Storm Therese Brings Heavy Rain and Freezing Temperatures to Canary Islands
Storm Therese brought heavy rainfall, strong winds, and freezing temperatures to the Canary Islands' higher elevations on Tuesday, highlighting the region's vulnerability to Atlantic weather systems.
Storm Therese swept through the Canary Islands early Tuesday, bringing a sharp contrast in weather conditions and heavy rainfall to the islands' higher elevations. According to the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet), the storm highlighted how vulnerable the mountain peaks are to Atlantic low-pressure systems.
La Palma saw the heaviest rainfall, with the Roque de los Muchachos station recording 63.6 liters per square meter by 8:30 a.m. Gran Canaria also experienced significant rain, particularly in Cuevas del Pinar (39.0 mm), Arucas (31.8 mm), Las Tirajanas (30.8 mm), and Lomo Pedro Alfonso (30.2 mm).
Temperatures varied drastically depending on altitude. High-mountain areas saw the mercury drop near freezing, with Izaña in Tenerife recording a low of 1 degree. Similar temperatures were reported in Cañadas del Teide (1.1 degrees) and Roque de los Muchachos (1.2 degrees). Meanwhile, coastal areas remained much milder, with highs reaching 19.6 degrees in La Graciosa and 18.4 degrees in parts of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and San Sebastián de La Gomera.
Strong winds also accompanied the storm. While sustained wind speeds reached 35 km/h at La Palma airport and in Maspalomas, localized gusts were much more intense. Vega de San Mateo recorded the highest gust at 59 km/h, followed by La Palma airport (54 km/h), El Pinar (52 km/h), and parts of the Gran Canarian capital (49 km/h).
This weather pattern is typical of winter instability in the region, demonstrating how the islands' mountainous terrain influences rainfall and wind behavior during storms. Because conditions on the peaks can change rapidly, officials continue to urge caution regarding high-altitude travel and infrastructure.