably reproduce the measured trend.

Health advice regarding Calima on La Gomera

According to the Canary Islands Health Authority, it is advisable to avoid spending long periods outdoors during a Calima event. It is also recommended to drink plenty of water and to avoid physical exertion outdoors. Children, the elderly and those who are unwell are considered to be at particular risk. In particular, those with cardiovascular conditions or asthma should urgently avoid spending time outdoors or should wear respiratory masks whilst working.

Calima dust can dry out the airways or irritate the bronchi, leading to a severe cough. You can read the health authority’s specific recommendations here.