The last week of July brings two very distinct halves in La Palma: Monday and Tuesday with trade winds, and from Wednesday a progressive thermal rise that will be particularly noticeable in the Valle de Aridane, El Paso, and the western midlands.
The last week of July starts with the usual trade winds, but from Wednesday the Azores high will weaken and give way to a mass of warm air from Africa. The change will be especially noticeable on the western side of the island, where temperatures will rise progressively, while the north and east will remain mild thanks to the sea breeze.
According to the weekly bulletin from Meteo Isla Bonita, Monday and Tuesday will feature typical weather: cloudy intervals in the north and east during the early hours, with clearings by midday, and sunny, dry conditions in the west. Temperatures will remain unchanged compared to the weekend. The wind will blow lightly from the northeast.
Wednesday will mark the turning point. The Azores high, which is the engine that sustains the trade winds, weakens, and at the same time several pockets of cold air at altitude circulate to the north of the archipelago. This causes the wind to shift from northeast to north, opening the door to a warmer air mass from Africa. Temperatures will begin to rise, especially in the west and the midlands.
On Thursday, the thermal rise will become evident in the Valle de Aridane, El Paso, and the western midlands. In the north and east, however, the sea breeze will keep temperatures mild. Skies will be mostly clear across the island. Friday will be a fully summery day, with temperatures still rising on the western side and a much more contained increase in the north and east.
August will start stable and warm. On Saturday, maximum temperatures will be high in the west and in the higher areas, while the north and east will experience a more temperate atmosphere. Sunday will maintain this trend, with mostly clear or sunny skies across the island.
By region, the north and east will benefit the most from the thermal moderation, with cloudy intervals in the early hours and wide clearings for the rest of the day. The west, on the other hand, will be the side where the change is most noticeable, with a progressive rise and a clearly warmer and drier atmosphere from Wednesday onwards. In the south, the weather will be stable, with plenty of sunshine and rising temperatures in the second half of the week. In the summits, skies will be clear and dry air, with temperatures rising higher as the week progresses.
The state of the sea is also improving. The wind shift favours a progressive improvement, with calmer conditions on both the eastern and western coasts. The east, which has been experiencing rough seas for days, will benefit the most.
This week's bulletin does not specify exact temperature figures; the exact degrees will be known in the daily report each morning. For residents and visitors of La Palma, the recommendation is clear: enjoy the good weather on Monday and Tuesday on the beaches of the north and east, and from Wednesday seek shade in the west, where the heat will be felt.
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