Storm Therese Floods Coastal Businesses in Tenerife’s El Médano
Storm Therese caused significant coastal flooding in El Médano, Tenerife, early this morning as high tides and strong winds sent waves surging into public areas and local businesses.
Coastal infrastructure in southern Tenerife proved vulnerable to bad weather once again early this morning. According to Televisión Canaria, seawater flooded public areas and private businesses along the seafront in El Médano, Granadilla de Abona.
The flooding occurred between 2:00 and 3:00 a.m. as Storm Therese passed through the region. A combination of strong southwesterly winds and high spring tides—boosted by the current lunar phase—sent waves estimated at three meters high over the natural barrier at Playa Chica. The water surged across the promenade and into the town’s central square, leaving business owners to assess the damage today.
This event highlights how increasingly exposed Canary Island coastal towns are when storms coincide with high astronomical tides. These factors push sea levels well above normal, putting the resilience of buildings in coastal zones to the test.
Fortunately, there were no injuries, and the damage was limited to furniture and commercial properties. Municipal crews spent the day clearing away the sand and debris left behind by the sea. Local officials are scheduled to meet to discuss the economic impact and coordinate the next steps following the storm.