A picture from 2023: Thousands of hectares of land were destroyed in forest fires on Tenerife this year.Source: IMAGO/Europa Press/ABACA
There is a risk of extreme conditions in the Canary Islands in the coming days. The authorities have declared an early warning for the risk of forest fires.
May 24, 2026, 3:19 p.mMay 24, 2026, 3:19 p.m
Laura Helbig / t-online
Anyone who is currently on holiday in Tenerife or Gran Canaria should be particularly careful in the coming days. The government of the Canary Islands has declared an early warning of the risk of forest fires for both islands. The reason for this is extreme weather conditions, which are expected to worsen from Sunday, May 24th.
The weather agency Aemet is forecasting a significant increase in temperatures in the coming days. Temperatures of over 30 degrees are expected in the forest, highland and mountain regions of both islands, and even 34 degrees in individual areas on Gran Canaria.
At the same time, the relative humidity should fall to below 30 percent – a critical value at which dry vegetation can easily catch fire and fires spread rapidly. The situation is made worse by warm, dry southwesterly winds at high altitudes on both islands. Such winds are considered particularly dangerous in the Canary Islands: they remove additional moisture from the vegetation and make fires difficult to control.
What holidaymakers need to know now:
The authorities expressly appeal to residents and tourists to exercise extreme caution in forest and natural areas. Specifically:
- No activities that could generate sparks or open flames
- Outdoor campfires and barbecues are prohibited near forests
- Report smoke or fire immediately to the appropriate authorities
- Avoid mountainous and forested areas if possible
The pre-alarm serves as a preventive measure: It is intended to strengthen the monitoring and operational readiness of the emergency services before the situation worsens further. As long as the pre-alarm is in effect, the authorities recommend entering natural areas only with the greatest caution – and if in doubt, it is better to avoid the trip.
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