Storm Therese Forces Lanzarote and Tenerife Resort Closures Amid Worsening Conditions
Resorts across Lanzarote and Tenerife are being forced to shut down as Storm Therese continues to hammer the Canary Islands, with authorities warning that the situation could deteriorate further in the coming days. The severe weather system has brought torrential rains and dangerous conditions to the popular holiday destinations, prompting urgent safety measures.
Life-Threatening Warnings Issued for UK Holidaymakers
A direct threat to life warning has been issued specifically for UK holidaymakers visiting the affected islands, with meteorological agencies predicting additional rainfall that could exacerbate the already critical situation. The Spanish State Meteorological Agency, AEMET, has activated an orange alert for Lanzarote, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, and La Palma, indicating a significant meteorological risk from unusual and potentially dangerous weather patterns.
Evacuations and Infrastructure Damage Reported
Local authorities have implemented emergency evacuations in several vulnerable areas. In the municipality of Agaete on Gran Canaria, neighborhoods including Los Pérez and El Hornillo have been evacuated, with displaced residents relocated to temporary shelter facilities at a secondary school. Meanwhile, in El Caidero on the same island, vehicles were reportedly swept away by powerful floodwaters into nearby ravines.
The Arucas City Council has issued a stark warning urging both the public and residents living along ravine areas to exercise extreme caution due to anticipated increases in water flow. "The public is urged to exercise extreme caution, as are residents of towns and villages along the ravines, due to the anticipated increase in water flow," the council stated in an official communication.
Reservoirs at Critical Capacity Levels
The relentless rainfall from Storm Therese has delivered an estimated 14 million cubic metres of water to Gran Canaria's reservoir system, pushing several key water storage facilities to their limits. The Pinto 1 and 2 reservoirs are nearing maximum capacity and have begun controlled water releases to prevent catastrophic failure.
Of particular concern is the Las Niñas reservoir, which is now dangerously close to overflowing. Should this occur, it could dramatically increase water flow in surrounding ravines, especially in the Arguineguín area on the island's east coast, raising serious concerns about additional flooding events in already vulnerable communities.
Travel Disruptions and Visitor Reactions
The severe weather has caused significant travel disruptions across the archipelago, with multiple flights from UK airports including London, Manchester, and Newcastle being diverted due to the storm conditions. The tourism-dependent islands are experiencing unprecedented weather patterns that have caught both residents and visitors by surprise.
TikTok user @seb_tenerife captured the bewildered reaction of many when they posted last week: "This might be the first or second of four bad days of weather. A storm - what is going on? It's meant to have the best climate, I'd say, in Europe, and now we're four days into a storm. You know we're in a crisis - I'm in a full tracksuit. What has happened?"
As Storm Therese continues to impact the Canary Islands, authorities remain on high alert, monitoring reservoir levels, coordinating emergency responses, and assessing when it might be safe for resorts to resume normal operations. The unusual severity and duration of this weather event has raised questions about changing climate patterns in a region traditionally known for its mild, stable weather conditions.
