Last October has become the warmest in the history of the Canary Islands, according to the climatological advance of the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet), which has been collecting data since 1961.
By provinces, both in Las Palmas and in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, an October "extremely warm" has been experienced, being the warmest first since the sixties. Thus, the average temperatures have suffered an anomaly of 3.6 degrees in the eastern province, while in Santa Cruz de Tenerife it has been 3.7 degrees.
Regarding the anomaly of the maximum temperatures, there has been a growth of 3.9 degrees in the eastern islands. The minimums have also suffered a notable increase, exceeding 2.8 degrees of anomaly in Las Palmas and up to 3 degrees in the Canary Islands average.
The increase in temperatures during October was also noticeable on nights where 20 degrees were exceeded. So in Playa Blanca, for example, 26 tropical nights were recorded; at Lanzarote Airport, 22 nights above 20 degrees were recorded; in Haría, 17; in Los Dolores (Tinajo), 15; and in Tías, 14. Thus, in La Graciosa up to 24 tropical nights were reached.
During the first 20 days of the month, most of the Aemet stations in Lanzarote reported an increase in heat during the nights. In this same period, it became the Canary Island with the most tropical nights, together with Fuerteventura.
This 2023, in the absence of data from November and December, has recorded more tropical nights (above 20 degrees) and torrid nights (above 25) than the last seven years. Specifically, 1,629 tropical nights and 322 torrid nights have been detailed.
"It has been characterized by the permanence of minimum temperatures in relatively high values (as can be seen in the greater number of ephemeris of average temperatures of the highest minimums)", the aforementioned report reported. Thus, in October the longest heat wave since 1975 was recorded. Thus, so far this year there have been three heat waves, reaching 26 days.
Maximum temperatures
The maximum temperature recorded in Lanzarote was 35.9 degrees in Tías, according to the Aemet Report, the seventh lowest in the Archipelago. Meanwhile, the highest temperature recorded in October was in Sabinosa, in El Hierro, exceeding 40 degrees.
Lanzarote had the fourth highest minimum temperature in October, with 29.5 degrees. While La Graciosa is the eighth of the Archipelago in the highest minimum.
Weak rains
Despite the long episode of heat, on days 21, 22 and 23, a trough with an associated front approached, leaving weak rainfall on the Island of Los Volcanes. In Lanzarote, 4.2 millimeters of rainfall were recorded in Tías and Yaiza, as well as 1.3 at the César Manrique Airport and two millimeters in Haría.
