Storm Emilia has swept across Tenerife leaving behind an exceptional winter landscape on Mount Teide. The peak is now buried under more than a metre and a half of snow, producing some of the most striking images seen in nearly a decade. Not since 2016 has the volcano accumulated such an extraordinary amount of snow.
According to the Cabildo de Tenerife, the thick white blanket covers the entire Ucanca Valley and large stretches of the mountains of Arico, Arafo and Güímar. A special emergency operation remains active, with more than a dozen technicians evaluating conditions in order to determine when access roads to the National Park may be safely reopened.
Safety first on Teide
Rosa Dávila, president of the Cabildo, emphasised that the priority is to “guarantee the safety and protection of the population”. For that reason, all available resources are being coordinated with extreme caution while the effects of the storm are still being assessed.
Storm Emilia has triggered 584 incidents across the island—most caused by strong winds—including fallen trees, damaged streetlights and fencing, and debris obstructing roads. Fortunately, no serious injuries have been reported.
Island-wide coordination
Throughout the episode, the island’s emergency centre, CECOPIN, has maintained constant communication with the municipalities. A total of 19 town councils activated their Municipal Emergency Plans (PEMU) to monitor and respond to the storm’s progression.
Essential services and impact
Despite the severity of the weather, essential services have remained mostly stable:
- Tenerife North Airport experienced delays and occasional diversions, but operations continued without major disruption.
- Maritime transport functioned normally.
- Endesa reported isolated power cuts across the island, all of which were gradually resolved.
- A temporary shelter in Puerto de la Cruz, equipped for 20 people, was ultimately used by only two.
Extreme meteorological conditions
The storm delivered remarkable weather readings:
- Wind gusts reached 159 km/h in Izaña, with peaks of 109 km/h in Candelaria and Las Cañadas.
- Sustained winds of more than 60 km/h were recorded in mid-altitude areas.
- Temperatures dropped to –4°C in the National Park.
- Snowfall exceeded half a metre in several points, with drifts surpassing 1.5 metres.
- Rainfall reached 69 litres per square metre in Arico, with similarly high values in Güímar and Arafo.
Recommendations
The Cabildo continues to urge residents and visitors to:
- Avoid non-essential travel.
- Follow all updates through official channels.
- Respect closures and restrictions, especially regarding access to Teide and mountain roads.
Teide remains closed until further notice due to the extreme conditions and the ongoing safety assessment.
