The Canary Islands are facing fresh weather chaos as a huge Saharan dust plume is set to turn skies “orange” just days after the so-called “storm of the decade” battered the popular holiday hotspot. Saharan dust is expected to sweep across the islands on strong winds, with the Direccion General de Emergencias (Directorate-General for Emergencies) activating its particle matter protocol.

The Canary Islands Government has issued warnings and declared a pre-alert for the haze, which is expected to arrive from around midday on Monday as Saharan air moves across the archipelago. Mid-altitude areas and mountain peaks across all of the islands are expected to be hit hardest, with the airborne dust set to affect both air quality and visibility. Experts, who warned: “the sky will turn orange”, also have fears over the impact on public health, with the dust capable of entering the respiratory system and causing problems for people with pre-existing conditions.

The dust warning is based on technical information from AEMET and follows the Plan Especifico de Emergencia de Canarias por Riesgos de Fenomenos Meteorologicos Adversos – the Canary Islands’ emergency plan for adverse weather conditions.

Speaking on its X account, AEMET also said Spain is under alerts for strong winds, dangerous coastal conditions and dust in suspension, with the highest warning level set at orange.

Authorities have issued self-protection advice, particularly for people living in higher altitude areas where dust levels are expected to be at their worst.

Residents with chronic respiratory illnesses have been told to wear masks outdoors, while everyone across the islands has been advised to keep windows closed and avoid outdoor exercise.

Drivers have also been warned to take extra care on the roads as visibility is expected to worsen, particularly this afternoon and tomorrow.

With the air mass moving from east to west, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura are expected to be affected first before the dust cloud spreads to the western islands overnight.

Tomorrow, the Canary Islands are expected to see cloudy skies and a slight rise in temperatures due to the dry air.

Dust-filled air is not unusual in the Canary Islands, where calima events are a regular occurrence.

However, this latest episode is expected to have a greater impact than usual, with authorities remaining on alert.