Sun at last — but gently: What the break in clouds brings to Mallorca

Sun at last — but gently: What the break in clouds brings to Mallorca

Conditions remain changeable until the weekend, then AEMET forecasts improvement

The sky over Palma looks muted today: very cloudy and 19 °C – AEMET's icon matches the mood; it remains more grey than blue. The streets still smell of wet asphalt, the terrace furniture on Passeig del Born is being gradually unfolded, while locals wear light jackets and some tourists carry umbrellas. This current phase is not a storm, more a rain break: Mallorca breathes — late summer returns from early summer: around 22 °C during the day and down to about 15 °C at night.

Those who look closely can even see advantages. The raindrops have freshly painted the roadside blossoms, the coastal pines are no longer covered in dust, and the nurseries can breathe easier. Farmers on the Pla de Mallorca welcome moisture in the soil; less sprinkler water means fewer worries in the weeks ahead.

AEMET expects the weather to stabilize from the coming weekend and for the sun to break through more often. The forecast shows highs around 24 °C for the first half of next week – no heatwave, but pleasantly warm for walks by the sea; such brief warm spells have been described in Late summer once more, then clouds: Mallorca between beach café and rain jacket. Important: the sea currently remains below 20 °C, still a bit too cool for many locals to swim; yet you can already spot the first hardy swimmers at Cala Mayor and Portixol, plunging into neoprene suits.

The island also shows typical regional differences: on Monday the thermometer climbed to 24.4 °C in Llucmajor; in Muro values stayed at 19.9 °C, and the station in the Serra d'Alfàbia reported only 16.2 °C. Such fluctuations are normal, especially now in May, when sun, wind and local air masses compete.

For tourists and hosts the calm phase also brings a certain relief: fewer overheated buildings, picturesque wet cobblestones in towns like Valldemossa, and a quieter promenade in Palma in the late afternoon. Cafés benefit from guests sitting indoors and lingering longer; hoteliers welcome the time to refresh rooms and outdoor areas without haste.

A pragmatic tip for the next few days: dress in layers. Mornings are often cooler, while a light jacket may suffice at midday. If you're heading to the sea, keep a towel handy against cool winds – and realistically don't expect a full bathing season until the water warms up.

Looking ahead: with the shift into the second half of May the chance of more consistent warmth increases – that is the normal rhythm here; for context on short warm interludes followed by shifts see Short late summer — then a weather turnaround: What Mallorca needs to know now. Then locals first, and later most visitors, will take the plunge into the water. Until then Mallorca remains in an in-between time: greener, quieter and with days when you can smell the sea but not yet swim in it.

For those seeking the positive: this mixed state gives us time. Time to enjoy spring at leisure, clean terraces, check the vines and keep the island's relaxed pace. And if the sun really comes through at the weekend, the espresso on the Passeig and the first outdoor ice cream will taste even better.

Short info: Palma currently: 19 °C, very cloudy. AEMET forecasts: sunnier weather from the coming weekend; daytime highs mostly 22–24 °C; sea below 20 °C. Regional: Llucmajor 24.4 °C, Muro 19.9 °C, Serra d'Alfàbia 16.2 °C.