State of emergency declared at popular British holiday destination ahead of Easter holidays

WorldTravel
20 Mar 2026 • 5:18 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • Tenerife has declared an emergency as Storm Therese bears down on the island, threatening to unleash torrential rain and 60mph winds just as the Easter holiday period approaches.
  • The Island Emergency Plan was activated from 3pm, with authorities anticipating over 11 inches of rain in some areas. This has led to immediate road closures, bans on hiking, and the complete shutdown of Teide National Park.
  • The north, south-west, and higher elevations of Tenerife, alongside the cities of Santa Cruz and La Laguna, are expected to bear the brunt of the storm.
  • Spain's state meteorological agency, Aemet, has issued yellow weather warnings across the entire Canary Islands, forecasting persistent rains, intense winds, rough seas, and even snowfalls, with conditions potentially lasting for the remainder of the week.
  • The severe weather has already caused significant travel disruption, including flight cancellations and diversions. Furthermore, the Bluetrail by UTMB mountain race, which was set to involve more than 3,400 runners, has been called off.