The heatwave, described as "extraordinary" by the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET), which has gripped the Canary Islands since September 30th and forced schools to close from yesterday, is officially coming to an end. On Sunday, temperatures are forecast to drop, though the autumnal weather won't fully kick in until Monday.
However, for the next 48 hours, the archipelago will continue to sizzle, with temperatures exceeding 34°C in Tenerife, Gran Canaria, La Gomera, and El Hierro (other islands not ruled out), and these islands are under a yellow heat warning today (Friday).
More of the same is expected tomorrow, and the Met Office has extended the heat warning to cover the entire archipelago, except for La Palma. Suspended dust will continue to haze the skies, albeit with not very high intensity, while the winds will be light to moderate.
As has become routine in recent days, the Canary Islands topped the list of the hottest places in Spain yesterday. Five locations in the islands led the rankings: Tenerife South Airport (36.7°C), Sabinosa in El Hierro (36.6°C), Tacoronte (35.8°C), Arico (34.6°C), and Llano de Los Loros in La Laguna (34.3°C), which are unusually high values for October.
Vicky Palma, a meteorologist and advisor to the Tenerife Cabildo, explained the factors that make this heatwave exceptional: "Primarily, its duration, as there is no record of such a prolonged heatwave in October. But also, it's the first orange heat warning issued by the AEMET in the middle of autumn for Gran Canaria, after red warnings were issued for all the islands in August."
