What changes on Tuesday for holidaymakers and residents?
On Tuesday, 27 October 2026, the calima will become noticeably stronger on Lanzarote and La Graciosa. The Saharan dust will initially sit mainly in higher layers of air, but from the afternoon it may also increase at lower levels.
Spain's weather agency AEMET reports partly cloudy skies and an east to north-easterly wind for the day. Parts of Lanzarote's interior and south could see up to 30°C, while maximum temperatures in the north and on La Graciosa will fall.
The pre-alert is not an evacuation order and not a stay-at-home order. According to the published information, neither residents nor tourists face any change to their rights to remain, access requirements or fees.
Daily life can largely continue as normal. The air will simply be dustier and visibility hazier.
Who is most at risk and what is recommended?
Children, older people and anyone with chronic respiratory or cardiovascular conditions are most affected. The Canary Islands Government warns explicitly that existing symptoms may get worse.
The government advises staying indoors where possible and keeping doors and windows closed. It recommends wiping dust away with damp cloths, drinking plenty of water and spending time in humid environments.
You should avoid strenuous physical activity outdoors.
When visibility is clearly reduced, drivers should slow down, leave more distance and avoid unnecessary journeys. This advice comes from the official warning notice for the PEFMA emergency plan.
When will the calima be at its strongest?
The calima is expected to be at its strongest on Wednesday, 28 October 2026. The concentration of suspended particles could then widely exceed 100 µg/m³, La Voz de Lanzarote reports, citing AEMET.
The wind will be light and variable, with medium and high cloud covering the sky.
At the time of the warning, the calima on Lanzarote and Fuerteventura was expected to be mainly at altitude. From Tuesday midday, levels could increase at lower altitudes across all the islands.
The Canary Islands Government's Directorate General for Emergencies has activated the pre-alert for the whole archipelago. It is based on information from AEMET and the PEFMA emergency plan.
What does a pre-alert mean legally?
The calima pre-alert is a precautionary warning level issued by the Canary Islands civil protection service. It does not yet mean a state of emergency, nor does it automatically close roads or facilities.
Responsibility lies with the Dirección General de Emergencias y Seguridad of the Canary Islands Government. It decides under the Canary Islands PEFMA emergency plan, based on AEMET forecasts and other measurement data.
Neither the Cabildo nor any municipality decides on the warning; the Canary Islands emergency authority does. The official notices mention no special costs, fees or compensation for the public.
The pre-alert alone therefore brings no chargeable measure for residents or visitors. Only the general health protection recommendations apply.
How long will the warning remain in place?
How long the pre-alert will remain and when it will be lifted or extended is not yet known. The government said it would assess the situation as weather and air quality develop.
The next critical period was Wednesday, 28 October 2026. Later media forecasts pointed to possible weather changes and rain for the weekend of 31 October and 1 November.
However, these forecasts have not been confirmed as a definitive measure for Lanzarote. Travellers and residents should keep following the Canary Islands emergency authority's advice.
The binding current version of the recommendations is in the official PEFMA warning notice. Changes to the warning level also appear there.