- Roy Schijvens
- Last updated on 25/02/2024
Understanding Calima: How This Sahara Dust Phenomenon Affects Tenerife!
Prepare yourself for Calima in Tenerife
You wake up and feel the warm temperature, but don’t see any clouds. You walk outside and see that everything is covered in sand. Everything suggests it is calima.
FAQ: What you need to know about calima
“Calima” is the name that the local people of the Canary Islands use to describe the Saharan Air Layer―a burst of dusty, warm wind from a Saharan storm that crosses over from the African desert. It’s a hot, dry fog that irritates the airways, reduces visibility and deposits a layer of fine dust over everything.
This phenomenon can happen at any time of year but it is usually associated with the hot air found on the islands during the summer months.
Usually, calima ranges in time scale from a few hours up to a week. After that, the sky starts to clear up and the visibility improves gradually.
When there is calima, there is usually a big shift in temperature. Tourists are delighted with such weather, especially during the winter months. However, it’s important to point out that spending long periods of time outside when there is calima can affect your respiratory system, especially if you’re allergic.
It is caused by a dust storm that is stirred up by high winds in the Sahara and is then driven over the Canary Islands by south easterly winds.
Calima can cause eye redness, respiratory problems, sore throat, lack of energy and headaches.
How to prepare yourself for Calima
- Drink enough water
- Stay indoors as much as possible
- Wear sunglasses and sunscreen
- Wear suitable clothing and stay in the shade
DON’TS
- Park outside.
- Go on Boat trips.
- Leave your windows opened.
- Exercise outdoors.
- Perform any water sport activities.
Fun things to do in Tenerife during a sandstorm
Don’t let this ruin your wonderful holiday. There are still plenty of fun things to do. Some tips from us:
- Stay inside and play board games with your friends.
- Cook a delicious dinner. Why not trying our recipe of Canarian potatoes?
- Book one of the best evening shows of Tenerife.
- Spend a day at the spa Aqua Club terminal Tenerife.
If we’ve missed any tips, please share it in the comments