Tenerife Declares Emergency for Approaching Storm Therese

Tenerife, a favored holiday destination for British travelers, declared a state of emergency on March 18 as Storm Therese approached the Canary Islands, bringing intense winds, heavy rainfall and unexpected snowfall just before the Easter holidays.

Authorities activated the Island Emergency Plan at 3 p.m. local time, prompting widespread safety measures across the archipelago. The Spanish meteorological agency, Aemet, escalated warnings from yellow to orange levels, forecasting gusts up to 100 kilometers per hour in exposed northern areas of Tenerife and La Palma, with speeds reaching 80 kilometers per hour in metropolitan zones and other regions including Gran Canaria, La Gomera and El Hierro. Rainfall was projected to exceed 300 liters per square meter in parts of Tenerife and La Palma, equivalent to more than a year's worth in some spots, raising concerns for flash flooding and landslides, particularly in the north, southwest and higher elevations. Snowfall accumulated above 1,800 meters, blanketing peaks in Teide National Park and prompting its full closure.

In response, officials closed key roads such as the TF-445 to Punta de Teno, banned access to hiking trails, forest...