Tenerife Weather Warnings: Snow on Teide, Orange Alerts and Travel Disruption
tenerife weather warnings are in force as Storm Therese brings snow to high ground, heavy rain and strong winds to Tenerife, with AEMET issuing orange alerts and the Cabildo de Tenerife activating its emergency plan.
Tenerife Weather Warnings: Impact and official actions
AEMET has issued orange weather warnings for Tenerife valid throughout Friday and into Saturday (ET), flagging strong winds, heavy rainfall and wintry conditions at altitude. Northern parts of the island face wind gusts of 90–100 km/h, while the southern half is covered by a rain warning that carries the potential for 100mm of rainfall in a 12-hour period. The intense rainfall has raised the risk of flooding, landslides and major transport disruption.
The Cabildo de Tenerife activated its emergency plan on Wednesday (ET) and has set up temporary shelters in affected areas. Access roads to Teide National Park have been closed, outdoor events have been called off, and some flights have been cancelled as authorities seek to limit unnecessary travel and protect residents and visitors.
Snow, wind and rain: what has happened
Storm Therese was named by the Portuguese weather service earlier this week and has shifted the brunt of the system onto the Canary Islands. Significant snow has fallen over high ground surrounding Mount Teide, the volcano at the centre of Tenerife, creating white-out scenes at Teide National Park and prompting road closures on approaches to the park.
Neighbouring islands are also affected: Gran Canaria and La Gomera are covered by wind and rain warnings, while La Palma and El Hierro face the threat of large waves of up to 6 metres that could produce dangerous coastal conditions. Heavy rain and rough seas are expected to compound hazards already posed by strong winds and wintry precipitation on Tenerife.
What happens next
Officials indicate the worst of the weather should begin to ease by Sunday (ET), though yellow warnings are expected to remain in force and showers are forecast to continue into the first half of next week. Emergency measures remain active while teams monitor flood risk, landslide-prone slopes and transport routes; temporary shelters will stay available where needed and park access will remain restricted until conditions improve.
Travelers and residents are urged to follow instructions from AEMET and the Cabildo de Tenerife, avoid unnecessary travel and heed local closures and shelter guidance as Storm Therese moves through. Authorities caution that while conditions may moderate by Sunday (ET), tenerife weather warnings could persist in reduced form and spotty showers are likely to continue through the following days.
