The authorities in the Canary Islands have declared a state of emergency, the newspaper writes Canarias 7. The reason is a combination of extreme heat, strong winds, and sandstorms.
Local authorities on the Canary Islands are warning of very strong winds and have declared a state of emergency for the entire archipelago. The emergency services are urging residents and tourists to drink plenty of water, avoid the midday sun, and follow the authorities' safety warnings, writes Canarias 7.
Sand from the Sahara
The reason is a combination of extreme heat, very strong winds and the weather phenomenon Calima. Calima means that warm and dry air carries large amounts of sand and dust particles from the Sahara across the Atlantic to Canary Islands. It makes the air difficult to breathe and impairs visibility.
The weather phenomenon is most common during winter and spring, but can occur all year round. The risk of forest fires increases because the air becomes very dry.
According to the Spanish meteorological institute Aemet, the current weather conditions could make it difficult to be outdoors and affect road, air and sea traffic, writes the news website The news.
The islands where it's worst
The islands of Gran Canaria, La Gomera and Tenerife are the worst affected. Temperatures there have been over 30–35 degrees Celsius in recent days. Parts of Gran Canaria are expected to reach 37 degrees Celsius on Monday, writes Canarias 7.
On Gran Canaria and La Gomera, wind gusts can locally reach up to 25 metres per second.
Source: Expressen.se
