British holidaymakers in the Canary Islands have been drenched by Storm Oliver, with fierce winds and heavy rain battering Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote – where expats say it ‘feels like home’
British holidaymakers in the Canary Islands have been soaked to the skin as Storm Oliver battered the popular tourist spots.
The worst of the storm hit Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, and Lanzarote on Wednesday night (April 9), leading Brits to quip that “it felt like home”. Disheartened tourists have shared their all-too-familiar plight of being cooped up indoors due to the relentless rain.
This weather woe is another setback for the islands, which had only just recovered from the disruption caused by Storm Nuria the week before. Many Brits, including both visitors and expats, have taken to social media to post about their gloomy ordeal.
Tenerife-based singer Lisa Bridge took to TikTok with dashcam footage of her drive up a hill, showing the road transformed into a river. She warned followers, “Storm Oliver has arrived in Tenerife – our road is like a river,” amid the hazardous conditions, reports Bristol Live.
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Paul Lawrence, a guitarist from Kent who was holidaying in Lanzarote, also shared his experience of the storm’s impact at his resort. He noted, “After a few beautifully hot days we have been treated to a storm overnight, still about 19 degrees though,” with his update.
In his video, Paul pans across the scene, showing resort staff busily sweeping water towards drains and some brave souls attempting to navigate around the swimming pool area. “Good morning from Playa Blanca,” Paul says cheerfully.
Brit holidaymakers in Tenerife have been warned of severe weather as Storm Babet batters the island with heavy rain and potential flooding. The Olympus Pool Bar, run by British couple Andrew and Jane Banks, shared their woes online, with Andrew remarking, “We’ve had a bit of a storm overnight and it’s still heavily raining now. If you’re coming here on holiday there is some good news though – it is supposed to get a little bit better later on and in the next few days, but it looks like today will be a day spent in the hotel room.”
In a gloomy update from the popular spot, Andrew posted, “Well, here we go again – welcome to Tenerife,” adding a resigned “But hey-ho, tomorrow’s a different day.”
As visitors hunker down, they might remember Tuesday’s severe weather warning from local authorities about high winds, persistent rain, and potential floods, not to mention colossal waves. Officials are urging locals and tourists alike to shun any non-essential car journeys and play it safe when they do, by watching out for water on roads, taking it slow, and keeping an eye on their vehicle’s brakes.
Adding to the cautions, Spain’s Aemet forewarns of the further impact of Storm Oliver, slapping orange alerts across the Canaries for Wednesday and Thursday due to torrential downpours and tempestuous storms.
Aemet spokesperson Rubén del Campo has issued a stark warning in a recent video, saying: “The danger is significant. Stay away from ravines even if they are dry. The first few days of Easter 2025 are shaping up to be unstable due to the presence of Storm Olivier, which will bring heavy rain to the Canary Islands before then”.
He also warned that “Temperatures are going to drop, and there will also be rain in much of the Peninsula,” forecasting a wet start to the Easter weekend for many, particularly in southern and western regions.
