British tourists issued urgent holiday warning as emergency declared on Tenerife ahead of 60mph Storm Therese

George Bunn
Thu, 19 Mar 2026 10:24:34 +0000

An emergency has been declared on the popular holiday destination of Tenerife as Storm Therese bears down.

The Spanish island, which welcomes approximately 2.8 million UK visitors annually, activated its Emergency Plan on Wednesday afternoon following severe weather forecasts.

Meteorologists predict wind gusts reaching 60mph alongside torrential downpours that could dump up to 11 inches of rain in certain areas.

The storm system is expected to bring flooding, infrastructure damage and potential landslides to the island.

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Officials have also warned that Saharan dust carried by the powerful winds may reduce visibility significantly.

The emergency measures come at a particularly challenging time, with Easter holidays just days away and many British families planning trips to the archipelago.

Tenerife's President Rosa Dávila said: "Starting today at 3pm, the island emergency response system is put into operation to prepare for an episode of adverse weather that will affect Tenerife over the coming days."

She urged residents and visitors to exercise "maximum caution" throughout the storm period.

Authorities have implemented sweeping restrictions across the island, including the closure of major roads such as the TF-445 route to Punta de Teno.

Teide National Park has been shut due to snowfall expected above 1,800 metres altitude, while all hiking trails, forest tracks and recreational areas remain off-limits.

Every outdoor event has been cancelled until further notice.

Blanca Pérez, the councillor for Security and Emergencies, confirmed that officials are actively monitoring coastal zones, infrastructure and known risk points to respond swiftly should conditions deteriorate.

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The northern regions of Tenerife, along with the south-west including Santiago del Teide and Arico, face the most severe conditions, while Santa Cruz and La Laguna remain on high alert.

Storm Therese made landfall on La Palma first, bringing heavy precipitation before tracking southwards.

Throughout the afternoon, the weather system spread to Tenerife, El Hierro and La Gomera, delivering particularly intense rainfall to northern, western and elevated zones.

By early Friday morning, the front is forecast to reach Gran Canaria, where highland and southwestern areas can expect substantial downpours.

Fuerteventura and Lanzarote will experience the storm later on Friday, though rainfall there should prove less severe.

Yellow weather warnings have been issued across the entire Canary Islands archipelago, with fierce winds and rough seas anticipated throughout the region.

Authorities are strongly advising both tourists and locals to refrain from non-essential journeys, take particular care when driving, and stay away from restricted zones.

Visitors have been told to fasten down any loose outdoor belongings that could become airborne in the powerful gusts.

Flight operations have already suffered disruption, with at least one aircraft departing Tenerife North Airport for El Hierro forced to turn back, while another service from Lanzarote was scrapped at short notice.

Airline Binter has cautioned passengers to verify their flight status before travelling to airports.

The storm has also forced organisers to abandon the 15th Bluetrail by UTMB mountain race, leaving more than 3,400 runners from 64 nations who had travelled to Tenerife unable to compete.