Tenerife declares state of emergency as storm Therese approaches

Finnish tourists on the Spanish island of Tenerife report calm conditions despite a full island-wide state of emergency declared ahead of storm Therese, Yle reports.

Iina-Katariina Tourunen, a Helsinki resident vacationing on Tenerife’s southern coast, described the situation as “relatively normal and calm,” though wind warnings have been issued. “In Finland, this might be bigger news than it is here,” she told Yle by phone. The storm is expected to hit the Canary Islands on Wednesday, with gusts reaching 28 meters per second and heavy rainfall forecast.

Tourunen, also known as a social media influencer, called the emergency declaration a prudent measure. “It’s windy, and we had a little rain earlier,” she said. “Our focus is just enjoying time together—we’re taking it moment by moment.”

Meteorologist Matti Huutonen confirmed to Yle that while winds will intensify, the greater risk may come from extreme rainfall. “Up to 300 millimeters could fall in just two days,” he noted—nearly half of Finland’s average annual precipitation (600–700 mm). The downpours pose higher risks of landslides and flooding than the wind itself.

The emergency has led to closures, activity restrictions, and cancellations of outdoor excursions, including the couple’s planned hike up Mount Teide and a boat trip. “People were still out celebrating last night—no sign of panic,” Tourunen observed. She and her partner are scheduled to return to Finland on Sunday, with no current disruptions expected to their flight.