Storm Therese has unleashed severe disruption across Spain's Canary Islands, particularly impacting the popular holiday destinations of Tenerife and La Palma. The tempest has brought an extraordinary combination of torrential rainfall, winds reaching 100 km/h (62 mph), and notable snowfall at higher altitudes. Local authorities have declared a full-scale emergency in Tenerife, describing it as one of the most serious storms to hit the archipelago in over ten years.
Expat's Optimistic Outlook Amidst the Chaos
Despite the widespread weather chaos, which has prompted numerous holidaymakers to reconsider their travel plans, some residents are expressing optimism about an imminent improvement. Mattie Barnett, a British expat originally from Lincolnshire who works for Tenerife First Excursions, took to TikTok to share his forecast. In his video, he dismissed the recent rainfall with a blunt "Bollocks to the rain in Tenerife," before highlighting that the sunshine has already begun to reappear.
Gesturing towards Playa del Camisón beach, Mattie observed that people were queuing as early as 8 a.m. to secure sunbeds after just half a day of rain. He predicted that sunny conditions with pleasant temperatures around 24 degrees Celsius would persist through the weekend. While he acknowledged that early April might bring some overcast skies, he remained confident that warm, summery weather would swiftly return thereafter.
Holidaymakers Heed the Reassurance
Many prospective travellers appear to be trusting Mattie's assessment, with several commenting on his post to confirm they are proceeding with their trips. One individual stated, "Coming next Wednesday. Need to be seeing blue skies, palm trees and everything in between," while another remarked, "I come on the 28th hopefully still good weather." This sentiment suggests a resilience among holidaymakers, eager to enjoy the island's renowned attractions despite the recent setbacks.
Official Forecasts Align with Expat's Predictions
Spain's meteorological agency, AEMET, supports the notion of improving conditions, forecasting that rainfall will cease by Friday, 27 March. Sunshine is expected to return, with temperatures stabilising around 21 degrees Celsius for the remainder of the week and throughout the Easter weekend, which is typical for this time of year. This alignment between official data and local insights provides a more comprehensive picture for travellers planning their visits.
Contrasting Weather Patterns: UK Braces for Easter Snow
In a stark contrast to the anticipated warmth in Tenerife, weather maps from WXCharts indicate that parts of the United Kingdom could face severe wintry conditions between 3 and 5 April, coinciding with the Easter weekend. Forecasts suggest heavy snowfall and temperatures plummeting to as low as -9°C, with a snow zone stretching approximately 480 miles from the Scottish Highlands across northern England and the Midlands down to areas of southern England.
At least twelve major cities could find themselves in the path of these wintry conditions, raising concerns about potential travel chaos, school closures, and hazardous driving conditions. This juxtaposition highlights the unpredictable nature of global weather patterns, as one region recovers from a storm while another prepares for a cold snap.
Overall, the message from Tenerife's expat community is one of cautious optimism, encouraging holidaymakers to look beyond the immediate disruption and anticipate the return of favourable weather by early April.
