Foggy Breakfast in Palma: Harbour Disappears, but the Sun Returns

Foggy Breakfast in Palma: Harbour Disappears, but the Sun Returns

Morning mist lays over the bay, with localized ground frost during the night

Those who were out early on Monday along the Passeig Mallorca or at the Moll Vell first heard the bells of La Lonja and then perceived only faint silhouettes: thick fog had swallowed the entire bay, creating an atmosphere like in an old seaport photo album. Fishermen still turned their boats in slow strokes, seagulls called, and the cafés poured out the scent of strong café con leche — everything as usual, but softened by the haze.

The national weather service AEMET published a photo in the morning showing ferries and ships barely visible. A more disruptive fog episode previously halted air traffic; see Morning fog paralyzes Palma airport – How weatherproof is the island's infrastructure?.

The haze was not limited to Palma on the island: similar patches were seen in valleys and plains in the morning. No official fog warning was issued; the yellow alert is normally activated here when visibility is expected to drop below about 400 meters. For drivers this meant: be careful when joining the road from Palma to Llucmajor or when leaving the city toward the harbour — drive slowly, switch on lights, and keep distance.

The morning brought another detail: measurement stations again recorded ground frost. At the Lluc monastery temperatures near the ground dropped to around 1 °C, and similarly at the University of Palma; in places like Campos, Calvià and Binissalem values were around 3 °C. You notice it when car windows stay dull in wind‑still spots and gardens show a frosty sheen.

Good news for everyone tired of heavy winter coats: the fog patches largely disperse over the course of the morning. Sunny, dry weather builds up, and daytime highs locally climb to around 22 °C; similar mild, sunny conditions have been reported on other days, for example Sunny day in Palma: fresh morning air and gentle sea breeze. Walks along the promenade, a late cappuccino in Santa Catalina or a bike ride along the bay will be more pleasant than the cold early hours.

For the port economy and passengers the short play of mist and sun is rarely dramatic: ferries operated more slowly in reduced visibility, and pilots and harbour authorities monitor such situations closely. Those out on boats often let the engines breathe and enjoy the slow disappearance of the fog — sometimes the view, when it opens, is particularly clear and crisp.

The coming days remain pleasant. The island adopts a calm, springlike rhythm: dry and mild by day, at times still cool at night. This is good for Palma in late summer: clear skies, mild nights and open terraces, and also for the last almond blossoms on sheltered slopes — a small interlude of nature before full spring arrives.

Practical tip to finish: morning fog can vary a lot locally. If you have to set off early, check the AEMET maps or local webcams shortly before departure; a second look in the late morning is often worthwhile — the island often reveals a sunny face then, and the view of the sea is as clear as after a good rain.

This is how Mallorca appears on such a day: mysterious in the morning mist, bright and inviting by midday — a little spectacle of fog, frost and sun that many here reward with a walk or an espresso, as noted in Palma: A Late-Summer Intermezzo on 28 September 2025.