The emergency declaration for Tenerife’s drought was issued last Friday and precipitation has returned, albeit continuously and widespread across the entire island but only in the form of chipi chipi.
The recent rains have led to a slight improvement in the water reservoirs for field irrigation on the island. According to the latest report from the public company managing Tenerife’s 23 reservoirs (Balten), as of March 1, they are at 40.5% capacity, 6% higher than a month ago. Nevertheless, the reservoirs are usually at over 70% of their volume at this time of year, during the winter.
As of February 19, the capacity of the 23 reservoirs on the island was 39.8% (1,843,841 cubic metres out of the total 4,836,664). Almost a year earlier, on February 28, 2023, the volume was at 74% (2,964,506 cubic metres out of 4.8 million). This was despite the Montaña de Taco reservoir in Buenavista del Norte, the largest on the island. Like the Benijos ravine reservoir (La Orotava), which remains unused due to waterproofing works, now completed.
Residents shield themselves from the rain in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. / Carsten W. Lauritsen
The heaviest rainfall this Sunday was in La Laguna, with 2.5 litres per square metre. The low temperatures were also notable, in the first week where residents of Tenerife in particular and the Canaries in general have felt winter cold.
The coldest temperatures were recorded in the heights of Tenerife and La Palma. In the Teide National Park, temperatures dropped below zero and the lowest was in Izaña, at -3.5 degrees Celsius. Temperatures also dipped below 0 degrees at Roque de los Muchachos, on the island of La Palma, with a low of -2.3 degrees.
The drizzle will continue on Monday in the islands, especially in the higher areas, as forecasted by the State Meteorological Agency, just as it has been since last Friday.
