The risk of dry air, with haze and south-easterly winds, is reduced due to the recent rainfall in Gran Canaria, but the forecast for dry air episodes, with haze and south-easterly winds, remains. The presence of the Dorothea storm affecting the archipelago will bring dry continental African air accompanied by haze in variable quantities.
Starting tomorrow, the alert for coastal phenomena will also come into effect throughout the Archipelago.
Maximum caution is recommended on the coasts due to wind, swell and spring tides.
Atlantic storm Dorothea has plunged the Canary Islands into alerts for wind, waves and forest fires.
The Canary Islands Government has declared a state of alert for the risk of forest fires in Gran Canaria from 07:00 hours this Sunday, December 15, due to adverse weather conditions. The alert affects areas located above the 1000 m altitude in the north and 400 m altitude in the south of the island, while in Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro the pre-alert level remains. This decision responds to the episode of dry air with haze, relative humidity below 30% and strong wind from the southeast with very intense gusts, according to information from the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET).
The presence of storm Dorothea west of the Archipelago has intensified the entry of dry continental African air, worsening the conditions of accumulated dryness and water deficit in the region. These circumstances have led the Executive to apply the Special Plan for Civil Protection and Emergency Response to Forest Fires in the Canary Islands (INFOCA) to prevent greater risks. In addition, the authorities have urged the population to take extreme precautions, such as avoiding lighting open fires and keeping rural areas free of flammable materials.
At the same time, a coastal weather alert has been declared throughout the Archipelago, which will come into effect at 03:00 on Sunday. Force 6-8 winds and combined waves of up to 4 metres are expected on the southern coasts of the islands with the highest elevation, together with spring tides during the full moon that will increase the risk in coastal areas. The Government recommends avoiding activities in risk areas, as well as keeping citizens informed through official channels.
