The Cabildo of Tenerife reopened the TF-21 (La Orotava-Vilaflor) and TF-38 (Chío) routes to the Teide National Park yesterday. Meanwhile, access to the summit of the island via TF-24 (La Hope) remains closed due to ice on the road.
Since Christmas Eve, crews from the Highways department of the insular Corporation have been diligently working to clear the snow and ice left behind by the recent weather event. Additionally, they have removed several rocks resulting from landslides to ensure the roads are safe.
Rosa Dávila, the president of the Cabildo, stated that the decision to close access to Teide during this period “has always been made with the safety of individuals in mind, which has been our utmost priority.” “Although the snow-covered Teide is a wonderful Christmas sight, the road conditions, characterised by accumulated snow and ice patches, made safe passage impossible,” she elaborated.
The Teide National Park, blanketed in snow this Christmas. | ED
Rosa Dávila confirmed that due to the “tireless effort” of the Highway Service teams the routes to La Orotava and Chío have been reopened “with all necessary assurances,” while TF-24 will remain closed “for safety reasons.” In this regard, the president also expressed her gratitude to the environmental agents, personnel from the Security and Emergencies department of the Cabildo, the Local Police of La Orotava, the Red Cross rescue teams, and the Civil Guard, who “worked relentlessly to prevent serious incidents,” as well as to “the patience and understanding of the public during this time.”
Dámaso Arteaga, the Minister of Highways, noted that workers have been labouring under “challenging” conditions due to “the drop in temperatures and rainfall.” He mentioned that “the ice sheets have rendered travel on the roads to Teide impossible.” Ice patches still exist on TF-24, so it will remain closed until it is safe for travel, he added. Arteaga urged the public to exercise extreme caution when driving on Teide’s access roads and to adhere to the instructions and signage to prevent accidents.
Yesterday, minimum temperatures did not fall below 0 degrees Celsius. The lowest recorded temperature (0.8 degrees) occurred during the early hours in Izaña, within the Teide National Park. Haze was present at high altitudes, with strong gusts of wind reaching 93 kilometres per hour at the summit of the island, and there was minimal rainfall.
The State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) forecasts mostly clear skies and possible light rain today, with occasional heavy showers and storms expected in the early hours in the northern region of Tenerife. The haze will clear on the island while intensifying in the eastern islands. Winds will be light and variable, featuring moderate intervals from the southeast in the more easterly islands. In the midlands and summits of the mountainous regions, there will be a weak southern breeze. Regarding the sea state, Meteorology predicts variable winds from force 1 to 4, with a rippled sea or swell.
