At 13:20 on Saturday, Agüimes, a municipality in southeastern Gran Canaria, recorded the Canary Islands’ highest temperature of the year, reaching 42.2°C. The State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) confirmed the reading as the archipelago’s highest recorded so far in 2026. The extreme heat extended beyond Agüimes: temperatures also climbed above 40°C at locations across Gran Canaria and Tenerife, a sign of the current heatwave’s severity.
On the first day of August, Teror in Gran Canaria reached 40.9°C, while Tasarte registered 40.3°C. In Tenerife, La Laguna recorded 40.2°C, showing how widely the high temperatures affected the islands. Las Tirajanas came close, with a midday peak of 39.9°C. The oppressive heat affected much of the archipelago, making conditions uncomfortable for residents and visitors alike.
AEMET’s public observation network provides hourly readings and daily temperature extremes from individual stations. One of its Gran Canaria stations, Gran Canaria Aeropuerto, is identified by climate station code C649I and located in Ingenio, at an altitude of 24 metres. These station-level records reflect the island’s varied terrain, where inland and southeastern locations can experience markedly different conditions from coastal areas.
The figures reflect a broader trend of rising temperatures in Spain, with the Canary Islands often experiencing particularly intense summer heat. The current spike follows a pattern seen in previous years, when brief drops in temperature are quickly followed by renewed heatwaves. As noted in a recent analysis, forecasts for August suggest continued above-average temperatures and limited rainfall, leaving many regions bracing for further extremes.
A later account of AEMET’s official summer balance reported a five-day heatwave in the Canary Islands during summer 2026. Across Spain, the agency recorded 61 heatwave days in four episodes that summer, compared with 41 days in 2022; the Canary Islands episode was distinct from those affecting mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands. The figures put the August heat in the context of a wider season marked by prolonged periods of extreme temperatures.
Such high temperatures can affect daily life, increasing energy demand and posing health risks for vulnerable populations. AEMET monitors weather conditions and issues advisories as needed. Residents are urged to take precautions, especially during peak afternoon hours, when temperatures are highest. The ongoing heatwave highlights the challenges extreme weather poses in the Canary Islands and across Spain.
The Canary Islands’ climate is typically mild, but episodes of intense heat, often linked to air masses from Africa, can push temperatures well above seasonal norms. Heat intensity can also vary sharply across the islands: later-August conditions brought milder temperatures by the sea, while readings rose in Gran Canaria’s midlands and southeast. As August progresses, attention remains on weather developments and the potential for further records in the region.
