First storm warning, then sun: How well is Mallorca prepared for this changeable weather?

First storm warning, then sun: How well is Mallorca prepared for this changeable weather?

On Thursday the north wind still whistles strongly across the island; at the weekend some places could see almost 20 °C and sunshine. The figures are clear: on Wednesday gusts of up to 75 km/h were measured at the Capdepera lighthouse, for Thursday peaks around 70 km/h are forecast again, and coastal areas of the northeast are under an orange warning due to heavy seas with waves up to ten metres. The acute warnings are expected to subside by around 3 p.m. at the latest.

Key question

How well prepared are municipalities, ports and everyday life on Mallorca when storm, hail and subsequently mild sunshine alternate within a few days? This is not an academic question but a practical one: it's about traffic safety, port operations, the situation on promenades and the alerting of residents and tourists.

Critical analysis

The forecast itself is accurate: AEMET reports clearly noticeable gusts and increased wave activity in the northeast. Nevertheless, observations from recent storms show that the local consequences are handled differently. On some coastal promenades mobile benches and parasols are quickly secured, while in other places loose barriers remain and scheduled ferries still operate. Trees lining the rural roads in the Tramuntana mountains are often not regularly pruned; at 70 km/h branches and even whole trees become a danger to cyclists and motorists. Drains in towns — for example in parts of Palma like Passeig Mallorca — clog quickly during heavy rain because leaves and rubbish block the outlets.

What's missing in public discourse

There is a lot of talk about temperatures and gusts, less about practice: who ensures that port facilities are safe during high seas? How are car rental companies and landlords informed so they can secure movable items or warn customers? Tourists do not always receive AEMET warnings because notices are often shared only in Spanish or Catalan. The issue of short-term work absences in agriculture and construction is also rarely linked to the warnings — a real problem for many businesses.

Everyday scenes

On early Thursday morning you can see fishermen at Playa de Palma checking buoys while street cleaners sweep leaves from sidewalks. In Port d'Alcúdia a fallen palm knocks over a bicycle; at the Inca bus station commuters notice that regional buses are running more slowly and there are queues at roundabouts. At the café on the corner of Carrer de Sant Miquel regulars hear the clatter of loose metal on roofs — small, visible consequences of the wind.

Concrete solutions

1) Multilingual, directive warnings: Municipalities should distribute AEMET information in German and English via WhatsApp channels and notices in ports and tourist centres. 2) Port and promenade teams prepared: rapid-response crews to secure benches, parasols and moorings should be standard. 3) Roadside tree inspections: prioritise wind-prone sections along rural roads and Tramuntana routes. 4) Scheduled drain and gutter cleaning before autumn storms: cleaning one more time reduces flood risks in Palma and Inca. 5) Coordination with transport companies: temporary speed reductions and clear notices to drivers as well as consideration of ferry cancellations when an orange warning is in force. 6) Agricultural emergency guidance: premiums or incentives for farmers to secure movable installations and park harvesting machines.

Conclusion, pointed

Yes, the weather is expected to calm down by Friday and temperatures will rise on Saturday — Palma 18 °C, Campos 17 °C, Santanyí 16 °C, and in the north places like Pollença and Alcúdia could reach up to 20 °C on Saturday. But the calm is fragile: rain and a falling snow line to around 1,100 metres are forecast again for Sunday. Those who take the hammer-and-anvil pattern of storm followed by sunshine seriously plan preventively. Well-secured roads, clean gullies, coordinated port rules and multilingual alert chains cost money but ultimately save material and nerves. And they help ensure that the next gust doesn't stop the bus, topple a palm onto a car or cause a fisherman to lose his net.