The Canary Islands has experienced the warmest January in the last 63 years this 2024. This is reflected in the Climatological Advance of the Canary Islands, prepared by the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet), which was published this Monday.
The average temperature of the Archipelago during the past month was 17.9 degrees, 3.1 higher than usual for this time of year. For this reason, the first month of the year has been characterized as "extremely warm" and the lack of rainfall has placed it as the seventh driest since 1961.
Thus, both the province of Las Palmas and that of Santa Cruz de Tenerife have suffered the hottest month of January in history. This anomaly has been more noticeable in high and medium temperatures, where there has been a mismatch of 3.6 degrees in the maximums and 3.1 more in the averages. Meanwhile, in the minimum temperatures there has been an increase of 2.6 degrees in Las Palmas and 2.8 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Specifically, in the eastern province the maximums were around 22.8 degrees, the averages at 19.1 and the minimums at 15.3. All above the usual values.
Tropical nights
In 2024, more tropical nights than ever have been recorded in a month of January. Specifically, 60 stations recorded nights above 20 degrees only in the past month. Previously, the year where these nights grew the most was 2016.
The climatological anomaly is also recorded in these tropical nights. In La Graciosa, there were a total of four tropical nights, between January 12 and 15. Meanwhile, in Lanzarote, two nights above 20 degrees were recorded in Haría, on January 14 and 15, and two in Playa Blanca, between January 15 and 16.
Maximum temperatures
The maximum temperature recorded in Lanzarote occurred at the State Meteorological Agency station located in the Haría cemetery. In this case, 28.8 degrees maximum was reported, while in La Graciosa 29.7 degrees were reached.
Meanwhile, the highest minimums were recorded at the La Graciosa Heliport, with 21.9 degrees, and Playa Blanca, with 20.9.
Precipitation
In the month of January, the Canary Islands recorded less rainfall than usual. Specifically, it was the seventh driest in the autonomous community, with 13% less rainfall. In addition, it was much drier than usual in Las Palmas, being 4% of its historical record.
The hydrological period between October 2023 and January 2024 was also 39% drier than usual in Las Palmas and 45% in the autonomous community.