The Spanish State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) has issued a series of warnings about a sudden weather breakdown, which first hit the Canary Islands. The archipelago is grappling with a DANA formation, bringing intense downpours, hail, and strong wind gusts. Meanwhile, mainland Spain is experiencing anomalously high temperatures, locally reaching 29 degrees Celsius, and rare natural phenomena such as a locust swarm on Lanzarote.
Orange alerts in the Canaries
The DANA phenomenon brings storms, hail, and downpours, triggering the highest level of readiness for emergency services on the archipelago.
Summer heat in February
Northern Spain is recording a record 29 degrees Celsius, drastically deviating from climatic norms for this month.
Locust invasion on Lanzarote
A swarm of insects arrived from Africa with air masses; the situation is being monitored but is considered under control.
The meteorological situation over the Iberian Peninsula and the Canary Islands has taken a sharp turn in recent hours. The key factor shaping the weather is the phenomenon of DANA, which has settled over the Canary archipelago. This has resulted in the declaration of orange alerts due to the risk of storms, heavy rain, and hail. A particularly difficult situation prevails on the island of La Palma, where winds may reach speeds threatening public safety. Regional authorities have also decided to introduce a pre-alert for snowfall in the highest mountain areas, which is an unusual phenomenon even for those peaks at this time of year. While the archipelago battles the elements, the eastern and northern coasts of mainland Spain are recording temperatures typical of midsummer. In the French part of the Basque Country, thermometers showed nearly 29 degrees Celsius, setting local heat records for February. Such drastic temperature differences between regions intensify the dynamics of atmospheric phenomena. In the Strait of Gibraltar, warnings are in effect for strong Levante winds, with gusts reaching up to 80 km/h, paralyzing sea transport. The DANA phenomenon gained particular public attention after the tragic floods in Valencia at the end of 2024. Since then, Spanish meteorological services have significantly lowered the risk tolerance threshold, more frequently using early warning systems for the population. An interesting and concerning incident accompanying the weather changes was the invasion of a desert locust swarm on the island of Lanzarote. Although these insects have dispersed, authorities are closely monitoring the situation for potential agricultural damage, and their appearance is linked to strong air currents from Africa. This phenomenon, technically called kalima, often precedes violent storms, transporting fine Saharan dust into higher atmospheric layers. Currently, meteorologists are closely monitoring the movement of an Atlantic front, which is expected to bring cooling to the northern regions of Spain this weekend, thereby ending the period of anomalous warmth.