Calima

This phenomenon can occur at any time of the year, but is usually associated with the hot air found on the islands during the summer months, which go on a time scale of a few hours up to a week. “Calima” or “haze” as it is called, is caused by a dust storm that is stirred by the strong winds of the Sahara and then conducted across the Canary Islands to the south by the east winds. Fine sand particles cause the air to become thick and the visibility becomes something like the one experienced during a thick fog, depending on gravity. During the haze, each surface will be covered in fine reddish-brown powder.