Aemet issues first heat warnings for Canary Islands as Saharan air mass arrives
The Spanish State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) has issued its first yellow warning for high temperatures in the Canary Islands, with the alert set to take effect from 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 28. The warning currently applies to the islands of Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura.
According to Aemet, the rise in temperatures is due to the arrival of a Saharan air mass, which will bring a noticeable heat increase across the eastern half of the archipelago on Friday and Saturday. However, the agency clarified that the temperature rise is not expected to be widespread or intense enough to officially classify as a heatwave in the region.
"The most affected area will be the southern-facing midlands and highlands of Gran Canaria, where temperatures could reach between 35 and 37 degrees Celsius on Saturday," Aemet noted.
The agency also indicated that the presence of calima—a dust-laden haze commonly associated with Saharan winds—could be significant in Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. However, it is unlikely that the highest concentrations of airborne dust will be detected at ground level.
Meanwhile, a broader special weather warning remains in place for mainland Spain, where a more intense and prolonged heatwave is expected to impact much of the peninsula until at least Tuesday, July 1.
