A yellow alert has been issued for the Canary Islands due to a recent episode of calima, with Saharan dust expected to impact visibility and air quality starting Monday, February 16th, 2026. The Government of the Canary Islands declared the pre-alert, citing potential health risks, particularly for individuals with pre-existing respiratory conditions.
The Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (AEMET) forecasts that the dust will reach altitudes above 400-600 meters by Sunday, initially affecting the eastern islands. Temperatures are expected to continue rising, with inland areas, especially Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, experiencing the most significant increases. Santa Cruz de Tenerife could reach a high of 29°C, while Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is forecast to see 26°C.
While the calima is expected to be light initially, AEMET predicts the dust in suspension will be widespread across the archipelago on Monday. Winds will be moderate from the northeast, strengthening on the southeast and northwest slopes of the higher islands, with possible strong gusts. Temperatures are expected to remain stable, though maximum temperatures may decrease slightly in eastern areas.
On Sunday, Tasarte, in Gran Canaria, reached 32.8 degrees Celsius at 2:50 PM, becoming the warmest location in Spain, according to AEMET. Arico, in Tenerife, nearly reached 32 degrees Celsius at 2:10 PM, recording 31.7°C. Despite the dust, the warm weather has drawn crowds to beaches, such as Las Canteras in Las Palmas, which was unusually busy for February.
The current episode follows a similar heat and dust haze experienced in the Canary Islands the previous weekend. AEMET’s forecast indicates mostly clear or lightly cloudy skies in the coming days, with some cloud cover expected overnight in the northeast of the mountainous islands below 600-900 meters, and in eastern Lanzarote and Fuerteventura.
