The Teide National Park has officially closed multiple hiking trails effective December 14, 2024, due to severe wind conditions caused by storm Dorothea, which has been sweeping across the Canary Islands.
Starting at midnight, the Cabildo de Tenerife announced the closures as part of measures to safeguard public safety. According to the Director General of Emergencies, there was significant concern over wind speeds, with gusts expected to exceed 90 kilometers per hour (km/h) at higher elevations, especially around the Pico del Teide region.
Rosa Dávila, the president of the Cabildo, emphasized the importance of these precautions, stating, “To guarantee the safety of individuals, we have decided to close the hiking trails accessing Teide due to unsafe transit conditions.” High winds and instability prompted officials to declare alerts following predictions from the AEMET (Spanish Meteorological Agency).
The closures affect several trails, including:
- Trail No. 7: Montaña Blanca-Pico Teide, from the summit of Montaña Blanca to the joining point with Trail No. 11 (Mirador de La Fortaleza).
- Trail No. 11: Mirador de La Fortaleza.
- Trail No. 10: Telesforo Bravo.
- Trail No. 12: Mirador de Pico Viejo.
- Trail No. 23: Regatones Negros.
- Trail No. 28: Chafarí.
- Trail No. 9: Teide-Pico Viejo-TF-38 connecting trails.
The winds not only pose risks to the hikers but also complicate potential rescue operations. Blanca Pérez, the Councilor for Natural Environment, Sustainability, and Safety, explained the financial repercussions of ignoring the restrictions, which can lead to fines of up to 600 euros for trespassing on closed trails. Such penalties might be accompanied by additional costs for rescue operations, ranging from 2,000 to 12,000 euros.
The alert level for strong winds has resulted from the formation of pressure systems, with the active fronts veering away but leaving strong gusts behind for the weekend. Weather reports predict strong winds between 50 to 80 km/h and possible thunderstorms across the islands. On Sunday alone, the emergency services (112 Canarias) reported over 100 incidents attributed to the severe weather conditions.
Given the dangerous weather forecasts, the government has also suspended school activities for certain municipalities, including Santa Cruz de Tenerife and San Cristóbal de La Laguna. Poli Suárez, the Education Minister, noted, "We have taken these decisions considering the orange alert currently active across the western archipelago regions." Authorities do not rule out extending the school closures based on real-time weather assessments.
On the ground, residents are advised to remain vigilant as high-velocity winds threaten the safety and operations throughout the island. The situation is dynamic, and school closures may be widened beyond the initial scope as officials continue to evaluate how this weather event evolves.
The Cabildo of Tenerife has stressed the importance of adhering to the established norms under the Specific Emergency Plan for Adverse Meteorological Phenomena (PEFMA). This protocol mandates automatic closure of access to hiking trails whenever such alerts are officially declared. While the closures remain active, it is hoped to re-open trails as soon as conditions allow.
Finally, for the latest updates on weather and trail conditions, the public is encouraged to use the Tenerife ON application, which provides real-time information. The safety of both visitors and rescue teams continues to be the top priority, as adverse weather conditions create serious risks. The Cabildo remains committed to monitoring the situation closely until the dangers have passed.
