Heavy rain, strong winds, and rare snowfall mark a turbulent few days
It’s been one of those weeks where the weather really reminds you who’s in charge.
Around the middle of December 2025, Storm Emilia rolled through the Canary Islands and left its mark, giving the archipelago a very thorough soaking. In parts of Tenerife and Gran Canaria, rainfall totals climbed past 100 litres per square metre, triggering more than 1,700 recorded incidents, from fallen trees and overflowing ravines to road closures and precautionary evacuations.
Thankfully, despite the scale of the storm, there were no personal injuries reported. And that, it has to be said, is the most important detail of all.
Saturday was the toughest day
Saturday proved to be the most challenging point of the storm. Persistent and intense rainfall hit large parts of the islands, particularly Gran Canaria, where Tejeda recorded an extraordinary 159 litres per square metre.
Winds were equally dramatic. Gusts topped 100 km/h at Izaña in Tenerife, while waves out at sea reached heights of up to 10 metres. Conditions began to ease later that night, although Tenerife saw a spike in incidents between 10 pm and midnight, mainly in the northern midlands around La Orotava and Los Realejos.
A gradual return to winter normality
By Sunday, the storm system had shifted east of the islands, moving the weather towards what Civil Protection described as a more typical winter pattern. That doesn’t mean the rain has vanished completely.
Occasional showers and some storm activity may still affect Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, with lighter, more isolated rainfall elsewhere. Winds are easing overall, although they remain strong at higher elevations on the more mountainous islands. Sea conditions are also slowly improving, but waves of 3.5 to 4 metres are still causing issues along parts of the coastline.
Coastal conditions remain one of the main risks over the coming hours, particularly along northern and western shores.
The incident tally
In total, emergency services handled around 1,700 incidents during the storm. Roughly 1,000 were in the province of Las Palmas and about 700 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Gran Canaria and Tenerife accounted for the majority, largely due to high winds and heavy rainfall on their northern slopes.
There were localised floods and small ravines bursting their banks, but no injuries. Civil Protection highlighted just how unusual it is for emergency services to deal with such a high volume of calls during a single weather event.
Even as the storm moves away, risks remain. Rockfalls and landslides are expected on secondary roads in Gran Canaria, Tenerife, and the western islands. Some roads are still closed, and further debris is likely in the hours ahead, which is fairly typical after prolonged wind and rain.
Snow returns to the summits
One of the most striking features of Storm Emilia has been the snow.
The higher ground of Tenerife, Gran Canaria, and La Palma has been blanketed in white. On Tenerife, the Teide National Park recorded up to one and a half metres of snow. It’s a sight not seen on the island since 2016.
Snow now covers the Ucanca Valley, as well as mountain areas in Arico, Arafo, and Güímar. Temperatures in the national park dropped to minus four degrees, with wind gusts reaching 159 km/h at Izaña.
The Tenerife Island Council has activated a special operation to reopen access roads to Teide once conditions allow, deploying additional crews to deal with ice, snow, and fallen material.
Ongoing warnings and a call for common sense
Authorities continue to advise against any activity in high mountain areas. Winds remain strong at altitude, and there have already been incidents involving people needing rescue after venturing into exposed zones.
Along the coast, caution is still the watchword. Strong swells continue to affect access points and coastal roads, particularly on northern and western shores, echoing issues seen earlier this winter.
Civil Protection has issued a clear message as the situation stabilises. Even as conditions improve, the main dangers now are coastal phenomena and landslides on roads. A bit of patience and common sense over the next few days will go a long way.
More settled weather is expected next week, with temperatures beginning to rise again. But for now, it’s a timely reminder that island life, for all its sunshine and calm, can still throw the odd curveball.
