Canary Islands Weather Alert: What Storm Therese Means For Tourists And Expats This Week

Expats and visitors successful nan Canary Islands are being urged to workout utmost be aware arsenic Storm Therese makes landfall today, Wednesday, March 18, 2026. The location authorities has activated a high-level upwind alert for Gran Canaria and a coastal hazard informing crossed nan full archipelago, pinch westerly gusts expected to scope a staggering 90 km/h. From nan snow-capped peaks of Mount Teide to nan packed streets of nan Maspalomas International Carnival, nan 2026 outpouring play is facing a melodramatic “Atlantic surge” that has authorities informing of 4-meter waves and important recreation disruption done Sunday.

What is happening connected nan Canary Islands

The alert applies to Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro, arsenic good arsenic parts of Gran Canaria, wherever Atlantic conditions are expected to strengthen. Authorities pass that gusts could scope astir 70 to 80 km/h successful exposed areas, peculiarly connected upland slopes and coastal zones facing prevailing winds. 

These conditions summation nan consequence of falling debris, vulnerable oversea conditions and carrier disruption. The business has been confirmed by nan Government of nan Canary Islands, which activated nan alert arsenic a preventive measurement based connected forecasts from AEMET.

What this intends for travellers and expats

For visitors and expats presently successful nan Canary Islands, nan alert does not mean cancelling trips, but it does require adjustments. Wind is 1 of nan astir disruptive upwind factors connected nan islands. Even erstwhile temperatures stay mild, beardown gusts tin impact flights, ferry routes and outdoor activities.

Travellers whitethorn acquisition delays during flights, peculiarly erstwhile landing astatine much exposed airports specified arsenic Tenerife North. Inter-island ferry services whitethorn besides look cancellations aliases schedule changes, particularly during highest upwind periods.

Beach conditions tin quickly go unsafe owed to beardown waves and currents, while hiking routes and viewpoints successful elevated areas whitethorn beryllium temporarily restricted. For expats surviving connected nan islands, regular routines specified arsenic driving aliases moving outdoors whitethorn besides beryllium affected during stronger gusts.

What you should do now

Authorities counsel travellers to enactment updated done charismatic upwind channels and travel section information guidance. Avoiding exposed coastal areas during beardown winds is recommended, arsenic good arsenic paying adjacent attraction to formation flags and warnings issued by section authorities. In higher areas, conditions tin displacement rapidly, making planned excursions riskier than usual. Anyone travelling betwixt islands should cheque carrier updates successful advance, arsenic disruptions tin hap pinch small announcement during upwind alerts.

Wider upwind displacement crossed Spain

The Canary Islands alert forms portion of a broader change successful upwind crossed Spain this week. According to AEMET, nan state is experiencing a play of instability, pinch beardown winds, rainfall and moreover snowfall expected successful higher mainland areas. This marks a opposition to nan calmer conditions seen earlier successful nan year, arsenic Atlantic systems move crossed nan peninsula and land territories.

Common questions travellers are asking

Can you still spell up Mount Teide?
Access to Mount Teide whitethorn beryllium restricted during beardown upwind alerts, particularly for nan cablegram car and acme routes. Operators often suspend services erstwhile gusts go unsafe, truthful it is basal to cheque updates earlier readying a visit. Even if entree remains open, conditions astatine higher altitude tin beryllium importantly harsher than astatine oversea level. Check nan website for regular updates.

Is it safe to aquatics aliases spell to nan beach?
Swimming tin go vulnerable during upwind alerts owed to stronger waves and unpredictable currents. Beaches whitethorn raise informing flags aliases temporarily adjacent access. Travellers are advised to travel section guidance intimately and debar entering nan h2o erstwhile reddish flags aliases charismatic warnings are successful place.

Until erstwhile nan winds will stay

Wind is expected to stay nan main disruptive facet complete nan adjacent fewer days, peculiarly successful coastal and elevated areas of Tenerife, La Palma and Gran Canaria. According to AEMET, these Atlantic systems are apt to move done comparatively quickly, but conditions whitethorn up and down time by time alternatively than clearing immediately.

For travellers, this intends ongoing uncertainty alternatively than a single-day event. Flights and ferries could proceed to look insignificant disruptions, while outdoor activities whitethorn stay constricted depending connected section conditions. For nan latest nationwide updates, sojourn our Spain Weather page.