What is calima in the Canary Islands?
Calima is the term used in the Canary Islands for the arrival of mineral dust from the Sahara. The dust is usually carried by south-easterly to easterly air currents and can turn the sky and landscape a yellowish brown, reduce visibility and worsen air quality.
Calima typically develops with a warm, dry air current from North Africa. The dust plume usually reaches Lanzarote and Fuerteventura first; Gran Canaria, Tenerife and the western islands can then be affected.
The course depends on wind direction, the height of the dust layer and the terrain. On Tenerife, southern and eastern areas can be heavily affected, while higher-altitude or north-facing places may temporarily have clearer air.
La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro are often reached later or less severely, but they are not fundamentally protected. There is therefore no guarantee of calima-free islands.
What restrictions do visitors face during calima on Tenerife?
Calima is not automatically a travel ban. Depending on the concentration, however, it can significantly reduce visibility on roads, mountains and the sea, and affect flight, ferry and excursion plans.
The level of dust can vary between islands and altitudes.
A general closure of tourist sites cannot be inferred from the official notices available. Possible local closures or access restrictions must be checked with the relevant Cabildo (island government), Ayuntamiento (municipal council) or protected area operator.
Flights and ferry services can be delayed or changed when visibility is poor or when strong winds occur at the same time. Before setting off, travellers should check the operating status directly with their airline, airport or ferry company.
What health risks does Saharan dust bring?
Respiratory illnesses or asthma attacks can be aggravated in sensitive people.
Children, older people, pregnant women and people with asthma, COPD or chronic cardiovascular conditions should be particularly careful.
The official recommendations of the Gobierno de Canarias are: keep doors and windows closed, reduce time spent outdoors and especially physical exertion outdoors, drink plenty of fluids and avoid dry indoor air.
Usual medication should be kept ready and continued as prescribed. Dust on surfaces should be removed with a damp cloth, not with dry cloths that stir the dust up again.
What should visitors do and avoid during calima?
When visibility is reduced, the Canary Islands emergency authority recommends driving more slowly and using dipped headlights. Mountain roads, hikes, cycle rides and other strenuous activities should be postponed during strong calima.
Instead of long hikes, short low-altitude routes or sheltered indoor activities are better options: museums, historic centres, visitor centres, aquariums or covered markets. Sport, cycle rides and children's activities should be moved indoors.
When visibility is good, you can head to the less affected side of the island, but you should not assume on the spur of the moment that another island is safely free of calima. Hire car journeys in poor visibility should be reduced.
If you experience shortness of breath, worsening symptoms or circulation problems, seek medical help.
Where can visitors check reliable information?
AEMET (the state meteorological agency) publishes weather forecasts and warnings for airborne dust. The Gobierno de Canarias provides information on calima warnings, emergency notices and recommended behaviour.
The Canary Islands air quality network shows the current air quality index by area.
AEMET warnings and official calima notices are episodic information. For travel planning, they should be checked shortly before excursions and transfers; individual daily values are no substitute for long-term climate context.
Current values and warnings: CITA weather (cita.news/de/wetter.html) and AEMET. The state and regional warning information is free; calima itself is not a paid service.
When is calima particularly likely?
Calima can occur in the Canary Islands at any time of year. The frequency and intensity depend on the prevailing weather situation and the air masses flowing in from Africa.
There is therefore no blanket calima-free travel season. For specific warnings, AEMET and the Canary Islands authorities are the authoritative sources; the available sources do not prove a generally valid monthly calima season.
Based on AEMET forecasts, it can issue pre-warnings or warning levels and publish recommendations.
A calima warning does not automatically mean that beaches, hotels or airports will be closed. Binding restrictions can, however, be imposed locally by Cabildos, municipalities, transport operators or protected area authorities.