Weather Change in Mallorca: Are We Ready for a Longer Rainy Period?

Rain from Thursday – but how well prepared are we?

The sun-seekers have two more days: Tuesday and Wednesday promise the last warm hours with 24–26 °C, enough for a walk on Playa de Palma or a café con leche in Santa Catalina, while seagulls cry over the sea. From Thursday the situation turns – moister air masses move in, and the models show a multi-day shower phase (see Persistent Rain in Mallorca: Are We Really Prepared?) that could last until early next week.

Key question: What happens when the prolonged rain arrives?

No panic, but the right caution: persistent showers are expected, locally including heavy thunderstorms, especially on the west and southwest coast (see Storm alert on Friday: Is Mallorca prepared for heavy rain?). The central question is: are Mallorca's towns, roads and rural areas equipped to cope with the health, economic and infrastructural consequences?

What is often overlooked: Not everyone benefits from the rain

For agriculture and reservoirs, rain is a longed-for relief after the dry summer. But the short-term view hides problems: heavy but localized downpours flood roads faster than water can infiltrate. In narrow mountain villages and on the hairpin bends of the Serra de Tramuntana, landslides and rockfalls threaten in places where they would otherwise go unnoticed. In Palma, clogged drains and old cobblestones quickly cause standing water in the alleys.

Concrete risks for daily life and the economy

- Traffic: Flooded town thoroughfares and slippery coastal roads (e.g. MA-10 towards Sóller) can disrupt bus and ferry schedules (see Restless week in Mallorca: How well is the island prepared for heavy rain?). Drivers often underestimate the force of water in curves.

- Tourism & events: Open-air concerts, weekly markets and harbour activities must remain flexible. Boat charters and small fishermen in Port d'Andratx or Colònia de Sant Jordi feel wind, rain and waves immediately.

- Agriculture: While fields need water, young plantings are vulnerable to soil erosion. Large amounts of rain in a short time lead to nutrient washout.

- Infrastructure: Old drainage systems can be locally overloaded; drinking water reservoirs benefit overall, but supply lines can become contaminated in the short term.

What can be done concretely? Three short-term and three medium-term measures

Short-term:

1. Visual inspections and clearing – Municipal services should check drains and access roads at critical points (Palma, Calvià, Alcúdia, Andratx) and remove blocking shards or leaves.

2. Mobile alerts – Municipalities, harbourmasters and tourist offices must provide short-term information by SMS, social media and loudspeakers to beaches and markets, complementing AEMET weather warnings.

3. Event backups – Organisers of concerts, markets and beach parties should have covered alternative venues or weather-dependent postponement dates ready.

Medium-term:

1. Rainwater retention – Support farmers and municipalities more in creating small retention basins, terracing and collection systems so water infiltrates more slowly and fields benefit.

2. Infrastructure maintenance – Invest in drainage systems, especially in older districts of Palma and coastal towns, and renew edge protections on vulnerable road sections.

3. Awareness and cooperation – Nationwide campaigns on driving behaviour in heavy rain (following DGT advice for driving in rain), safe routes for tourists and better coordination between municipalities, rescue services and tourism businesses.

Tips for daily life on the island

Those who live here or are on holiday now: plan flexibly. It can be sunny in the morning and suddenly pouring in the afternoon. Keep rubber boots in the car, an umbrella in the handbag, and: never drive through standing water. Check local warnings at beaches because of waves and currents – the local Mallorcans on the paseo may otherwise be quickly disappointed. If you plan hikes, bring slip-resistant shoes and alternative routes; the Fornalutx trail and torrent gorges are particularly sensitive.

A small outlook and a request

The rain brings a double effect: urgently needed water for fields and reservoirs, but also short-term stress for roads, events and those who rely on the sea. The truly interesting question remains whether we learn from such episodes and adapt structures so that future rain phases cause fewer surprises.

I will look back to the coast on Thursday morning, listen to the drumming on the tiled roofs and report if anything decisive changes. Until then: enjoy the two sunny days – and pack the umbrella already.