UPDATE: |Tenerife closes tourist spots as Storm Olivier batters Canary Islands News

The public has been warned to exercise ‘extreme caution’

British holidaymakers in Tenerife are warned that recreation areas and tourist spots have been closed as Storm Olivier batters the Canary Islands. The Tenerife Island Council has activated the Tenerife Island Emergency Plan (PEIN) as it braces itself for heavy rains, strong winds and potential thunderstorms.

An amber weather warning for rain, and yellow warnings for wind and thunderstorms are currently in force for the holiday hotspot, issued by Aemet, Spain’s national weather agency.

The island could experience “heavy downpours reaching or exceeding 15-30 mm in one hour and 40-80 mm in twelve hours.” These could be “accompanied by thunderstorms and very strong wind gusts reaching or exceeding 70 kilometers per hour.”

In light of the weather conditions, Teneriffe Island Council took the decision to close all recreational areas and camping areas under the control of the council.

It has also prohibited traffic on forest trails and paths affected by the wildfires of 2023 as a precautionary measure.

Trails in Teide National Park that provide access to the peak and canyoning activities on the island have also been closed.

The decision was made followed by an emergency meeting held yesterday, with the emergency plan coming into force at midnight local time on Wednesday.

Rosa Dávila, the Tenerife council president, called on the public to “exercise extreme caution” when carrying out activities and to “avoid unnecessary travel.” The following measures have been enforced:

Traffic has been banned on the following roads on the island:

• Pista del Lomo Atravesado, VM 2.1, on the section from the TF-24 road at the PK to the GR-131.
• The Siete Fuentes runway, VM 2, in the section that remained open.
• The Road to Candelaria (Section from Aguamansa to La Crucita) from the GR-131 to the TF-24.
• The track at kilometer 29, VM-17, on the section from the TF-21 road to Piedra de los Pastores.
• The trail known as “Risco de Las Pencas”, on the western slope of the Barranco de Ruiz, in the TM of San Juan de La Rambla.
• The PR 43 trail in its section within the La Culata Cliff, in the TM of Garachico.
• The PR-TF-58 “El Risco” trail in Teno Rural Park
• The PR-TF 8 “Afur-Taganana” trail in the section that runs between Afur-Playa Tamadite-Taganana, in the Anaga Rural Park.

Stays in campsites, camping areas, and forest recreational areas, including those in the Anaga and Teno Rural Parks have been prohibited.

Access to trails and sections in Teide National Park have been blocked:

• Trail No. 7: Montaña Blanca-Pico Teide, the section between the summit of Montaña Blanca and the point of contact between trails No. 7 and No. 11 Mirador de La Fortaleza.
• Trail No. 9: Teide – Pico Viejo – TF-38 road, the section between the confluence of said trail with trail No. 38 (Cuevas Negras) until its connection with trail No. 12 (Mirador de Pico Viejo).
• Trail No. 10: Telesforo Bravo (in its entirety)
• Trail No. 11: La Fortaleza Viewpoint (in its entirety)
• Trail No. 12: Pico Viejo Viewpoint (in its entirety)
• Trail No. 23: Regatones Negros (in its entirety)
• Trail No. 28: Chafarí (in its entirety).

Both residents and tourists are urged not to visit Teide National Park during the duration of the storm and to avoid travelling through flood-prone areas of ravine channels.

Elsewhere in the Canary Islands weather warnings are in force for all of the islands, including holiday hotspots Gran Canaria and Lanzarote. It comes as many Brits will be jetting off to the Spanish archipelago for the Easter holidays.

The warnings remain in place for April 10, although conditions are expected to improve by Friday.

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