Storm Therese is causing chaos in the Canary Islands, particularly affecting Tenerife and La Palma, with heavy rain, 100 km/h winds, and significant snowfall at high altitudes. Tenerife has been put under a full-scale emergency due to the severity of the storm, which is one of the worst in over a decade for the archipelago.
The meteorological agency of Spain, AEMET, has issued alerts that will be in effect throughout the weekend. High-risk orange warnings have been issued for northern Tenerife and parts of La Palma because of strong winds up to 100 km/h and heavy rainfall. There are also yellow warnings across all seven islands for rain, thunderstorms, and rough seas with waves as high as 6 meters.
Unexpectedly, there has been substantial snowfall on Mount Teide and nearby peaks above 1,800–2,000 meters during this period.
The storm has led to numerous cancellations and closures across the islands. More than 40 flights were canceled or redirected by Friday, March 20, mainly at Tenerife North and South airports. Travelers are advised to check their flight status using Flightradar24 or with their airline.
Schools, universities, and key roads in Tenerife, Gran Canaria, and other islands were closed due to the storm. Major events like the Tenerife Bluetrail 2026 race have been either canceled or postponed.
On Friday, a resident of Tenerife provided a weather update on TikTok, highlighting the rainy and overcast conditions with temperatures around 18 degrees. He advised people to carry umbrellas and raincoats due to the intermittent showers.
Another resident from the Canary Islands shared a weather update on TikTok from Santa Cruz de Tenerife, mentioning rain, wind, choppy seas, flight disruptions, and road closures caused by the storms Theresa and Samuel hitting the islands.
As of Saturday, March 21, 2026, an island-wide emergency has been declared in Tenerife due to severe weather conditions, including heavy rain, strong winds, and rare snowfall at high altitudes. Flights to and from the UK are experiencing cancellations and disruptions due to Storm Therese.
Over 36 flights were canceled earlier in the week, with ongoing disruptions reported. Tenerife North airport has been significantly impacted, leading to delays and rerouted services at Tenerife South as well.
Conditions are expected to remain hazardous until Saturday, with gradual improvement anticipated on Sunday, March 22. Major airlines serving the UK-Tenerife route are advising passengers to check their flight status before going to the airport and to contact their airline for rebooking or refund options in case of cancellations.