The Canary Islands have brought the late-September heat episode to a close and stepped down the elevated forest-fire measures that affected several western islands and Gran Canaria. The archipelago-wide maximum-temperature pre-alert ended at 20:00 on Saturday, 26 September 2026, while Gran Canaria's higher forest-fire alert ended at 08:00 on Monday, 28 September. A lower, seasonal fire-risk pre-alert remains in force in Gran Canaria and the western islands.
For visitors, the change removes the exceptional heat warning that had applied across all eight islands and ends the heightened INFOCA alert that most recently remained above 400 metres throughout Gran Canaria. It is a reassuring development for autumn holidays, outdoor excursions and mountain itineraries, but it is not an instruction to ignore local conditions. A pre-alert is still active for forest-fire risk in Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro under the standing declaration issued for the high-risk season.
The practical message is therefore more measured than a simple all-clear. Normal flights, ferries, hotels, resorts and general visitor activity continue. The regional heat pre-alert is no longer active, and the higher forest-fire alert has ended. Travellers should nevertheless check the exact trail, recreation area, national park, rural road or guided activity they intend to use because local restrictions and operational decisions are made separately from the regional alert level.
Canary Islands weather and fire-risk status at a glance
| Measure | Latest change | Current visitor meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum-temperature pre-alert | Ended across the Canary Islands at 20:00 on 26 September | The exceptional late-September heat declaration is no longer active |
| Gran Canaria forest-fire alert | Ended at 08:00 on 28 September; it had applied above 400 metres throughout the island | The elevated INFOCA level has been removed, but the seasonal pre-alert remains |
| Tenerife, La Palma and El Hierro forest-fire status | Stepped down from alert to pre-alert from 08:00 on 27 September | Lower readiness level, with prevention rules and local notices still relevant |
| La Gomera forest-fire status | Continues at pre-alert | Visitors should retain normal fire-prevention care and check local access information |
| Wind pre-alert | Ended in Gran Canaria and La Gomera at 14:00 on 26 September | The separate regional wind measure is no longer active in those areas |
| Flights, ferries and resorts | No blanket closure was announced as part of the ending declarations | Travel continues normally unless an operator issues a service-specific change |
What changed on 28 September
The latest decision concerns Gran Canaria. The Canary Islands Directorate General of Emergencies ended the island's forest-fire alert at 08:00 on Monday after determining that the meteorological conditions which justified the elevated level had passed. The alert had covered the island above an altitude of 400 metres.
Gran Canaria had remained at alert after the other affected islands were downgraded because relative humidity on the island was not expected to recover until Monday. On 25 September, the emergency authority announced that Tenerife, El Hierro and La Palma would pass to pre-alert from Sunday morning, while La Gomera would continue at pre-alert. Gran Canaria stayed one level higher for a further day.
The 28 September notice completes that step-down. It does not cancel the standing forest-fire pre-alert introduced on 1 June under INFOCA. That seasonal measure continues in the western islands and Gran Canaria, reflecting the background risk associated with dry vegetation and the high-risk period rather than the acute conditions that produced the temporary alert.
This distinction matters for holiday planning. The end of an alert means that the particular combination of temperature, humidity, wind and fuel conditions that required the higher activation level has eased. It does not mean that every forest track, picnic area or mountain facility must automatically be open, or that ignition risk has disappeared.
The heat pre-alert ended on Saturday evening
The all-islands maximum-temperature pre-alert ended at 20:00 on Saturday, 26 September. The measure had been expanded to the whole archipelago on 23 September as a warm African air mass spread westwards, bringing forecast highs of up to 38C in parts of Fuerteventura, Lanzarote and Gran Canaria and lower but still unusually hot values elsewhere.
Its cancellation applied across the autonomous community, including Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro and La Graciosa. The government said the meteorological conditions that justified the pre-alert had ended. A separate wind pre-alert affecting Gran Canaria and La Gomera was also lifted on Saturday, at 14:00.
For travellers who adjusted plans during the hot spell, that means the regional emergency framework no longer calls for the same level of heat-specific caution. Long walks, cycle routes and inland visits may become more practical as temperatures moderate. Even so, the end of a regional declaration is not a forecast for every municipality, altitude or hour. Visitors should still use a current local forecast and judge the route they are actually taking.
The islands' relief regularly creates sharp contrasts. Conditions beside the sea can differ from those in a volcanic interior, deep valley or pine forest reached after a relatively short drive. A comfortable resort morning does not by itself guarantee a cool mountain afternoon, just as a warm airport reading does not describe the whole island.
Alert, pre-alert and an active wildfire are different things
Canary Islands emergency terminology can be confusing when translated into travel headlines. An INFOCA alert is an official civil-protection activation in response to a sufficiently elevated risk. It supports preparation, coordination and restrictions proportionate to the conditions. A pre-alert is a lower level of readiness and monitoring. Neither term, on its own, means that a wildfire is burning.
Likewise, the ending of an alert does not certify every location as risk-free. The continuing seasonal pre-alert in Gran Canaria and the western islands is a reminder that care with fire remains necessary. Visitors should not discard cigarette ends, light barbecues or use flame or spark-producing equipment where it is prohibited. Fireworks and similar devices can also be restricted in or near vulnerable vegetation.
If smoke or fire is seen in the countryside, call 112 and describe both the apparent location and the place from which it is being observed. Do not enter a restricted area to investigate and do not stop on a road in a way that obstructs emergency vehicles.
The same precision should be used when reading about local closures. A cabildo or municipality may close a particular recreation area, forest road or trail without the entire island being closed. Conversely, the regional alert level can change before a local authority has inspected and reopened a facility. The responsible island, park or municipal channel is the best source for same-day access decisions.
What the change means for Gran Canaria holidays
Gran Canaria visitors have the clearest immediate change. The elevated forest-fire alert that covered land above 400 metres has ended. That reduces the regional risk status for mountain and rural areas including the broad interior around Tejeda, Artenara and the island's forested highlands.
It does not, however, announce that every path, road, viewpoint or recreation area is open. Travellers planning Roque Nublo, Pico de las Nieves, Tamadaba, Tejeda or a rural driving circuit should still check the relevant access information on the day. Any barrier, sign or instruction at the location takes priority over an older map, social-media post or navigation-app route.
Visitors based in Maspalomas, Playa del Ingles, Meloneras, Puerto Rico or Puerto de Mogan can treat the end of the heat pre-alert as a welcome improvement for inland day trips. A sensible itinerary still allows for altitude, winding roads, limited services and rapidly changing cloud or wind. Carry water, keep a charged phone and leave enough time to return before dark.
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and the main southern resorts were not placed under a general tourism shutdown during the episode. The end notices likewise introduce no new entry requirement, transport rule or accommodation restriction. The update primarily concerns weather-related civil protection and outdoor risk.
Tenerife, La Palma, El Hierro and La Gomera remain at pre-alert
Tenerife, La Palma and El Hierro moved from forest-fire alert to pre-alert from 08:00 on Sunday, 27 September. La Gomera, which had not been raised to the same alert level in the final phase, continues at pre-alert. These islands are included in the standing INFOCA declaration for the western archipelago.
On Tenerife, the lower status improves the context for visits involving Teide National Park, pine-forest areas, Anaga, Teno and rural middle elevations. It should not be read as a universal reopening notice. Teide access, trail reservations, cable-car operations, road conditions and individual park restrictions all have their own management channels.
La Palma visitors planning Caldera de Taburiente, the high mountain route, volcanic landscapes or remote forest roads should apply the same approach. Check the exact route, not only the island-wide status. La Palma's terrain can make alternatives and evacuation more complicated than a map suggests, and mobile coverage is not guaranteed in every ravine or upland area.
On El Hierro, remote viewpoints, wooded roads and walking routes reward slow travel but require realistic preparation. The move to pre-alert does not remove the need to carry water, use suitable footwear and tell someone where a longer walk is going. On La Gomera, Garajonay National Park and the island's steep trail network similarly require current local information, especially after any period of heat or wind.
Fuerteventura, Lanzarote and La Graciosa after the heat episode
Fuerteventura, Lanzarote and La Graciosa were not named in the standing forest-fire pre-alert that continues for the western islands and Gran Canaria, but all were covered by the maximum-temperature pre-alert that ended on Saturday evening. The eastern islands saw some of the highest forecast temperatures during the episode.
The end of the heat measure makes exposed landscapes more comfortable to explore, yet shade remains limited across many popular routes. In Fuerteventura, inland drives, dune walks and long cycle outings can still feel much hotter than a breezy seafront. In Lanzarote, dark volcanic ground and paved viewpoints can add substantial radiant heat even when the air temperature is below the previous alert thresholds.
La Graciosa deserves particular care because many visitors move around on foot or by bicycle and services are limited away from Caleta de Sebo. Check the ferry schedule, take more water than a short map distance appears to require and allow a generous return margin.
No part of the official ending notices announces a closure or schedule change for Timanfaya National Park, the Corralejo dunes, ferries to La Graciosa, beaches or resort accommodation. Individual services remain subject to their own operating decisions and weather conditions.
Can hikers and cyclists return to normal plans?
Most visitors can move back towards normal planning, but the best answer depends on the exact island and route. The exceptional heat declaration has ended and the higher fire alert has been removed. That is materially better than the position earlier in the week. The seasonal pre-alert, local rules and ordinary mountain hazards still apply.
Before a long hike or ride, check the weather for the route's elevation, any island authority notices, park information and the operator's confirmation if the activity is guided. A trail can be unsuitable because of wind, damaged ground, maintenance or a local closure even when the regional heat and fire alerts have ended.
Set a turnaround time and consider the effort required for the return leg. Carry water, sun protection, a basic layer for cooler high ground, a charged phone and any essential medication. Footwear appropriate to volcanic and uneven terrain matters more than the distance alone. Avoid beginning a remote route late in the day simply because conditions have improved.
Guided operators may keep a changed route or departure time after the regional status falls. That is not necessarily outdated caution. They may be responding to the condition of a particular path, transport logistics, local permissions or the abilities of the group. Follow the guide's instructions and do not leave an approved route to create a private alternative.
Flights, ferries, roads and package holidays
The end of the heat and elevated fire measures does not change passport, visa or entry requirements. It also does not create a special airport or ferry procedure. Travellers should continue to check their airline or ferry operator for the live status of a particular service, but there is no general cancellation instruction connected with these ending notices.
Road users should distinguish between the regional emergency status and local traffic management. A mountain road can remain closed for inspection, works or another hazard after an alert ends. Official road information and signs at the scene take priority over mapping applications. Allow extra time when a flight or ferry connection depends on a rural or high-altitude drive.
Package-holiday guests do not need to alter accommodation or flights simply because the seasonal fire pre-alert remains. If an excursion was postponed during the hotter period, ask the organiser whether it has resumed, been rerouted or will be refunded under the booking terms. A regional status change does not determine every individual contract.
Why the standing fire pre-alert remains
The pre-alert retained under the 1 June INFOCA declaration is designed for the wider high-risk season. It applies after the short-lived spike in danger has passed because vegetation and landscape conditions can still support fire. In other words, authorities have removed the exceptional layer without abandoning routine preparedness.
That is important in an archipelago where tourism and outdoor recreation take place close to protected landscapes, pine forest, dry scrub and rural settlements. A lower alert level supports more normal activity, but responsible behaviour remains part of the visitor experience.
Businesses also have a role. Hotels, rural accommodation, car-hire desks and excursion sellers should update guests with the current distinction: the maximum-temperature pre-alert has ended; the higher fire alert has ended; the seasonal fire pre-alert continues in Gran Canaria and the western islands. Old notices should be removed or clearly dated so visitors do not mistake last week's conditions for today's status.
Tour operators should confirm local access before departure and explain any remaining change with a specific reason. Rural accommodation should keep its location, emergency contact information and access instructions easy to find. Clear information helps visitors follow restrictions without assuming that a local measure affects an entire island.
Practical checklist for visitors after the alerts end
- Use a current local forecast for the municipality and altitude you plan to visit.
- Check island, national-park or municipal notices before a mountain or forest trip.
- Respect every barrier, closure and instruction even when the regional alert has ended.
- Carry water, sun protection, suitable footwear and a charged phone on exposed routes.
- Do not light fires or use prohibited flame or spark-producing equipment near vegetation.
- Confirm guided excursions directly with the operator, especially if they changed during the hot spell.
- Check airlines and ferry companies for service-specific information rather than relying on weather headlines.
- Call 112 if you see smoke or fire, or if someone needs urgent help.
A return to normality, with seasonal caution
The end of the late-September heat pre-alert and Gran Canaria's elevated forest-fire alert is positive news for Canary Islands holidays. It closes an episode that required visitors and residents to adapt outdoor plans across the archipelago and restores a more normal operating context for hiking, cycling, rural sightseeing and mountain excursions.
The remaining pre-alert should be read accurately. It is not a statement that a wildfire is active, an island is closed or a holiday is unsafe. It is the lower seasonal readiness level for Gran Canaria and the western islands. Visitors can continue travelling while respecting fire-prevention rules and checking any place-specific access decision.
The most useful habit is to match information to the scale of the plan. Regional alerts explain the broad risk, island and municipal notices identify local restrictions, and operators confirm whether a booked service will run. With the exceptional heat now past and higher alert levels removed, that simple check is enough for most travellers to resume their Canary Islands itinerary with confidence.
Related seasonal trip planning: use our Canary Islands in November guide when adjusting plans after late-season heat and fire alerts.