Storm fears clear beach

Summer has come to the Balearics in fits and starts this year and yet again, storms and snap down pours have broken up the sunshine. While nothing like the torrential rains on the mainland, storms and strong winds will linger in the Balearics today bringing the threat of electric storms. Yesterday the Red Cross beach patrol, life guards and the Civil Protection department briefly evacuated Santa Ponsa beach because of the threat of an electric storm to beaches in Calvia. Most of the sunbathers collected their things and returned to their hotel while some remained on the beach until it rained. Five years ago a woman was struck by lightening and killed on Santa Ponsa beach during an electric storm. She and her children sought shelter from the storm under a tree and eyewitnesses said that the bolt of lightening came off the sea and shot straight up the beach. Yesterday's measure was precautionary and there were no incidents. Last month was in fact the wettest July in the past 50 years. The month ended with some 100 litres per square metre falling in Lluch as the north of the island got a mid-summer soaking, flooding some parts of the island. In Minorca for example, Mahon received twice as much rain as usual while in Majorca all previous rainfall records were smashed. 113.5 litres of rain fell on Pollensa, 88.4 in Sa Pobla and 57 in Porto Pi. Cast your minds back to last summer and the Balearics was gripped by the tenth year of the worst drought for 100 years. Now more than enough rain has fallen to keep Majorca's two main reservoirs near to over flowing. But despite the rain, temperatures have not fallen, in fact, on average temperatures this summer are half a degree higher, according to the Palma Met Office, and the slightly higher temperatures combined with maximum 80% humidity at times, has made it feel even hotter than it really is.