Storm Therese Canary Islands: Flood Warning Intensifies as Tourists Urged to Stay Alert This Week

storm therese canary islands has prompted a flood warning across key holiday destinations, with authorities and weather experts advising travellers to monitor forecasts closely as exceptionally heavy rainfall is expected in the coming days.

What Is Happening Now?

A flood warning is in place for parts of the Canary Islands. Gran Canaria, Tenerife, and La Palma face the greatest threat of very heavy rainfall over the next week, with notable variation between and within islands.

• Over 500mm of rain is possible in parts of the islands during the next week.
• North Tenerife is forecast to receive less than 50mm, while South Tenerife could see in excess of 500mm.
• La Palma may receive close to 450mm of rain over the week.
• Lanzarote and Fuerteventura are expected to see the lowest amounts, though strong winds are forecast across the islands.
• Recent weather models show up to 300mm in La Palma over the next fortnight and as much as 270mm in Madeira.

Weather expert Alan O’Reilly of Carlow Weather has been monitoring the situation and highlighted the uneven distribution of rainfall: “Weather warnings issued for the Canary Islands with over 500mm of rain possible in parts over the next week. Big variation though across the islands with North Tenerife forecast to see less than 50mm but over 500mm in the South. Lanzarote will see lowest amounts but strong winds across the islands. ” He also described the expected totals for La Palma as “crazy” compared with much of Europe, which is forecast to remain relatively dry.

What Happens When Storm Therese Canary Islands Brings Heavy Rain?

The primary meteorological driver identified is an unusually low-pressure system over southwestern Spain combined with higher pressure elsewhere, a shift that will steer heavy rain toward the western Canary Islands and Madeira. La Palma and parts of Tenerife are likely to face the greatest immediate risk.

Three outcome pathways are credible given the current projections:

• Best case: Heavy rainfall is concentrated in limited catchments; localised flooding occurs but damage remains limited and travel disruptions are short-lived.
• Most likely: Significant, uneven rainfall across multiple islands leads to widespread disruption to transport, temporary closures in vulnerable coastal or low-lying areas, and a heightened need for local emergency response.
• Most challenging: Extreme accumulations—exceeding 500mm in exposed areas—trigger severe flooding across several islands, overwhelming local flood defences and prolonging displacement and service interruptions.

What Should Holidaymakers and Authorities Do Next?

Tourists and residents are advised to keep a close eye on weather updates and prepare for disrupted travel plans. Given the projected variation in rainfall, those on islands identified as high risk should review accommodation safety plans and avoid low-lying routes likely to flood.

Local authorities and emergency services should prioritise clear public guidance, contingency plans for transport and shelter, and targeted monitoring of river catchments and coastal zones most likely to be affected.

Uncertainty remains in the precise timing and spatial pattern of the heaviest rain, so readiness and flexible operational responses will be essential. Holidaymakers should pack and plan for delays and heed local advisories as the situation develops; storm therese canary islands