Access to Mount Teide, Spain’s highest peak and a treasured natural park on the Canary Island of Tenerife, remains closed to vehicles following heavy snowfall and deteriorating weather forecasts. The island’s governing body, the Cabildo de Tenerife, announced the extended closure on Monday, citing the dangers posed by accumulated snow and ice on the roads.
The closure, first imposed on Sunday, follows a weekend of extreme weather brought by a DANA (isolated high-altitude depression) that lashed the Canary Islands. Torrential rain, gusting winds, and thunderstorms battered Tenerife and Gran Canaria, while snowfall blanketed elevations above 2,000 metres. Over 30 litres per square metre of rain fell in some areas, leaving roads slick and hazardous.
Efforts to clear snow and debris from key access routes to Mount Teide—via La Orotava, La Esperanza, and Chío—were stymied by forecasts predicting further snowfall and overnight ice formation. The head of the Cabildo, Rosa Dávila, expressed hope that the public could soon enjoy the snowy landscape but emphasised safety as a priority.
Walking trails also affected
Footpaths leading to Mount Teide have been off-limits since Friday. On Sunday, closures extended to vehicular routes as freezing conditions gripped the island. “Despite the picturesque views of snow-covered Teide, we must wait a little longer to fully enjoy them,” Dávila shared on social media platform X.
Weather woes persist
The Spanish Meteorological Agency (AEMET) has warned of further challenges. Monday’s forecast includes heavy showers on the northern and eastern slopes of the mountainous islands, with La Palma, Tenerife, and Gran Canaria expected to bear the brunt. Dust-laden calima conditions are also predicted to intensify in the eastern Canary Islands later in the day. Snow levels remain at around 2,000 metres, adding to the wintry grip.
A rare winter scene
Despite the disruptions, the snowfall offers a welcome reprieve from last winter’s alarming record. The 2022-2023 season was the first since 1916 without snow on Mount Teide, coinciding with Spain’s warmest winter since 1961. Temperatures averaged 17.7°C, exceeding norms by 2.5°C.
Also read: Finally snow on Teide volcano in Tenerife