Brits heading to one of Spain's most popular holiday destinations over the Easter break have been warned to prepare following extreme weather at the weekend.
The UK Foreign Office has updated its official travel advice for Spain to alert holidaymakers of flooding in Lanzarote. The Canary Islands destination is a popular choice among holidaying Brits thanks to its year-round warm temperatures, scenery and sandy beaches, with daily flights from Newcastle Airport via Jet2, Ryanair and TUI.
The update from the Foreign Office warns: "Heavy rainfall and flooding in Lanzarote occurred on April 13, with Costa Teguise, San Bartolomé, and Arrecife particularly affected. Services across the island are affected.
"Some hotels are currently without power. Some roads are currently affected by mud."
The update goes on to advise British tourists: "If you are in Lanzarote or travelling to Lanzarote, follow the advice of the local authorities and monitor local weather updates."
On Saturday, the popular tourist resort of Costa Teguise was temporarily closed off after "extremely heavy" rainfall flooded several roads and led to mud and rocks blocking access to the town, Canary Islands publication Gazette Life reported. In the Las Cucharas area of Costa Teguise, it was reported that more rain was recorded in just the two hours of between 1pm and 3pm than during the whole of 2024 or 2023.
Meanwhile, Lanzarote's capital city of Arrecife has been branded a "catastrophe zone" following a weekend of heavy rain, with a huge clean-up operation currently under way. Many buildings and roads were flooded across the city on Saturday, while overflowing drains brought out the stench of raw sewage in the streets.
This was the second time within a week that the Canary Islands had been hit by extreme weather, after Storm Oliver also saw Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura hit by strong winds and torrential downpours on Wednesday night. Several flights heading to Lanzarote from the UK were forced to be diverted on Thursday as Storm Oliver passed over the island.
The latest update from the Spanish weather service AEMET thankfully forecasts a drier week in Lanzarote, although chances of rain still persist on Monday and Tuesday. For the latest updates, Brits heading to the Canary Islands for their holidays can check the Foreign Office website.
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