What is the location of the Saharan dust?
As of September 17, 2025, a dust storm, or "calima," is impacting air quality and visibility on the Canary Islands (1). Dust from the western regions of the Sahara Dust is blowing southwest across the island chain (2).
Air quality is also being impacted by scorching temperatures which may reach as high as 38C (~100F) (3). Officials are warning locals and tourists to carry bottled water and to avoid outdoor activities during the heat of the day, from roughly noon until 4 PM local time.
The Canary Islands, an autonomous community of Spain off the northwest Atlantic coast of Africa, is a popular tourist destination.
Which cities or areas are affected by the Saharan dust?
Several cities and towns are experiencing poor air quality, including:
- Aguimes
- Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
- San Isidro
- San Sebastian de la Gomera
- Santa Cruz de Tenerife
- Villa de Valverde
Air quality map of the Canary Islands. Source: IQAir.
How long will the dust event last?
The calima and heatwave are active as of September 17, 2025, and are expected to persist throughout this week, potentially continuing into next week (September 22–28, 2025). Some forecasts suggest the trend could extend into early October.
Are there any alerts in place?
A yellow alert has been issued by AEMET (Spain’s State Meteorological Agency) for the entire archipelago.
A red alert is in effect for Tenerife due to extreme temperatures (up to 38°C). Authorities advise closing windows, staying indoors if vulnerable, avoiding outdoor activities during peak heat (12 PM–4 PM), and staying hydrated. Visibility may drop to 3,000 meters in affected areas.
How can I protect myself from poor air quality?
- Get a free air quality app for real-time air quality alerts and forecasts.
- Shut doors and windows and set the HVAC to recirculate mode.
- wear a KN95/FFP2 mask.
- Run a high-performance air purifier to filter particles, gases, and other pollutants.
