The very warm start to July in the Canary Islands is expected to continue for several more days, prompting the authorities to reiterate advice for extra care due to the high temperatures.
Yesterday saw parts of Gran Canaria hit the mid-high 30s, with Tejeda posting 37ºC early in the day.
Many on the island had a sleepless night due to the heat, particularly in southern parts such as San Bartolomé de Tirajana, where the thermometers were still recording temperatures above 30ºC at 4am.
Hot weather alerts have been issued for the weekend in the western islands of La Palma, La Gomera and also El Hierro, where thousands of visitors from across the Canaries have gathered for the traditional Bajada de la Virgen de los Reyes celebrations.
The combination of heat and strong and dry winds in many parts have also led the authorities to issue a forest fire alert for the same three islands, together with Tenerife and Gran Canaria, with firefighting teams on standby to deal with potential outbreaks in upper parts and restrictions imposed on activities by the public.
The strong winds have brought rough seas, leading to warnings to steer clear of exposed coastal parts to avoid possible mishaps.
Spain’s AEMET weather agency says that conditions are likely to ease as of Sunday thanks to the arrival of a mass of cooler air which should bring a noticeable drop in the temperatures being experienced at present across the islands.
