Storm Alert: Orange Warning for North and Northeast — What Mallorca Residents Should Know Now

Storm alert in Mallorca: Why this warning should be taken seriously

The air smells heavy of sea and wet earth — a sign of a real downpour, not just a short summer thunderstorm. Aemet has raised the alert levels for parts of Mallorca, as reported in Orange Alert: Heavy Rain and Thunderstorms Mainly Affect Northern Mallorca: From around 00:00 on the night from Sunday to Monday, an orange warning comes into effect for the north and northeast. On Monday the elevated warning level will then apply to almost the entire island, with only the central area initially excluded.

When and where will it become critical?

The most delicate phase begins during the night. Coastal towns such as Port de Pollença, Alcúdia and the shores along the Serra de Tramuntana are affected first; later the showers can push inland. Accompanying phenomena are heavy rain, isolated thunderstorms and occasionally strong winds. Temperatures will drop to around 23–26 °C, which for Mallorca feels more like spring weather.

What exactly is at risk — and what is often overlooked?

In short: heavy rain and locally intense precipitation. In addition to flooded streets, particularly vulnerable locations include low-lying sections of access roads, drainage channels, small rambla beds in the mountains and harbor areas with onshore winds. Two often underestimated factors are clogged street drains due to leaves and debris, and incorrectly parked vehicles in depressions. Such obstacles quickly turn seemingly harmless puddles into real problem spots.

A second, less noticed aspect is the strain on service providers: tow services, fire brigades and harbor masters quickly come under pressure. This also affects restaurants and small businesses on the coast, whose terrace furniture and awnings can be damaged in a short time. I was at Passeig del Born today; the awnings were being rolled in and the sound of folded metal frames mixed with the softer sound of the sea — a typical autumn scene, this time more concentrated.

Practical precautions: What you can do now

A few simple measures save a lot of trouble later. Keep street drains clear, secure balcony and garden furniture, and close windows and patio doors. When driving the rule is: keep more distance, reduce speed and avoid flooded underpasses. Boat and harbor berth owners should check mooring lines and, if possible, add extra lashings.

For owners of small shops and restaurants it is advisable to have water barriers or sandbags ready, at least for door thresholds. Contact seniors and people with reduced mobility so help can be organized if needed. And: download the emergency apps, check Aemet notifications (see Orange Alert in Mallorca: What the AEMET Warning Means for the Island, Roads and Tourism) and municipal advisories, and remember the emergency number (112).

How well prepared is Mallorca — and what should improve?

The island has a functioning warning system, but implementation on the ground varies. Smaller towns less often have stockpiles of sandbags, cleaning cycles for street drains vary widely, and some private berth holders delay measures because they hope the weather will improve. In the long term, coordinated infrastructure management, regular cleaning of drainage systems and more accessible information points for tourists and seasonal workers would be helpful.

A realistic but concrete approach: municipalities could distribute “ready kits” before the end of the season — simple checklists, a few sandbags and phone numbers for central services. At the same time, investing in sustainable channel renovations makes sense. In the short term, neighborhood help is useful: if a neighbor is not mobile, secure the terrace together — that saves rescue operations later. This is discussed in Orange Alert: Torrential Rains — Is Mallorca Prepared?.

Outlook

The prospects are unsettled: showers remain possible on Tuesday, and models only indicate improvement toward the end of the week, with temperatures returning to around 27 °C in Palma. Until then, be cautious, keep routes and appointments flexible and approach the coast with care. The sea is still there with its waves and familiar smell — we should just give it a little respect until the sun returns.

Stay careful. Small preparations help you get through everyday life dry — and Mallorca has seen worse days.