What changes for visitors in the south of Tenerife?

Tracks, paths and hiking trails in protected areas are closed, as are the Barranco de Masca and Barranco del Infierno ravines. Access to homes, fincas and businesses stays open, but anyone who needs a closed track to get there should ask the environmental agents first.

There is no new traffic rule or deadline. The emergency plan notice of 6 November mentions neither general road closures nor rainfall totals.

The Cabildo de Tenerife (island government) activated the PEIN emergency plan at “Alerta” level from 00:00 on Sunday 8 November 2026. Cabildo president Rosa Dávila decided on the basis of forecasts from AEMET (the state weather service), because of the low-pressure system “Bruna”.

Road crews cleared landslides in La Camella and El Médano after heavy rain in the south. Published readings show up to 26 litres per square metre in one hour around 1 November in El Médano and at Tenerife Sur airport.

How do you drive safely in the rain on Tenerife?

According to the DGT, the first drops are the most dangerous: they mix with dust, oil and dirt on the asphalt into a slick film. The DGT says the risk of an accident in rain rises by up to 70%.

The DGT recommends dipped headlights in the rain, even by day, because daytime running lights are not enough in heavy rain. Whether this is a legal requirement is not confirmed.

Leave twice the usual gap to the car in front: four seconds instead of two, which at 90 km/h is about 162 metres instead of 81. On wet asphalt at that speed, braking distance grows by up to 30 metres.

If the car aquaplanes, ease off the speed, do not brake and hold the steering wheel firmly and straight. If you can no longer see the road, stop somewhere safe, such as a rest area or a petrol station.

What does worn tyre tread cost in fines?

Tyre tread under 1.6 millimetres is a serious offence, Spanish motoring media say, with a fine of up to 200 euros. The 1.6 mm minimum for cars applies across the whole tread surface, where the wear indicators also sit.

According to these reports, paying within 20 days cuts the fine to 100 euros. Police can immobilise the vehicle until the tyre is replaced, and at the ITV (the Spanish MoT test) shallow tread counts as a serious defect.

Other reports count 200 euros per wheel, so up to 800 euros. A July 2026 report of up to 500 euros applies to lorries and buses, not cars.

None of these figures has been checked against the BOE (Spain's official state gazette) or the DGT fine schedule. They all come from media reports.

What belongs in a car check before the autumn rain?

Tyres come first: they alone keep the car in contact with the road, and low pressure raises the risk of aquaplaning. Check the tread, the cold pressure against the manufacturer's figure, the spare wheel, and any cracks or uneven wear.

Noises, vibration in the pedal or pulling to one side call for immediate repair. Check the discs, pads and brake fluid too, because worn shock absorbers lengthen braking distance considerably.

Dipped beam, main beam, sidelights, brake lights, indicators and fog lamps should all work, and the headlights should be clean. Replace wiper blades that streak or squeak, and a car glass provider advises changing them at least once a year.

Air conditioning, heated rear window and cabin filter should work freely so the windows do not mist up. The usual tip about a weak battery on cold mornings suits the Canary Islands less, where heavy rain, aquaplaning and ravines are the problem.

What is still open, and where are the current warnings?

Whether the PEIN plan is still at “Alerta” level on 11 November is not confirmed. The Cabildo says the restrictions stay in force until the Consejería Insular (the Cabildo's responsible department) issues a new resolution.

That resolution follows once the causes have gone and the damage has been assessed, the Cabildo says. The authorities already considered the course of events uncertain in early November, so warning levels may change.

AEMET publishes current warnings at the official website, and emergencies go through 112 Canarias. On 2 November AEMET's yellow warning for Tenerife, southern and eastern slopes included, covered up to 20 litres per square metre in one hour.

Access to the Teide summit was limited at the time because of ice and snow. On rural roads in the Canary Islands, 53 people died in 2025 according to provisional DGT figures.

That is 14 more than in 2024. Only Navarra recorded a bigger rise, at plus 15, and a separate figure for Tenerife is not documented.