A significant number of travelers who had planned holidays in Spain are reconsidering their trips due to the disruption caused by Storm Therese in the Canary Islands, particularly impacting Tenerife and La Palma. The storm has brought heavy rain, 100 km/h (62 mph) winds, and even snow at higher elevations, prompting authorities to declare a full-scale emergency in Tenerife. This storm is considered one of the most severe in over a decade, leading to multiple alerts issued by Spain’s meteorological agency, AEMET. Orange warnings have been issued for areas like northern Tenerife and parts of La Palma due to high wind speeds and intense rainfall.
Across all seven islands, yellow warnings are in place for rain, thunderstorms, and rough seas with waves up to 6 meters (20 feet). Notably, there has been an unusual occurrence of snowfall on Mount Teide and surrounding peaks above 1,800–2,000 meters, a rare sight for this time of year.
The extreme weather conditions have prompted many tourists in Tenerife to express their eagerness to return home. A local resident, known as @theknightstrider1 on TikTok, shared updates on the wild weather, describing sudden shifts from heavy rain to blue skies and back to rain within minutes. The resident highlighted the challenges faced, including overflowing drains due to heavy rainfall.
Despite the mixed weather conditions, some tourists expressed concern about their vacation plans, with some canceling their trips and others rescheduling for a later date due to the disruptions caused by Storm Therese. Flight operations have been significantly impacted, with over 40 flights canceled or diverted by March 20th, particularly affecting Tenerife North and South airports.
Reports from individuals on social media platforms like TikTok and Facebook have described chaotic scenes at Tenerife South Airport, with long queues, dysfunctional e-gates, and delays in passport control. The situation is expected to improve as Storm Therese subsides, with weather conditions gradually stabilizing by March 23rd, although some warnings will remain in place.
Travelers are advised to stay updated on flight statuses and anticipate potential delays as the region recovers from the aftermath of the storm.