expat

Storm Therese has wreaked havoc across the Canary Islands, but a British expat is urging holidaymakers not to cancel as he claims big changes are coming at the start of April

Weather chaos has been wreaking havoc across Spain recently as Storm Therese sweeps through the Canary Islands, particularly Tenerife and La Palma – prompting numerous holidaymakers to abandon their plans after anticipating days basking in the sunshine.

The storm is currently bringing an unusual mix of torrential rain, 100 km/h (62 mph) winds, and significant snowfall at higher elevations. Authorities have issued a full-scale emergency in Tenerife, calling it one of the most serious storms to strike the archipelago in more than a decade. Despite this, it appears locals are beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel, as they’re encouraging people to maintain their holiday plans.

Taking to TikTok, one British expat named Mattie Barnett posted on the Tenerife First Excursions account, where he works, to reveal that a major shift is anticipated to arrive in Tenerife in April.

“Bollocks to the rain in Tenerife,” Mattie declared at the opening of the video, before briefly outlining that they’d been forced to endure days of rainfall in the Spanish holiday hotspot. But now, the sunshine had finally returned.

Gesturing towards the popular Playa del Camisón beach, he remarked: “There were people queuing at eight this morning to get the sun beds after half a day of rain.”

Mattie, who hails from Lincolnshire, went on to predict that the weather will likely remain sunny with pleasant temperatures of around 24 degrees through to the weekend. While early April may bring some overcast conditions, Mattie expressed optimism that the warm summery weather would return shortly afterwards.

It appears holidaymakers are placing their trust in Mattie’s forecast, as numerous people confirmed they’re pressing ahead with their travel plans.

“Coming next Wednesday. Need to be seeing blue skies, palm trees and everything in between,” one person commented. Another user stated: “I come on the 28th hopefully still good weather.”

Spain’s meteorological agency, AEMET, is forecasting that the rainfall will cease by Friday, 27 March, when sunshine will return, with temperatures hovering around 21 degrees for the remainder of the week and throughout Easter weekend, which is typical for this period.

Meanwhile, weather maps from WXCharts suggest that portions of the UK could be battered by heavy snowfall and temperatures plummeting to -9C between April 3 and April 5 – Easter weekend.

Weather charts indicate the snow zone stretching approximately 480 miles from the Scottish Highlands across northern England and the Midlands down towards areas of southern England.

At least 12 major cities could find themselves in the trajectory of the wintry conditions, which may trigger worries about travel chaos, school closures and hazardous driving conditions.

Tenerife is a top holiday destination for countless Brits and one man, who made a permanent move there, has shared a key step for any Brits considering moving to the Spanish island for good

Any Brits weighing up a move to sunny Tenerife have been advised to do key one thing before committing to a permanent decision. The Spanish island is a hugely popular holiday spot for many UK residents.

As the largest of the beloved Canary Islands, Tenerife is celebrated for its sweeping beaches, extensive resorts, eclectic bars and restaurants, and much more – all of which provide locals and holidaymakers alike with no shortage of things to do.

Additionally, nature enthusiasts can make the most of the island’s breathtaking scenery, which includes volcanic peaks, vast and diverse national parks, dramatic coastal cliffs and even lush forests. Tenerife’s appeal is enhanced by its status as the “Island of Eternal Spring”, earned thanks to its year-round warm and stable temperatures, typically ranging between 20-28 degrees.

The island’s charm has plenty of Brits eager to move there permanently. A man, who posts content online under the username Mattie Baarnett, is currently living in Tenerife and took to TikTok to offer his guidance for those considering a permanent move to the Spanish island.

Speaking directly to the camera, he began: “These would be my tips if you’re wanting to move to Tenerife – before we get the video started, hang on a second.”

He then turned around to capture the sun setting behind him, bathing the evening sky in a warm glow. Mattie went on: “That tip alone is ‘just do it’ because you’ll get sunsets like that.

“I would always recommend, if you’re wanting to come to Tenerife and you don’t really know if you want to actually live in Tenerife, go on Airbnb, rent an apartment for a month, see if you like it.

“Try and get a job, get all your legal paperwork in order and then, after you’ve done that, then source a long-term rental on one of the Facebook pages for an estate agent and then just go from there.”

Mattie reiterated his advice and continued: “Come for a month, rent an Airbnb, that’s gonna cost you £1,500 to two grand for the month – Airbnb, tourist prices – get here, get a job, see if you like it, get a job contract, make yourself legal then go for the long term, and then that’s it.”

He added: “You can do it in a month. Piece of p**s, mate.”

What Brits need to do if they want to move to Spain

Brits can move to Spain, but post- Brexit regulations have made the process significantly more complex. A visa isn’t required for short visits to the EU or countries in the Schengen area, which is a vast, border-free zone in Europe allowing more than 450 million people to move freely between 29 countries, including Spain, without internal border checks.

If you’re planning to spend 90 days or less in Spain over a 180-day period, a visa isn’t required. You also won’t need one if “you’re visiting as a tourist or for certain other reasons”, or you’re “studying a short course, getting medical treatment, travelling for business for your UK employer, for example to attend a business meeting or conference”, or if you’re visiting for “journalism or other media activities”, according to UK government advice.

Government guidance states: “The type of visa you need depends on the length of time you’re carrying out the work. You need to apply for a:

• C-type EET visa if you’re working up to 90 days
• long-term D visa if you’re working for more than 90 days

“If you’re staying for longer than six months, you will need to apply for a residence card once in Spain.”

Countries in the Schengen are include Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.