As the streets gear up for the carnival celebration, The haze stubbornly remains in the Canary Islands. Dust particles from the African continent are set to linger in the Archipelago until at least next Tuesday, casting the skies in an ocher hue and obscuring the horizon.
This weather phenomenon is due to an anticyclone blockage that has firmly established over North Africa, resulting in a potent southeast wind flow, likely to bring about strong winds in the coming days. This unfavorable situation shows no signs of dissipating in the short term – forecasts indicate persistence at least until Tuesday, February 6 – The Canary Islands will remain under the haze’s grip.
The Archipelago has been experiencing waves of haze for over a week. Airborne dust enveloped the Canary Islands on January 23, and since then, there have been scarce days when the islanders could behold the blue sky. Nevertheless, the haze’s intensity has varied from day to day; some days revealed the silhouette of Teidein Tenerife, while on others, the thin layer of haze was only discernible to those with chronic respiratory ailments.
According to Air Quality Control and Surveillance Network of the Government of the Canary Islands, the concentrations of particles smaller than 10 microns (PM10) on Thursday exceeded 100 micrograms per cubic meter in certain areas of the Archipelago, such as the north and the metropolitan area of Tenerife and some areas of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
Haze Pre-alert Issued in the Canary Islands
In light of the persistent haze, The Government of the Canary Islands has once again activated the pre-alert for this phenomenon. This is considered the second haze episode of the year, with a few days’ gap between the two incidents. The haze pre-alert is declared due to the forecasted concentration of particles ranging between 50 and 100 micrograms on a daily basis, with variations across the islands.
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Based on the weather forecast models, the upcoming week is projected to have the most intense haze intrusion. It is anticipated that during this time, PM10 levels in certain areas of the Archipelago, particularly in the eastern province, could range between 200 and 400 micrograms per cubic meter.
The maximum temperatures across the entire Canary Islands are approaching spring-like values
The arrival of haze in the Canary Islands comes with an unwelcome companion: a rise in temperatures. The thermometer readings, closer to spring than winter, have soared past 27 degrees in multiple parts of the Islands, including Sabinosa in El Hierro, the airport in La Palma, and La Aldea de San Nicolás in Gran Canaria. On average, maximum temperatures have remained above 20 degrees throughout the Canary Islands.
Considering the potential health implications for individuals with chronic or respiratory diseases, the Government of the Canary Islands has suggested that the public take necessary precautions to safeguard their well-being. This is because suspended dust contributes to the drying of airways, which can exacerbate conditions or symptoms associated with respiratory diseases, such as asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in individuals.
Haze leads to an uptick in visits to emergency services and hospital admissions
Ultimately, such episodes result in a surge in emergency department visits and hospital admissions in certain instances.
Precautions to combat the effects of haze
Individuals most susceptible to these haze episodes, including children, the elderly, and those with chronic respiratory or cardiovascular conditions, should minimize outdoor exposure as much as possible. Consequently, it is emphasized to keep doors and windows of homes and buildings shut, whenever feasible. Additionally, individuals with respiratory or chronic ailments should take extra precautions, such as refraining from going outside and ensuring they have their regular medication. However, the general populace is not exempt either.
For them, it is recommended to stay hydrated and avoid dry environments, and in the case of engaging in physical activities,extreme caution is advised against rigorous exerciseas long as this situation persists. Due to potential reduced visibility, drivers are also urged to exercise increased vigilance and reduce speed to minimize the risk of traffic accidents.
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