(Image: AP)
Canary Islands declares state of pre-alert as government issues health warning
by Liv Clarke · Manchester Evening NewsThe Canary Islands government has declared a “state of pre-alert” as a dust cloud descends upon the archipelago - which is popular with British holiday makers. The government has warned that it could “aggravate health problems” for people with certain respiratory conditions.
Yellow weather warnings have been issued across all of the islands, including Tenerife, Lanzarote and Gran Canaria by Aemet, Spain’s national weather agency. It warns that visibility could be reduced to 3,000m, with south-facing slopes the most likely to be affected.
The warnings are in place today and tomorrow, Wednesday December 18. Conditions are expected to return to normal by Thursday, December 19.
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The dust cloud is a weather phenomenon known as a ‘calima’ which is common in the Canary Islands during the winter and spring months. It occurs when dust from the Sahara Desert is blown towards the Spanish islands. When combined with rainfall, it can even cause a phenomenon called ‘mud rain’.
(Image: aemet.es)
Responding to the forecast, the Canary Islands government has declared a “state of pre-alert”, which came into effect on Monday afternoon. The pre-alert covers all of the Canary Islands.
The government said: “An episode of haze in varying amounts, at times dense and superficial. It could reduce visibility to less than 3,000 meters and cause or aggravate health problems for people with chronic and/or respiratory diseases. It will affect, above all, the southern slopes of the islands.”
During a calima, residents are advised to keep windows and doors shit and those with chronic respiratory illnesses are warned not to go outside. People are urged to drink plenty of fluids, avoid dry environments and not perform strenuous physical activities while it lasts. Those who are driving are urged to take extra care, turn on their lights and reduce their speed.