Tenerife and Gran Canaria have been placed on wildfire alert from 8:00am today (Wednesday) as high temperatures intensify across the Canary Islands.

The Canary Islands Government activated the alert under the INFOCA emergency plan following forecasts showing increasingly hot and dry conditions across the archipelago.

In Tenerife, the alert applies to the whole island, while in Gran Canaria it applies to areas above 400 metres. El Hierro, La Gomera and La Palma remain on pre-alert for wildfire risk.

Temperatures are rising as a mass of hot African air moves across the islands, bringing increasingly dry conditions to higher inland and forested areas.

Gran Canaria could see maximum temperatures of 34°C, locally reaching 36°C, particularly on southern and western slopes. Temperatures around 34°C are also forecast in the Tejeda basin and Agaete Valley.

Night-time temperatures will offer limited relief, potentially remaining between 26°C and 28°C in parts of Gran Canaria and around 24°C to 26°C in Tenerife.

The combination of high temperatures and very low humidity is particularly significant for wildfire risk. Relative humidity could fall below 30% above the temperature inversion, accompanied by moderate easterly winds.

Conditions are expected to become more severe on Thursday, when temperatures in Tenerife are forecast to rise further and could reach or exceed 34°C.

Authorities say the wildfire risk is expected to increase progressively over the coming days, particularly on Thursday and Friday, and the geographical extent of the alert could be changed if conditions deteriorate.

Residents and visitors are being urged to take extra precautions and avoid activities that could accidentally start a fire.