WEATHER IN TENERIFE TAKES LEAPS AND BOUNDS

The weather in Tenerife takes leaps and bounds, jumping from one extreme to the other, with weather phenomena that impress through their extremes.

Tenerife, the island that usually boasts of its eternal spring, seems to have signed up for a meteorological talent show in recent days. What began as a summery winter ended in an apocalyptic scene dominated by a storm depression that took center stage. Later, the stage was handed over to a dramatic calima assault. The weather in Tenerife has recently behaved like a rebellious teenager: erratic, unpredictable, and absolutely unwilling to cooperate.

Summery Winter: The Deceptive Beginning

The allure of a summery winter in Tenerife tempts hundreds of thousands of people to visit, while large parts of Europe prepare for snow and ice. In Tenerife, the sun was shining, and the air was warm. People strolled the streets in short sleeves, tourists lounged on the beach as if it were summer, and local bars sold more ice cream than ever. It was as if the island decided to ignore the fact that the calendar year was nearing its end.

Some clouds appeared, veiling the sun and dimming its brightness, but nothing hinted at the beginning of a meteorological oracle. This kind of serene calm is often the harbinger of nothing less than meteorological chaos. And chaos arrived, with all the subtlety of an elephant in a china shop.

Storm Depression Dorothea: The Dramatic Entrance

And then came Dorothea. This storm depression decided it was high time to add some drama to the sunny festivities. With wind gusts reaching up to 90 kilometers per hour and even higher on some islands, combined with torrential rains that turned streets into rivers, Dorothea had no intention of being subtle. Palm trees bowed humbly to her force, while roof tiles flew off homes as if competing in a frisbee championship.

“This is just the beginning,” the clouds seemed to whisper, and it wasn’t an empty threat. Residents sealed their windows, tourists sought refuge indoors, and pets watched with an expression that said it all: the weather was so bad that even dogs, who normally never complain, had to stay inside.

Calima Assault: Sand in the Gears

And when the storm depression finally had enough, nature decided to try another tactic: why not unleash a calima? While Dorothea at least brought some refreshing rain, the calima is like an annoying colleague who always makes work uncomfortable. Saharan dust made its way across the archipelago, with air quality so poor that the government declared it extremely unfavorable. Dust gathered from the North African sand belt and blown over covered everything, making eyes water. Add an unpleasant texture to your breathing, and you get a cocktail of adverse effects for both humans and animals.

Fortunately, temperatures didn’t spike too high. The dust lingered in the air, and residents retreated behind closed windows and doors. Only the bravest souls ventured outside, armed with sunglasses and improvised face masks. But even they had to admit their battle against the sand was anything but successful.

The Island Remains Unmoved

And how does Tenerife respond to this meteorological rollercoaster? With an air of indifference, as if nothing happened. The sun rises again, tourists slip back into their sandals, and the cafés resume serving their famous papas arrugadas. It’s as if the island has incorporated a collective shrug into its culture: storm or sand, life goes on.

But for the residents, there’s a lingering aftertaste. The “eternal spring” image that Tenerife so proudly cultivates took a serious hit in recent days. After all, how can you enjoy those perfect temperatures when you’re picking sand out of your ears or retrieving your neighbor’s roof tiles from your garden?

The Weather in Tenerife Takes Leaps and Bounds

With ongoing climate change, it’s not unthinkable that Tenerife will experience this kind of weather more frequently. Summery winters giving way to storms, followed by calimas that turn the island into a sandbox—it sounds like a dystopian travel brochure. But for now, the Canarios seem determined to take it all in stride, armed with humor and the resilience to carry on regardless.

So, the next time you think of Tenerife’s “eternal spring,” remember the summery winter, the storm depression, and the calima that, in just a few days, turn the island into a stage showcasing all four seasons. The weather, for the most part, is predictable; it’s just the phenomena that show up unannounced. And after every adverse weather event, it’s summer again, as if nothing ever happened.

Guy Devos © AI Illustration
The weather in Tenerife takes leaps and bounds ©