Tube Clouds over Mallorca: When the Evening Sky Enchants the Island

Tube Clouds over Mallorca: When the Evening Sky Enchants the Island

Why smooth, lens-shaped clouds drew many eyes upward on Saturday

On Saturday evening the sky over parts of Mallorca turned into a small spectacle. In fields and village squares — from Sa Pobla through Alaró to suburbs of Palma such as Son Ferriol — people suddenly stopped, put down their shopping bags or got off their bikes to look up. The clouds looked like long, smooth tubes, outlined against the reddish light of dusk. Anyone strolling along Passeig Mallorca or shopping at the Olivar market could witness the same scene: phones came out, voices fell silent, then a soft laugh or the click of many cameras.

These shapes are not a mystical rarity but a known cloud type: lenticular clouds, often described in technical terms as altocumulus lenticularis. They do not form out of nowhere but when air masses are disturbed by terrain features — for example by the ridges of the Serra de Tramuntana — and begin to oscillate. In the wave crests the air cools, moisture condenses, and smooth, disc-like clouds form. The few photos from the villages showed exactly this structure: sharp edges, smooth surfaces, and sometimes stacked "discs."

Another reason the formations looked so spectacular was the light. In the late afternoon the low sun emphasized the contours; shadow lines and the ground perspective gave the formations a tubular appearance that from some angles looked almost like moving bands. On Instagram and X you could see people who made drivers or scooter riders pause for a moment — a small interruption of daily life just to watch.

For anyone searching for or trying to capture such scenes, a few practical pointers from island life: locations with an open view toward the Tramuntana are particularly suitable — viewpoints around Alaró, the plains near Sa Pobla, or higher residential areas in Son Ferriol. It works best in stable but windy conditions in the upper layers of the atmosphere; AEMET wind maps provide useful indicators, as explained in Clouds Gather: Rainy Weather Coming to Mallorca — Pack an Umbrella. Photographers may want a wide-angle lens for the full formation and a telephoto for detail shots. A calm footpath and patience will yield better images than a hectic chase through traffic.

Such sky pictures are more than pretty postcard motifs for Mallorca. They are a reminder of how closely the island is tied to its landscape and weather: mountains, plains and the sea interact, often visible in a moment that makes many people briefly pause, as described in Late summer once more, then clouds: Mallorca between beach café and rain jacket. For local photographers and sustainable tourism these smaller natural events are an opportunity for encounters — whether at the market, in the café or on the village square. They are moments when locals and visitors alike slow down. Other dramatic sky occurrences, such as the recent Nighttime Lightning Flood: Why Mallorca's Night Wasn't Dark This Time, have a similar effect.

And for those hoping to snag a similar shot: keep an eye on the sky, especially on evenings with strong upper-level winds. When smooth, lens-shaped clouds appear again, it's worth stopping. On Mallorca often a moment in the right place is enough, and the sky tells a new, short story.

Observation locations: Sa Pobla, Alaró, Son Ferriol and surroundings. Best time: Late afternoon to dusk. Quiet tip for your photo album: backlighting and silhouettes intensify the tube effect.