CIT Sur Seeks ES-Alert Expansion for Tenerife Weather Warnings

CIT Sur, the Center for Initiatives and Tourism of Southern Tenerife, plans to ask the Canary Islands government to expand the use of the ES-Alert mobile notification system. This system, currently a Civil Protection tool, would then also send out weather alerts. The goal is to inform people instantly about danger levels in natural areas like hiking trails and coastal spots during severe weather.

CIT Sur believes the "Severe Threats – Level 3" alert, as defined by European rules, is the most suitable. This type of alert is for situations that aren't critical but still require caution, such as heavy snowfall, strong winds, dangerous sea conditions, extreme heat, or torrential rains.

Using this alert level would allow important safety information to be shared without causing unnecessary panic. In some other countries, similar alerts also include details about potential disruptions to public transport, both on land and in the air.

The organization points out that for an island region heavily reliant on tourism, like the Canary Islands, a system that can send alerts directly to 4G and 5G phones – without needing a special app – is a huge opportunity to improve safety for both residents and visitors.

While CIT Sur stresses that individual responsibility is crucial for preventing accidents, they also emphasize that timely and clear information during bad weather can help people better understand dangerous situations and make the right decisions.

"Managing information during weather events is crucial for preventing personal risks," CIT Sur stated. "Being able to immediately warn people about things like closed trails, dangerous waves, restricted access, or general alert levels would help reduce incidents and make the Island a safer and better-informed place."