Temperatures will be cooler across the Canary Islands today as cloudier conditions and occasional rain showers replace the unusually hot weather experienced across the archipelago earlier this week.

The State Meteorological Agency, AEMET, forecasts generally cloudy intervals today, Friday, with some rainfall particularly affecting northern parts of the islands.

The main exceptions are Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, where conditions are expected to remain generally drier.

The most noticeable change for many people will be the temperature.

Maximum temperatures are forecast to fall significantly in some areas following several days of heat that resulted in official temperature and wildfire alerts being activated across parts of the Canary Islands.

Daytime highs across the archipelago are generally expected to range from around 24°C to 29°C.

In Tenerife, cloud is expected across northern areas during the morning, with occasional light rainfall possible.

Conditions should become somewhat clearer during the afternoon, while other parts of the island can expect a mixture of cloud and sunny spells.

Gran Canaria is also likely to see cloud and occasional light rain across northern areas, particularly during the first half of the day.

AEMET's municipal forecasts show relatively high probabilities of precipitation in some locations, including Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Telde.

However, a high percentage probability of precipitation does not mean heavy rain is expected.

It simply represents the likelihood of measurable rainfall at a particular forecast location during the specified period. The wider forecast continues to describe the expected rain as generally light and occasional.

La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro are also forecast to experience cloudier conditions on northern slopes with some light rainfall possible.

Lanzarote and Fuerteventura should see cloudy intervals but are expected to avoid most of the rainfall affecting the western and more mountainous islands.

Northerly to north-easterly winds will continue, becoming stronger in the usual exposed areas.

Conditions at sea will also become somewhat rougher, with northerly or north-easterly winds generally force four or five and temporarily reaching force six in some exposed areas.

Seas are expected to be moderate to rough, with a northerly swell of around one to two metres increasing to approximately two metres.

The change marks a welcome reduction in temperatures following this week's hot spell.

However, residents and visitors should not interpret the cooler forecast as the arrival of widespread heavy rain or severe weather.

For most areas, Friday will simply feel cooler and cloudier, with occasional light rain concentrated mainly across northern and higher parts of the islands.