UK tourists in Canary Islands told 'close windows' as alert issued

Brits holidaying in the Canary Islands have been warned of dust clouds and soaring temperatures this week as the Spanish government declares a state of pre-alert.

Spain's national weather agency, Aemet, has issued yellow warnings for all the islands: La Palma, El Hierro, La Gomera, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Warnings for 'calima', a phenomenon where Saharan dust blows in from Western Africa, are in force across all of the islands. Aemet warns that visibility could be reduced to 3,000m "mainly affecting south-facing midlands and peaks, and increasingly affecting low-lying areas and, locally, coastal areas."

Temperatures are set to soar to highs of 36C in Gran Canaria with a maximum of 37C "not ruled out". The other islands are expected to reach up to 34C, particularly in south and south-west facing areas. Temperature warnings remain in place until 8pm on Tuesday, September 16, while the calima warnings last until midnight on Wednesday, September 17.

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The Canary Islands government has warned that the calima can pose a risk for those with certain health conditions and has declared a state of pre-alert, which came into force at 10pm on Monday, September 15.

The statement read: "Haze is likely to occur, especially in mid- and high-altitude areas, in varying amounts. It could reduce visibility and could cause or worsen health problems for people with chronic and/or respiratory illnesses."

The public are urged to take the following precautions:.

• Keep doors and windows closed, particularly if you suffer from chronic respiratory illnesses.
• Ensure you have your usual medication.
• Stay hydrated and avoid dry environments.
• Avoid strenuous physical exercise during this period.
• Seek medical attention if you feel unwell.
• Visibility will be significantly reduced, so if you're driving, take extra care, use your lights, and slow down.
• For more information, call 012.

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Looking ahead to Tuesday, September 16, Aemet forecasted: "Predominantly partly cloudy to clear skies. Calima (a haze) will affect mainly south-facing mid-mountain areas and peaks. It will become increasingly likely in low-lying areas and, locally, on coastlines, where concentrations may exceed 200 microg per cubic meter.Join the Manchester Evening News WhatsApp group HERE"It will be less significant in the north. Temperatures will rise slightly to moderately on the higher-elevation islands, with little change on the easternmost islands, except in the west for maximum temperatures.

"Temperatures are expected to reach 34C on south- and west-facing slopes of the mountainous islands, more locally on the northern ones, and 36C in the mid-mountain areas of Gran Canaria, as well as in the Tejeda Basin, where occasional peaks of 37C are not ruled out. ""In low-lying areas, trade winds will be strong with intervals on exposed coastlines, with very strong gusts possible until the early hours.

Moderate winds will blow, with a predominance of an easterly component in mid-mountain areas and highlands."

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