The Canary Islands did not experience a single heat wave or red alerts for extreme temperatures throughout July and August 2024. While last year’s summer was the hottest recorded in the Archipelago since records began in 1961 and the second wettest, the summer of 2024 was milder due to “the dominant conditions being anticyclonic or low cloud retention on the northern and eastern slopes,” as explained by David Suárez, the delegate of the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) in the Canary Islands. This situation resulted in a decrease in total sun exposure (867 hours) and higher humidity levels.
Indeed, there were seven fatalities linked to high temperatures, according to the MoMo Daily Mortality Monitoring System (MoMo) from the National Epidemiology Centre (CNE) of the Carlos III Health Institute, a significant drop from the 81 deaths due to heat in 2023. Furthermore, the occurrence of these events “is not considerable compared to 2023, when it surpassed 200,” Suárez remarked. There were also five instances of haze with minimal dust concentration, an exceptionally low occurrence.
Nevertheless, Suárez emphasises that if we consider the historical data since 1961, the trend in temperatures continues to rise, consistent with climate change. “Having a cooler year than the one before is commonplace; what we need to focus on is the long-term trends. We observe that temperatures keep increasing and are likely to persist in doing so, as the factors influencing them remain active. Last year, we experienced a strong El Niño phenomenon, which contributes naturally to climate change, yet in this instance, natural variability has resulted in it not being as severe as last year,” Suárez elaborated.
During the summer, there was an average temperature of 22.3 degrees Celsius, which is 0.4 degrees above the normal range according to historical data, indicating it was warmer than usual. Specifically, this summer represented the twelfth warmest since 1961. In contrast, last summer’s average temperature peaked at 23.4 degrees, 1.6 degrees above the established norm.
A sweltering day in Tenerife. / Maria Pisaca
Examining the monthly breakdown, June maintained temperatures that were consistently below average, averaging 19.7 degrees, with a negative anomaly of 0.2 degrees. No island reached 30 degrees. “Typically cooler regions were prevalent, apart from the western areas, which were notably warmer.” The lowest temperature was recorded in La Palma on the 7th, at 4.2 degrees, while the highest was in Gran Canaria on the 29th, reaching 31.2 degrees.
In July, a prolonged stretch of approximately 15 days commenced with above-average temperatures, featuring nearly two weeks with alerts for high temperatures, including four orange alerts. The average temperature was 23.2 degrees, which is 0.9 degrees above normal. All islands, except La Graciosa, surpassed 30 degrees, with Gran Canaria even crossing the 40-degree threshold. The minimum temperature was recorded in Tenerife at 8 degrees on the 5th, while the maximum in Gran Canaria soared to 42.8 degrees on the 19th.
In August, above-normal temperatures continued, resulting in 14 days of temperature alerts, although only one orange alert was issued. The average temperature rose to 24 degrees, with a positive anomaly of 0.9 degrees. All islands except La Graciosa exceeded 30 degrees, and Gran Canaria again surpassed 40 degrees. The lowest temperature recorded in Tenerife was 6.8 degrees, whereas Gran Canaria recorded a maximum of 40 degrees.
High Humidity
Regarding precipitation, the Canary Islands logged 7.5 litres per square metre over the summer, which equates to 139% of the anticipated rainfall, imparting a very humid character to the season and making it the ninth wettest on record. “Although the amount of rainfall was limited, it exceeded normal levels,” summarised Suárez.
In fact, almost all islands exhibited predominantly humid conditions, and Fuerteventura was classified as “extremely humid,” barring certain areas in Gran Canaria and a dry section in northeast Tenerife. June proved to be a rainy month, recording 3.9 millimetres, which was 142% of expectations, with the heaviest rainfall occurring on the 7th in Llanos de Mesa, Tenerife, registering 12.2 millimetres within 24 hours.
The Government’s deputy delegate in Las Palmas, Teresa Mayáns, alongside Aemet’s delegate in the Canary Islands, David Suárez. / LP/DLP.
In July, rainfall totalled 2.2 millimetres, representing 244%, indicating a very humid atmosphere, particularly across the eastern islands of El Hierro and La Gomera. The peak rainfall was observed on the 29th in San Andrés y Sauces (La Palma), with 14 millimetres in just 24 hours. August saw a normal reading of 1.9 millimetres, which was 90% of the expected amount; interestingly, Fuerteventura recorded its rainiest day with 9.3 millimetres.
Suárez also pointed out that the hydrological year for the Canary Islands, which runs from 1 October 2023 to 30 September 2024, has registered “half the expected rainfall: precisely at 53%, making it the sixth driest year since 1961.
A Warm and Dry Autumn
In the forthcoming weeks, Suárez anticipates a rainfall deficit “due to a significant anticyclone in the vicinity,” and even though “indications suggest September may not yield warmth, rather cold or normal anomalies are anticipated,” the possibility of the first heat wave cannot be dismissed given the climate characteristics of the Canary Islands.”
The Aemet delegate in the Canary Islands also forecasted that it is quite probable that autumn will be warm in the Canary Islands, with a 50% likelihood of limited rainfall.
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