Countries in the Mediterranean basin are experiencing a sudden weather breakdown after a period of unusually high temperatures. Spain, France, and Italy are preparing for the passage of atmospheric fronts that will bring rainfall and significant temperature drops. A particularly difficult situation is occurring in the Canary Islands, where the DANA phenomenon has caused strong wind gusts, precipitation, and troublesome Saharan dust, forcing local authorities to issue weather alerts.
Violent DANA Phenomenon
An upper-level low is causing extreme winds up to 100 km/h and intense precipitation in the Canary Islands.
End of Heat Anomalies
Temperatures are dropping back to normal after a period where they were 10 degrees higher than average.
Alerts in the Canary Islands
Persisting threat of high waves and disruptions caused by Saharan dust called calima.
The last days of February 2026 brought weather anomalies to Southern Europe, which meteorologists describe as a worrying signal of climate change. In Spain and Italy, thermometers showed values 10 degrees Celsius higher than the long-term average, resembling weather typical for the height of spring, not the end of winter. However, the latest forecasts indicate a drastic reversal of this trend. The DANA phenomenon is approaching the Iberian Peninsula, having first struck the Canary Islands. The archipelago is grappling with winds exceeding 90 km/h and the calima phenomenon. The situation in mainland Spain will also worsen. The AEMET agency announces the return of rains to most regions, and an extraordinary drop in temperatures is expected in eight autonomous communities. In France, the weekend will be marked by variable cloudiness and scattered showers, ending the period of unnatural mild weather. Italy, which has so far been under the influence of an African high-pressure system, is also preparing for the arrival of an Atlantic front that will move from the northwest into the country. The DANA phenomenon is increasingly associated with the extreme effects of climate change in the Mediterranean region, leading to more violent phenomena than in past decades.Analysis of satellite data shows significant changes in the ecosystems of Morocco and Spain, caused by prolonged lack of precipitation and waves of premature heat. Although the return of rain is desirable due to the state of retention reservoirs, the intensity of the approaching storms creates a risk of flooding. Regional authorities, including in the Canary Islands, have maintained alerts concerning high waves, despite withdrawing warnings for snowstorms. Meteorologists emphasize that February with temperatures reaching 20 degrees Celsius should not be treated as „good weather,” but as evidence of the destabilization of the region's climate system.
Perspektywy mediów: French and Italian media focus on the mild passage of the front and the benefits of spring-like weather. Spanish sources strongly emphasize the dangers associated with DANA, Saharan dust, and the effects of drought.