UK holiday hotspot under maximum weather alert over 80mph winds

A popular tourist destination has been placed under a ‘maximum’ weather warning after there were more than 300 incidents over the weekend caused by strong winds.

The Canary Islands, including Tenerife, El Hierro and La Gomera, were battered by 80mph winds this weekend as trees fell, buildings were damaged and debris was blown around.

In one incident, a ‘rogue’ portable toilet was lifted off the ground before crashing into two police cars.

The extreme weather in the southern Spanish islands has come from Storm Dorothea, which has brought about strong south and southeastern winds.

The islands’ government have now raised the alert level to ‘maximum’ in some areas, with emergency services warning tourists and locals to ‘not let their guard down.’

El Hierro, a western island, has been placed under a red warning by the Spanish State Meteorological Agency (AEMET), with Tenerife and La Gomera given amber alerts.

Other popular destinations including Gran Canaria and Lanzarote are covered by yellow alerts for wind with speeds expected to be around 40mph.

In a post on X yesterday evening, AEMET warned of a ‘significant danger.’

Their post read: ‘Wind gusts of more than 130km/h have been observed, which may be repeated in the coming hours.

‘Precaution! The danger is extreme.

‘In the rest of the western islands, hurricane gusts may also be recorded: a significant danger.’

Those situated in the Canary Islands have been reminded to secure loose objects, avoid outdoor activities and keep emergency contact numbers available.

The Canary Islands, around a four hour flight from London, are one of Europe’s most popular holiday destinations for Brits.

It is estimated that 5.8 million Brits holidayed in Tenerife alone in 2022 – which was the most visited of the of the islands that year.

Gran Canaria came in at second, with 3.8 million holidaymakers hopping on a plane to the island in the North Atlantic Ocean.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected].

For more stories like this, check our news page.

MORE: Thousands feared dead after devastating cyclone hits French territory of Mayotte

MORE: Family left without power for 124 hours after Storm Darragh battered UK

MORE: When and where to see the Geminid meteor shower tonight