The peak of Mount Teide, Tenerife's iconic volcano, awoke yesterday morning with a delicate layer of snow, meanwhile, other parts of the island experienced a stark contrast as a calima — a hot, dusty wind from the Sahara Desert — swept across the area, highlighting the extreme variability of the weather conditions in the Canary Islands.
The weather data for the day highlights the unusual conditions with record breaking extremes. Puerto de la Cruz recorded the highest temperature in the Canary Islands, reaching 31.9°C, while the lowest temperature of 5.3°C was observed at Izaña, a meteorological station near Teide's summit.
Gusts of wind peaked at 99 km/h in Agulo (La Gomera) emphasizing the ongoing meteorological instability.
Canary Islands weather stations dominated Spain’s temperature rankings for the day, with five locations exceeding 30°C as follows:
Conversely, the early morning hours saw strikingly low temperatures in these locations:
Storm Alerts and Precipitation
The Canary Islands government has maintained a pre-alert for storms, affecting Tenerife, Gran Canaria, and La Gomera, as heavy winds and rains continue to pose challenges. Wind speeds exceeded 90 km/h in several locations, including:
Rainfall, though modest, was recorded in areas such as San Bartolomé de Tirajana (4.4 litres per square meter) and Las Cañadas (4.2 litres per square metre).
The juxtaposition of snow on Teide's peak, intense heat in coastal areas, and the presence of the calima illustrates the extraordinary climatic diversity of the Canary Islands. Visitors and residents are reminded to remain alert to weather updates, particularly as the pre-alert for storms and winds continues.
