Climate change seems to be two words that many people just won’t entertain or believe, however, here in the Canary Islands the weather is, and has been, doing some strange things over the last few years.
Today, February 20th, 2024, haze once again covers the skies of the archipelago, transforming the landscapes into dust-covered shadows, the population feels like they are suffocating and the worst thing is, it doesn't seem to want to leave.
Although suspended dust has always been common in the Canary Islands, in the past the sand from the Sahara Desert seemed to cover the islands for a couple of days and then the wind carried it away. However, so far this year, three pre-alerts due to haze have been activated and just keeps coming back.
If we go back just 8 years to February 20th, 2016, snow, cold, rain, and hail were the main cause of the weather in the Canary Islands. The snow and frost were of such magnitude that they covered the island's icons, Mount Teide in Tenerife and Roque Nublo in Gran Canaria, to an extent that they were closed to the public.
The headlines on the front pages of local newspapers at that time (including the Canarian Weekly!) were clear and concise: 'Snow closes the summits', accompanied by a photo of a snow plough clearing the roads of a blanket of white, that has not been seen in Gran Canaria for years.
The islands were experiencing winter and carnival events were postponed due to the heavy rains that fell on the island’s capitals.
Fast forward eight years and so far, the Canary Islands haven’t experienced a winter this year. The last four months have broken records for high temperatures and lack of rain, and February is on target to do the same due to the relentless calimas that keep coming to the islands.
Experts and meteorologists claim that, sooner or later, the islands need some rain or shortages and restrictions will have to be applied for use, as the island’s resources can’t cope with consumption compared to the weather we’ve been having. These could be applied as soon as April.
Climate change… what climate change?
Source: C7
