Orange dust cloud to hit Canary Islands as calima alert issued

A widespread calima alert has been activated across the Canary Islands, as an orange dust haze is expected to sweep across the popular holiday islands.

The Canary Islands Government has issued a pre-alert from midday today (Monday 30 March) as a dense plume of Saharan dust moves towards the islands.

Forecasters say that this isn’t a typical light dust haze.

The flow of air from the Sahara is forecast being very strong so it is expected to bring a large volume of dust.

The dust cloud is expected to affect all islands, not just the eastern ones.

Conditions are expected to build today and peak throughout the day tomorrow (Tuesday 31 March).

These elements mean the calima will be thicker, and could turn the skies orange.

Lanzarote and Fuerteventura will be affected first, before the haze spreads to Gran Canaria, Tenerife, and then the western islands, later in the day today.

By tomorrow, skies are expected to be heavily overcast with dust, giving them an orange tint and reducing visibility across the islands.

Canarian Weekly online news site also reports that temperatures may rise slightly due to the dry, warm air.

Fine dust particles can irritate the airways, particularly for people with asthma, allergies or other breathing conditions.

Officials are urging people to take simple precautions:

• Keep windows and doors closed
• Avoid outdoor exercise during peak hours
• Wear a face covering if you have respiratory issues
• Drive carefully, as visibility may drop significantly