Storm Therese Disrupts Tenerife Holidays: Flights Cancelled, Airport Chaos
Holidaymakers in Tenerife and across the Canary Islands are facing significant disruptions as Storm Therese continues to unleash severe weather, leading many to cancel their breaks and describe airport conditions as chaotic. The storm, which officials have declared a full-scale emergency for Tenerife, is one of the most serious to hit the archipelago in over a decade, with Spain's weather service, AEMET, issuing multiple alerts through the weekend.
Severe Weather Conditions Across the Islands
Storm Therese is bringing an unusual mix of torrential rain, gales reaching 100 km/h (62 mph), and significant snowfall at higher elevations, particularly on Mount Teide and surrounding peaks above 1,800–2,000 metres. Orange high-risk warnings are in place for northern Tenerife and parts of La Palma due to intense rainfall and wind gusts of 90–100 km/h, while yellow warnings cover all seven islands for rain, thunderstorms, and rough seas with waves up to 6 metres (20 feet).
Local residents, such as TikTok user @theknightstrider1, a car hire and bar owner, have documented the "wild" weather, noting rapid shifts from torrential downpours to sunny skies in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. He highlighted that drainage systems are struggling to handle the rainfall, often bursting, and advised tourists to expect a mixed bag of heavy rain and brief sunshine, with temperatures ranging from 18 to 22 degrees Celsius.
Holiday Cancellations and Travel Disruptions
The extreme conditions have prompted many holidaymakers to cancel their trips, with some rebooking for later dates like April 12. Over 40 flights were cancelled or diverted by Friday, March 20, primarily at Tenerife North and South airports, causing widespread travel chaos. Travellers are urged to check flight statuses via Flightradar24 or directly with airlines.
Social media reports describe Tenerife South Airport as "rammed," with long baggage queues, malfunctioning E-gates, and only one passport officer processing hundreds of passengers, leading to missed flights. @theknightstrider1 warned arrivals to prepare for congestion and advised departing passengers to arrive early to avoid delays.
Storm Timeline and Future Outlook
Storm Therese is expected to ease by Monday, March 23, 2026, with the most severe impacts occurring between Thursday and Saturday. However, orange wind warnings remain active for Tenerife, La Gomera, El Hierro, and western La Palma, and some schools in these areas will stay closed as a precaution. Conditions are predicted to improve gradually throughout the week, offering hope for returning normalcy.
