Holidaymakers in the Canary Islands have been warned not to go out after the popular holiday destination was hit by dangerously high winds and rain. The government issued itshighest ever severe weather alert for the Canaries as a storm hit yesterday, leaving the southern part of Tenerife under water.

The gale force winds and driving rain are expected to continue battering the Canaries until Friday and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has warned British tourists to follow local safety advice.

Image
Dark days: The Canary Islands have been hit by heavy rain and strong winds, prompting warnings for tourists and locals to stay inside
The FCO said: 'A severe weather warning has been issued for the Canary Islands, with gale-force winds and heavy rain expected to affect the area until Friday 13 December. Some airport and port services are disrupted. Local authorities advise that tourists and residents remain indoors.'

Local press has reported that around 30,000 people on Tenerife have been left without electricity, while the emergency services in the capital Santa Cruz received around 140 call-outs in just four hours overnight.

Electricity firm Endesa confirmed that power was also lost on the island of La Palma yesterday, however in most areas the electricity supply has now been restored.

The island of El Hierro has also recorded some of the strongest winds suffered in the Canaries in recent years, with sustained gusts of 75mph. La Gomera has reported gusts of 72mph.

Image
Waterlogged: The islands, particularly La Palma and Tenerife, have been battered by torrential rain
The Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (State Meteorological Agency) declared a red alert on the island of La Palma due to the extreme risk of heavy rains, while an amber alert was issued for Tenerife, La Gomera and El Hierro.

Holidaymakers in Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura escaped the worst of the weather, with just a yellow alert issued, meaning there was a risk of heavy rains.

The warnings meant that classes in schools have been cancelled and islanders have reported flooding and structural damage to buildings due to the storm so far.

Yesterday saw 15 flights cancelled at Tenerife North airport, with two diversions on Gran Canaria and 11 cancellations on La Palma. Most of the flights affected were inter-island routes and the airports are now reporting that services are returning to normal.