SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 13th Aug (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Canary Islands are currently facing a new period of high temperatures, with maximum temperatures surpassing 30 degrees this morning. In fact, six out of the ten hottest locations in the country last night were situated on the islands, according to data from the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet).
One of the areas that experienced the most intense heat was the town of Agüimes on the island of Gran Canaria, where the thermometers were already indicating 33.7 degrees at 02:40, marking the highest maximum temperature recorded across the country last night. Additionally, Tejeda recorded temperatures of 33.5 degrees at 05:50.
Also notable were the 33.4 degrees recorded at 04:10 in Lomo Pedro Alfonso, San Bartolomé de Tirajana; the 32.3 degrees at 07:50 in Suerte Alta, in Agaete; the 31.6 degrees at 00:00 in Las Tirajanas; and the 31.3 degrees at 05:50 in Cuevas del Pinar, also in San Bartolomé de Tirajana.
Along with this heatwave, strong winds have been reported, with six of the ten windiest spots in the country last night being in the Canary Islands. For instance, Agaete experienced gusts of 77 km/h at 02:10; Gran Canaria Airport had gusts of 72 km/h at 00:00; Fuencaliente recorded 71 km/h at 02:00; Suerte Alta in Agaete and El Matorral in San Bartolomé de Tirajana had gusts of 67 km/h; and La Aldea de San Nicolás reported gusts of 61 km/h at 03:40.
This expected rise in temperatures impacting the entire Archipelago has led the Canary Islands Government to extend the pre-alert status for maximum temperatures – previously in effect in the western islands and Gran Canaria – to Lanzarote and Fuerteventura from yesterday, Monday.
With temperatures potentially reaching 37ºC in certain areas and the ongoing meteorological drought affecting the islands, the risk of forest fires remains high. Consequently, the General Directorate of Emergencies is maintaining an alert status for the western islands and Gran Canaria for the coming days.
In addition to these conditions, there is a presence of strong trade winds over the high seas and coastal regions of the southeast, west, and northwest of the islands, leading to swells with waves reaching up to two metres. As a result, the Canary Islands Government has placed all the islands on pre-alert for coastal phenomena.
