Storm system under sunny skies: Why Mallorca must not underestimate the wind

Storm system under sunny skies: Why Mallorca must not underestimate the wind

Key question: How well is the island really prepared when spring sunshine is accompanied by gale- or hurricane-force gusts?

Late Monday evening Palma still looked like spring: cafés filled up, the Passeig was busy and the air smelled of the sea. Then, between midnight and the early morning hours, the wind tore apart the calm. Stations recorded violent gusts: Meteo de les Illes reported a peak gust of 119 km/h at Castell d'Alaró, Puig Major registered 110 km/h, and Palmanova saw 105 km/h. Despite temperatures around 22 °C on Tuesday the situation has not eased — AEMET has issued new coastal warnings for Thursday, see AEMET coastal warnings.

The picture is strange: blue sky, mild weather — and yet storm warnings for almost the entire coast, except the southeast. AEMET expects gusts of around 70 km/h on Thursday and locally waves up to four meters high. For many Mallorcans this first sounds contradictory: 'sunny' does not mean 'harmless'. This is the subject of recent coverage in Yellow Warning: When the west wind sweeps across Mallorca — how prepared is the island?.

My impression early in the morning: in Portixol shopkeepers are retracting awnings earlier, loose dog leashes rattle on the Paseo Marítimo, and in Cala Major bistro chairs were fluttering until they were safely stored away. A resident in La Llotja told me that he could hardly sleep because of the howling wind — which matches the measurements that showed hurricane strength at some locations during the night.

Critical analysis: authorities and the public talk about warning levels — but rarely about priorities and implementation. AEMET and local services issue forecasts; that is important. This echoes earlier reporting in Storm warning in Mallorca: Is the island prepared for wind and rain? What is missing is the link between warnings and concrete local action: which promenades will be closed? Who secures boats in small harbors? Are elderly people near the coast informed? In many neighborhoods information exists online, but not everyone reads up-to-the-hour tweets or websites in the middle of the night.

What often gets lost in public discourse: mobility and tourism operations. Ferry services can be disrupted, promenade walks become dangerous, and coastal restaurants face the decision of whether to seat guests outside, a situation covered in Severe weather in Mallorca: Wind, rain and a brief temperature drop – what matters now. Urban infrastructure — trees on Avinguda Alexandre Rosselló or loose signage on Passeig Mallorca — is particularly vulnerable to damage.

Concrete suggestions that could help immediately: first, targeted intensified warnings where people are: promenade signage with clear closing times, loudspeaker warnings in harbors and tourist centers. Second, small harbors and boat owners should check their moorings this evening and secure dinghies additionally. Third, municipal services could prioritize mobile teams to secure loose signs, containers and construction materials. Fourth, activate neighborhood networks — a quick call to an elderly neighbor often saves more than a general warning message.

For everyday scenes: a morning walk through Mercat de l'Olivar shows the small things that need protection — plastic covers, display walls, potted plants. One strong gust is enough and this becomes a danger for pedestrians. Likewise, in Port de Pollença fishermen are lashing down their nets more securely, and hotels are already moving balcony furniture into basements.

The weather forecast remains two-track: still mild on Tuesday with around 22 °C, changeable on Wednesday with 18–21 °C, brief cooling from Thursday, then by Saturday temperatures around 20 °C again. That means: the wind is the main variable — and it does not come only at night. AEMET has activated the yellow warning for coasts and wind; this is not a cause for panic, but for respect.

Bottom line: Mallorca must not be deceived by a blue sky. Spring temperatures do not reduce wind-related risks. Anyone who takes a few simple steps now — retract awnings, secure boats, avoid promenades — greatly reduces the chance of damage. Authorities should close the gap between warning and local action: clear closing times, mobile securing teams and direct information channels would be simple, effective measures. Otherwise all that remains in the end is the howling of the wind and the question of whether we were prepared enough.