The Canary Islands Government has officially activated a pre-alert for risk of forest fires in Tenerife and Gran Canaria due to the spell of extreme heat, low humidity and dry winds coming this weekend.
The warning, issued by the General Directorate of Emergencies under the Canary Islands’ INFOCA wildfire emergency plan, will come into force from 8:00am tomorrow, Sunday 24th May.
Authorities say the decision was taken following weather forecasts from AEMET and other technical monitoring agencies, which point to particularly dangerous conditions in mid-altitude and mountainous areas on both islands.
Temperatures expected to exceed 34°C
Officials warn that temperatures are set to rise sharply over the coming days, with many inland, forest and summit areas expected to exceed 30°C.
In Gran Canaria, conditions could become even more severe, with some parts of the island forecast to reach or surpass 34°C.
At the same time, relative humidity is expected to fall below 30%, creating ideal conditions for vegetation to ignite and allowing any fire to spread rapidly.
Dry southerly winds increase danger
Meteorologists are also forecasting warm, dry winds from the south and southwest in higher areas of both islands.
These types of winds have historically created some of the most dangerous wildfire conditions in the Canary Islands, as they dry out vegetation and make fires much harder to control once they start.
Public urged to take maximum precautions
The Canary Islands Government is urging residents and visitors to exercise extreme caution in rural and forest areas throughout the pre-alert period.
Authorities are reminding the public to avoid any activity that could generate sparks or flames, particularly in areas of dry vegetation.
The INFOCA plan is activated as a preventive measure designed to strengthen monitoring and emergency response readiness before conditions worsen further.
The latest warning comes as the Canary Islands continue experiencing high temperatures, calima and strong winds across several islands this weekend.
