Canary Islands Wildfire Alert Expands as Heat Could Reach 40C

Canary Islands authorities have expanded the wildfire-risk alert as an intense tropical-style heat episode brings high temperatures, dry air, wind and lingering calima to much of the archipelago. From 10:00 on Tuesday, 8 September 2026, the regional fire alert covers Gran Canaria and the five western islands of Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro, making this an important planning update for visitors with hiking, mountain, forest or rural excursions in their itinerary.

The fire-risk decision sits alongside a heat alert already in force in Gran Canaria and heat pre-alerts across the rest of the Canary Islands. The official forecast has highlighted the possibility of temperatures reaching 39C in parts of Gran Canaria and locally 40C on Tuesday, with mid-30s temperatures also expected in upland and inland areas of several other islands. Calima remains under pre-alert in Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote and La Graciosa.

This is not a general travel ban and the regional announcement does not close airports, ferry ports, hotels, resorts or every hiking route. It does, however, raise the likelihood of local access controls or temporary restrictions in forest areas. Visitors should treat Tuesday as a day to reconsider strenuous daytime activity, check island and municipal notices before entering the countryside, and keep flexible alternatives ready.

Canary Islands heat and wildfire alert at a glance

Why the wildfire alert has expanded

The Directorate General of Emergencies updated the wildfire-risk situation under INFOCA, the Canary Islands' special civil-protection plan for forest fires. The change expands the higher alert level beyond the areas of Gran Canaria and Tenerife covered by the earlier weekend declaration, bringing La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro into the alert from Tuesday morning.

The concern is not simply the headline temperature. The official assessment brings several factors together: low relative humidity, moderate northerly wind in the western islands, heat affecting forested uplands and vegetation that can ignite and spread fire more readily in those conditions. The regional update points to relative humidity below 30% and winds exceeding 30 kilometres per hour in many areas.

Calima adds another complication. Dust in the air can reduce visibility and place extra strain on people with respiratory conditions, while very warm nights can limit the body's opportunity to recover from daytime heat. The earlier maximum-temperature declaration warned that overnight temperatures in parts of the province of Las Palmas may remain around 25C or 26C.

Alert status is preventative. It communicates a level of risk and allows authorities to prepare resources and impose proportionate local measures; it does not mean a wildfire is burning across all of the named islands. That distinction matters for holidaymakers. There is no basis in the regional announcement for cancelling a Canary Islands trip, but there is a clear reason to change the timing or location of exposed outdoor plans.

Gran Canaria faces the most intense heat

Gran Canaria remains the centre of the heat warning. The maximum-temperature alert applies to the southern half of the island, particularly the eastern, southern and western slopes. The regional forecast highlighted the Tejeda basin, inland districts and low and middle elevations facing south and west as areas where temperatures could widely exceed 35C.

The maximum-temperature bulletin issued before the alert began allowed for local temperatures of 39C from Monday and even 40C on Tuesday, especially in middle and high elevations of the southern half. A subsequent wildfire update described widespread values of 34C or more in the affected uplands, with local readings around 37C. These figures are not a single island-wide resort forecast: they refer to different areas, forecast products and times within a highly variable landscape.

That variability is important when planning a Gran Canaria day trip. Conditions beside the sea in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Maspalomas, Puerto Rico or Puerto de Mogan can differ sharply from those in Tejeda, Artenara, the central summits or inland ravines. A comfortable start near a coastal hotel is not evidence that a long walk in the mountains will remain comfortable several hours later.

Visitors with a Roque Nublo reservation, a guided inland excursion, a cycling route or a self-drive mountain itinerary should check the relevant operator and official access information before leaving. A booking or reservation does not override an emergency restriction if one is introduced. Even when access remains open, a guide or operator may amend the route, start earlier, shorten the activity or postpone it because of heat and fire risk.

Tenerife: particular caution in southern and western uplands

In Tenerife, the latest forecast points to temperatures around 36C across broad parts of the forested middle elevations in the west and especially the south, with local peaks of 37C possible. Northern middle elevations may reach 32C to 33C, with around 34C possible in some north-eastern areas.

This makes altitude and exposure more relevant than the name of the resort where a visitor is staying. A beach holiday in Costa Adeje, Los Cristianos or Puerto de la Cruz may continue largely as planned, while an excursion into the island's forest belt or high country requires a separate decision. Long ascents, exposed viewpoints and walks without reliable shade or water are poor choices during the hottest period.

Anyone planning Teide National Park or another upland destination should verify official park, road and trail information on the day. The regional alert does not itself announce that Teide National Park is closed, nor does it confirm a blanket closure of Tenerife's trails. Local island authorities manage access measures and can tighten them as conditions change.

Visitors should also remember that temperature can change substantially during a drive through Tenerife's elevation zones. Carrying water in the vehicle, keeping fuel or battery range adequate, and avoiding an itinerary that depends on several remote stops provides a useful margin if a road, car park or recreation area becomes unavailable.

La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro enter the fire alert

The most important change in the 7 September update is the move to wildfire alert status for La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro from 10:00 on Tuesday. These islands contain extensive forest, mountain and rural landscapes that are central to their tourism appeal, so the change is especially relevant to walking holidays and nature-led itineraries.

For La Palma, the official outlook indicates temperatures up to 35C inside Caldera de Taburiente, around 34C across broad areas of the north-west and the Cumbre Nueva and Cumbre Vieja ridges, and temperatures above 30C in the north-east. The terrain can turn an apparently manageable route into a demanding one, particularly where shade is limited or a steep return climb comes late in the day.

La Gomera may see around 33C in northern middle elevations, 34C to 35C around the summit area and local temperatures of 36C or 37C on the leeward southern side of the ridge. Visitors should not assume that Garajonay's usual cloud, greenery or higher altitude guarantees cool walking conditions throughout the island.

In El Hierro, the forecast gives temperatures above 34C or 35C across broad summit and southern areas, with more than 32C elsewhere in forest zones. The island's small scale can encourage spontaneous road trips, but its steep terrain, exposed sections and limited services in remote places make a conservative plan sensible during an alert.

On all three islands, check with the cabildo, national park where applicable, tour company or accommodation host before entering a forest route. Do not rely solely on a mapping app or an old travel article: neither will necessarily show a closure or restriction issued that morning.

Fuerteventura, Lanzarote and La Graciosa: heat and dust remain the main issues

Fuerteventura, Lanzarote and La Graciosa are not included in the 8 September wildfire alert, but that does not mean normal weather conditions. The eastern islands remain covered by the maximum-temperature pre-alert, while all three are within the calima pre-alert. Gran Canaria is included in both the calima pre-alert and the stronger heat and fire declarations.

The heat forecast for Fuerteventura and Lanzarote has focused particularly on their southern halves, with temperatures around 36C possible and locally higher values, especially in southern Fuerteventura on Tuesday. Open volcanic landscapes, limited shade and reflected heat can make a walk feel more demanding than the air temperature alone suggests.

Beach and resort days may still be possible, but visitors should follow local flags, lifeguard instructions and excursion-operator advice. The end of the regional coastal pre-alert is useful context, yet it is not a guarantee that every beach or boat trip has identical conditions. Beach flags, harbour decisions and operator cancellations are made at a more local and immediate level.

Drivers should be prepared for changing visibility in suspended dust, especially on exposed roads. The emergency authority advises reducing speed and using lights when visibility deteriorates. People with chronic respiratory illness are advised to keep doors and windows closed and avoid going outside as far as possible during worse calima conditions.

What the alerts mean for hiking and outdoor excursions

The simplest planning principle is to separate essential travel from optional exposure. Driving between an airport and a hotel is a different risk decision from beginning a five-hour ridge walk at midday. Most visitors will not need to change flights or accommodation, but many should change an ambitious outdoor schedule.

For Tuesday, replace long inland hikes, mountain cycling and remote picnic plans with lower-exertion activities in managed locations. Museums, galleries, shaded historic districts, indoor attractions and a slow coastal day offer useful alternatives, subject to local conditions. Moving a mountain excursion to another day is more sensible than merely carrying one extra bottle of water into a high-risk area.

If an outdoor activity goes ahead, start early, keep the route shorter than usual and set a firm turnaround time. Every participant should carry water, sun protection and a charged phone. Share the route with someone who is not on the walk, and do not leave the marked path in search of shade or a shortcut.

Never use fire, discard a cigarette end, launch fireworks or use equipment that can create sparks in or near forest land. Follow all signs and instructions from environmental officers, police, civil protection personnel and park staff. If smoke or fire is visible, move away from the area and call 112 with the clearest location information available. Do not approach to photograph it or stop on a road where emergency vehicles may need access.

Travellers using guided activities should expect decisions to be made close to departure time. A responsible operator may alter a route even if the weather at the hotel seems calm. Ask whether transport, tickets and insurance are refundable or transferable when an excursion is cancelled for safety reasons, but do not pressure staff to proceed against official advice.

How to manage heat during a Canary Islands holiday

Heat illness can develop before a visitor realises how much fluid has been lost, particularly when wind reduces the feeling of sweating. Headache, dizziness, nausea, unusual weakness, confusion and a rapid pulse should not be dismissed as ordinary holiday tiredness. Stop the activity, move to a cooler place and seek medical help when symptoms are severe or do not improve.

Avoid hard exercise during the central hours of the day. Drink water regularly rather than waiting to feel thirsty, limit alcohol before and during exposed activities, use light clothing and protect the head and skin. Babies, older travellers, pregnant visitors and people with heart, kidney, respiratory or other chronic conditions require extra caution.

Warm nights are part of the current warning. Close shutters or curtains before direct sun reaches a room, ventilate only when outside air is cooler, and ask accommodation staff about fans, air conditioning or a cooler room if sleep becomes difficult. Medication that must remain within a temperature range should not be left in a parked car or in direct sun.

Rental cars can become dangerously hot in minutes. Never leave children, adults who need assistance or pets inside a parked vehicle, even for a short stop. Keep drinking water accessible rather than buried under luggage, and avoid touching exposed metal fixtures before checking their temperature.

Flights, ferries, roads and package holidays

The regional emergency update does not announce airport closures, flight cancellations, ferry suspensions or a change to entry requirements. It also does not create a tourist tax, hotel restriction or island-wide curfew. Visitors should keep confirmed travel arrangements unless an airline, ferry company, tour operator or official authority tells them otherwise.

Air and sea operations can nevertheless respond to real-time weather and operational conditions, independently of the wildfire declaration. Check flight or sailing status with the operating company before departure, particularly when travelling on separate tickets or connecting to another island. Allow enough time for a changed road route or slower driving in calima.

Road closures are not automatic across every island under an INFOCA alert. They may be introduced locally to protect forest areas or maintain emergency access. Navigation apps can lag behind official decisions, so consult the relevant cabildo or municipal channels before a highland drive. Never move a barrier or follow another vehicle past a closure.

Package-holiday customers should use their organiser's contact route if a booked excursion or transfer is affected. A general weather alert does not automatically cancel a complete holiday, and normal cancellation conditions may still apply. The immediate practical question is whether a specific service is operating, not whether the whole destination is closed.

What hotels and tourism businesses should communicate

Accommodation providers can reduce confusion by distinguishing the regional warning from local operating decisions. Guests need concise information: which alert applies to the island, whether a particular trail or recreation area is closed, where to check updates, and what indoor or lower-exertion alternatives are available.

Tour desks should reconfirm outdoor suppliers rather than assuming an excursion will operate because transport has arrived. Rural accommodation and holiday homes in or near forest zones should make evacuation information, exact addresses and emergency contacts easy to find. Staff should avoid promising that a route will remain open throughout the day.

Restaurants, attractions and transport operators may also see last-minute changes in visitor flows as people move away from highland activities. Clear opening information and realistic travel times are more valuable than promotional messages during a fast-changing alert. English-language explanations are particularly helpful when official updates appear first in Spanish.

How long will the Canary Islands alerts last?

No fixed end time was given for the expanded wildfire alert. The regional government said it would continue monitoring the episode and could raise the activation level or change the geographical scope as forecasts and AEMET warnings are updated. Earlier heat information indicated that conditions may begin to improve from Wednesday, but that is an outlook rather than a confirmed end to every alert.

Visitors should therefore make decisions from the latest official position, not from the expected improvement alone. An alert remains in effect until the competent authority updates or ends it, and an island authority may maintain a local restriction after wider conditions start to ease.

The most useful approach is calm flexibility. Canary Islands holidays, flights, ferries and resort services are continuing, while the combination of extreme local heat, dry air, wind and calima demands respect in inland and forest environments. Keep essential journeys, replace optional high-exposure activities, and check again before setting out.

Practical checklist for visitors on Tuesday, 8 September

• Check the latest regional emergency update and the relevant island authority before a mountain, forest or rural excursion.
• Confirm guided walks, national park visits, cable-car plans, boat trips and transfers directly with the operator.
• Avoid demanding exercise during the hottest hours and prepare an indoor or coastal alternative.
• Carry water, sun protection, a charged phone and any essential medication.
• Reduce driving speed if calima cuts visibility and never cross a closure barrier.
• Do not light fires, use fireworks, discard cigarette ends or use spark-producing equipment near vegetation.
• Call 112 if you see smoke or fire, giving a precise location and keeping access clear for emergency services.
• Do not cancel flights, ferries or accommodation solely because of the alert; act on specific instructions from the provider or authorities.

The update is most consequential for travellers seeking the very landscapes that make the Canary Islands exceptional: volcanic summits, pine forest, laurel forest, deep ravines and remote viewpoints. Those places will still be there after the heat eases. During this alert, the better holiday decision is to give them the time and conditions they deserve.