Hurricane in Mallorca causes chaos in air traffic
After a heatwave, a storm hits Mallorca: A severe storm sweeps across the island, causing 44 flights to be cancelled due to weather conditions. The worst of the storm is yet to come, with up to 180 liters of rain expected to fall overnight.
A severe storm in the Mediterranean region is causing chaos with flight schedules on Mallorca. By the afternoon, 44 flights at Palma Airport had been cancelled due to weather conditions, with 23 arrivals and 21 departures affected, authorities reported. Most other flights were significantly delayed.
However, the worst of the storm was yet to come. "I'm most concerned about the night," said Toni Plata, head of the emergency response center, to journalists. The low-pressure system brought heavy rain, thunderstorms, hail, and storm gusts to Mallorca and other Mediterranean regions in Spain. The fire department was repeatedly called out to remove fallen trees and pump out flooded basements.
No major damage was initially reported on Mallorca or elsewhere in Spain. The second-highest alert level, orange, was in effect for the Balearic Islands and parts of the autonomous communities of Andalusia, Murcia, Valencia, and Catalonia.
For the northeastern part of Mallorca, the alert level was even raised to red, effective from midnight to 3:00 PM on Thursday. Up to 180 liters of rain were expected to fall in a short period. The storm is then expected to gradually subside. However, flight disruptions on Mallorca may continue until Friday.
It is rare for the alert level to reach red on Mallorca. However, a change in weather is common in mid-August, marking the end of the island's constant summer weather. Beach days are then often interspersed with heavy thunderstorms.
The Commission has issued a red alert warning for the northeastern part of Mallorca, due to the anticipated heavy rainfall. In response to the storm's impact, the Commission has been actively coordinating efforts with emergency services to ensure public safety.
