The popular Canary Islands hotspot was hit by orange weather warnings just days before Easter getaways
A beloved British holiday destination famed for its year-round warmth has been transformed into a winter wonderland just days ahead of the Easter break.
The Canary Islands were placed under an orange weather alert following days of torrential rain and gale-force winds, with forecasters warning the miserable conditions could persist for at least another five days – potentially disrupting the plans of countless holidaymakers. Astonishing footage from Tenerife showed the popular resort island blanketed in snow, with icicles forming in various locations.
Bewildered tourists captured videos of the whiteout at Teide National Park, where several roads were forced to close due to the unexpected conditions. Further snowfall is anticipated across areas of the island above 1,800-2,000 metres.
Storm Therese has battered the archipelago with severe rainfall, triggering flash floods and landslides across multiple regions. Meteorological authorities issued warnings on Wednesday (March 18) for the Canary Islands covering various extreme weather phenomena, including storms, flooding, powerful winds, heavy downpours and dangerous sea conditions, reports the Mirror.
Wind speeds have astonishingly surpassed 74 miles per hour in certain areas, with the glorious sunshine British visitors typically anticipate conspicuously absent from forecasts for the coming days. The dreadful weather has also sparked travel disruption, with no fewer than seven flights to the Canary Islands cancelled or diverted on Thursday – following 36 cancellations the previous day.
Friday is set to see a worsening of conditions, potentially marking the most severe phase of Storm Therese. Orange rain warnings have been issued for Tenerife, El Hierro, La Palma and La Gomera, as reported by Canarian Weekly.
The popular holiday destination is bracing for up to 11mm of rainfall within a mere 12-hour period. An amber rain alert has been declared for Gran Canaria, where 80mm of rain is anticipated.
Weather experts are also forecasting perilous sea conditions between Tenerife and Gran Canaria, with waves predicted to reach up to six metres and winds of up to force eight.
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