What happened in the Canary Islands today?

The Canary Islands are facing another significant spell of high temperatures on Tuesday 15 September 2026, with heat, dry air and Saharan dust affecting the archipelago at the same time.

The Government of the Canary Islands has declared a pre-alert for maximum temperatures across the whole autonomous community, meaning Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro are all included.

A separate archipelago-wide pre-alert for calima is also active, with suspended Saharan dust reducing air quality and creating the hazy skies currently visible across several islands.

This is important because there are several different warning systems operating at the same time. A Government pre-alert, an AEMET weather warning and a MeteoSalud health warning are not the same thing.

Canary Islands red alert explained: is every island on red alert?

No. This is where some headlines can become confusing.

The entire Canary Islands archipelago is under a Government pre-alert for high temperatures and calima, but the red warnings being widely reported relate specifically to the Canary Islands MeteoSalud health-risk system.

A red MeteoSalud warning is Level 3, the highest of the three active health-warning levels. It reflects the potential effect of extreme temperatures on health rather than simply the temperature forecast on a weather map.

Level 3 red health warning

Level 3 red warnings are active in the MeteoSalud areas covering:

• Lanzarote
• Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
• Santa Cruz de Tenerife-El Rosario

Public Health describes this as an elevated risk for people particularly vulnerable to heat and for people exposed to the sun for prolonged periods. For older people with additional risk factors, the risk can be considered extreme.

Level 2 orange health warning

Orange Level 2 warnings apply to:

• Fuerteventura
• Telde in Gran Canaria
• East, south and west Tenerife

Level 1 yellow health warning

Yellow Level 1 warnings apply to:

• North Gran Canaria
• East, south and west Gran Canaria
• North Tenerife
• West La Palma

La Gomera and El Hierro are not listed in those particular red, orange or yellow MeteoSalud zones in the latest health update, but both islands remain covered by the wider Canary Islands Government pre-alert for high temperatures and calima.

How hot will the Canary Islands get today?

The highest temperatures are expected in the eastern islands and in inland, southern and elevated areas of several of the larger islands.

Fuerteventura

Fuerteventura is expected to be one of the hottest islands during this episode, with maximum temperatures around 37°C and the possibility of this being exceeded locally.

The combination of intense heat and calima is particularly relevant for holidaymakers in resorts including Corralejo, Caleta de Fuste, Costa Calma and Jandía, even where coastal temperatures are lower than those recorded further inland.

Lanzarote

Lanzarote could reach around 36°C in the hottest areas, with some forecasts and local conditions allowing temperatures in particularly sheltered locations to climb higher.

In Mr TravelON's on-the-ground video report from Lanzarote, a local temperature reading was already showing approximately 32°C at around 9am, while a strong calima was clearly visible across the island.

Holiday resorts including Playa Blanca, Puerto del Carmen and Costa Teguise may experience lower official temperatures than inland areas, but direct sunshine, low humidity and Saharan dust can make conditions feel extremely uncomfortable.

Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria could see temperatures reach around 37°C locally across parts of the southern half of the island, with temperatures around 34°C to 35°C possible across other inland and elevated areas.

Tourist areas in the south including Maspalomas, Playa del Inglés, Puerto Rico and Puerto de Mogán may therefore experience a very hot day, while travellers heading inland or into the mountains should take particular care.

Tenerife

Tenerife is also experiencing significant heat. Temperatures could reach around 35°C in southern mid-altitude areas and approximately 36°C in parts of the southern side of the metropolitan area.

Visitors staying in Costa Adeje, Playa de las Américas, Los Cristianos and other southern resorts should remember that conditions can vary considerably between the coast, inland areas and higher ground.

La Gomera

Temperatures around 34°C to 35°C are possible across summit areas and southern mid-altitudes of La Gomera, with the heat potentially extending towards parts of the western coast.

La Palma

La Palma is expected to be somewhat cooler than the eastern islands, but temperatures around 31°C to 32°C are still possible across parts of the island's mid-altitude and higher areas.

El Hierro

Temperatures of around 31°C to 32°C are expected in many areas away from the coast, with values of approximately 33°C to 34°C possible around El Pinar and higher parts of the island.

Calima spreads across the Canary Islands

The heat is only part of today's story. The Canary Islands Government has also activated a pre-alert for calima across the entire archipelago.

Calima occurs when very fine mineral dust from North Africa and the Sahara is transported over the Canary Islands. It can create milky, yellow or brown skies, reduce visibility and significantly lower air quality.

The highest concentrations during this episode were expected in low-lying areas of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, although suspended dust is also affecting other islands and particularly some mid-altitude and higher areas.

People with asthma, chronic respiratory conditions and other health problems can be more sensitive to calima. Even healthy visitors may notice dry eyes, a dry throat, reduced visibility and uncomfortable conditions when exercising outdoors.

TravelON World has previously reported on calima alerts affecting the Canary Islands, explaining why these Saharan dust events are a normal part of Canary Islands weather but should still be taken seriously when concentrations become high.

Heat forces education changes in Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria

The seriousness of the current heat episode is also reflected in measures being taken away from the tourism sector.

Schools across Fuerteventura moved away from normal face-to-face teaching for Tuesday 15 September, with similar measures introduced in nine Gran Canaria municipalities including Agüimes, Artenara, Ingenio, Mogán, San Bartolomé de Tirajana, La Aldea de San Nicolás, Santa Lucía de Tirajana, Telde and Valsequillo.

Elsewhere in the Canary Islands, education authorities have advised schools to reduce intense physical activity, improve access to shade and cool areas, and ensure pupils remain properly hydrated.

Wildfire risk also increases in the Canary Islands

High temperatures, low humidity and dry conditions have also increased the wildfire risk.

The Canary Islands Government has declared an alert for forest-fire risk in El Hierro, La Gomera, western La Palma, selected highland and mid-altitude areas of southern and western Tenerife and areas of Gran Canaria above 400 metres.

Other areas of La Palma, Tenerife and Gran Canaria remain under wildfire pre-alert.

Holidaymakers planning mountain walks, hiking routes, cycling trips or excursions into forested and high-altitude areas should therefore check the latest local restrictions before travelling. An official wildfire alert does not automatically mean attractions or roads are closed, but access rules can change quickly when conditions deteriorate.

What does the Canary Islands heat alert mean for tourists?

For most holidaymakers, the current warnings do not mean cancelling a holiday or staying inside all day. Resorts, hotels, beaches, restaurants and tourism businesses continue to operate, but visitors should adapt their plans to the conditions.

The biggest concern is prolonged exposure to intense heat, particularly between late morning and early evening.

• Drink water regularly rather than waiting until you feel thirsty.
• Avoid prolonged strenuous activity during the hottest part of the day.
• Use strong sun protection, a hat and light clothing.
• Take regular breaks in shade or air-conditioned areas.
• Be particularly careful with babies, young children, older travellers and anyone with existing medical conditions.
• Do not leave children, vulnerable adults or animals inside parked vehicles.
• If the calima is affecting your breathing, reduce outdoor exercise and spend more time indoors.
• Check official advice before hiking or travelling into high-altitude and forest areas affected by wildfire warnings.

Could temperatures reach 40°C in the Canary Islands today?

The dramatic question being asked across social media is whether parts of the Canary Islands could hit 40°C.

Official forecasts for this particular episode currently point towards maximum temperatures around 37°C in the hottest areas, with the possibility of that figure being exceeded locally in Fuerteventura.

That does not make a 40°C reading on a car dashboard, hotel thermometer or temperature sensor sitting in direct sunshine impossible. However, those readings should not be confused with official meteorological air temperatures, which are measured under controlled conditions.

For travellers, the practical point is more important than the headline number: temperatures in the mid to high 30s combined with strong sunshine and calima are more than enough to create potentially dangerous heat exposure.

Analysis: what Mr TravelON is seeing on the ground

This section is analysis and on-the-ground observation rather than an official meteorological forecast.

Mr TravelON says the difference this time is not simply the number on the weather forecast. It is the combination of very high morning temperatures, heavy-feeling air and visible Saharan dust.

In Lanzarote, conditions were already exceptionally warm early in the morning. At around 9am, Mr TravelON recorded approximately 32°C while filming the latest TravelON World news report.

That does not mean every resort across every Canary Island will experience 37°C. Coastal areas can be considerably cooler than inland valleys, south-facing slopes and sheltered locations.

Equally, travellers should not dismiss the warnings simply because their hotel thermometer shows 29°C or 30°C. Official health warnings consider far more than one temperature reading and are intended to reduce illness during sustained periods of heat.

Red alert does not mean the Canary Islands are closed

This is perhaps the most important message for anyone seeing dramatic headlines in the UK or elsewhere.

A red MeteoSalud health warning does not mean Lanzarote, Tenerife, Gran Canaria or the Canary Islands are closed to tourists.

It does not mean every part of an island is experiencing the same temperature, and it does not automatically mean flights are cancelled, beaches are closed or excursions have stopped operating.

It means health authorities consider the forecast heat significant enough to pose a greater risk, particularly to vulnerable people and those spending prolonged periods outside.

TravelON World's approach is simple: do not ignore official warnings, but do not turn them into unnecessary holiday panic either.

What should travellers do before going out today?

Anyone staying in the Canary Islands should check the latest local forecast before planning a full day outdoors, especially if travelling away from the coast.

A day around the hotel pool or beach may still be perfectly possible for many visitors, but long hikes, exposed cycling routes, mountain excursions and strenuous outdoor activities require more care.

Public Health has specifically recommended that activities involving prolonged heat exposure in Level 3 red zones should be cancelled or moved to cooler parts of the day where appropriate, particularly during the period from approximately 11am to 6pm.

When will the Canary Islands heat and calima ease?

The latest health-risk update indicates that the episode is expected to continue until around the middle of the week, although with decreasing intensity.

Weather conditions can change quickly between islands and between coastal and inland areas, so travellers should follow updated information rather than relying on a forecast seen several days earlier.

TravelON World will continue monitoring the situation and reporting from the islands as conditions develop.

What is the difference between a weather warning and a health warning?

An AEMET weather warning relates to forecast meteorological conditions and uses colour-coded warning levels according to the expected severity of the weather in a particular area.

MeteoSalud warnings are health-risk alerts produced under the Canary Islands heat surveillance and prevention system. They consider the expected temperatures and their potential effect on the population.

The Canary Islands Government's PEFMA pre-alert is another system again, used by emergency authorities to prepare for potentially adverse weather conditions across defined areas.

This is why it is possible for Lanzarote, for example, to have a Level 3 red health warning while simultaneously having a different AEMET weather-warning colour.