Part of Mallorca is on yellow alert for locally heavy rain this Monday, 29 April. The Met Office (Aemet) in the Balearic Islands has reported that the affected areas are the south of the island and the Serra de Tramuntana, as 20 litres of water per square metre may fall in just one hour.
Radar showing the rain over the Balearic Islands.
In addition, occasional thunderstorms are expected and the accumulation of water could reach 40 or 50 litres of water per square metre. These warnings will be in force from 00:00 hours until 12pm hours on Monday. Last Sunday, the Serra, the east and the north and northeast of Mallorca were already on yellow alert for rainfall due to accumulations of up to 60 litres of water in 12 hours.
Rain forecast over Spain for Monday, April 29.
The weather forecast for Mallorca for this Monday also states that rainfall will be accompanied by mud; it will subside during the afternoon. Temperatures will experience little change or a slight drop, so they will be below normal for this time of year, which is 20º. The wind will blow lightly to moderately in a variable direction.
The month will end with unstable weather, as the Met Office forecast announces cloudy intervals with rainfall that could be locally heavy and accompanied by thunderstorms, more likely during the morning and afternoon. Temperatures will not change much or the minimum temperatures will drop slightly. The wind will be generally light from the west and southwest.
On Wednesday, May 1st, cloudy skies are expected to prevail, becoming cloudy at night, with the probability of light rainfall in general. Night-time temperatures will be similar, while daytime temperatures will rise. The wind will blow light to moderate from the west and southwest.
Rainfall (in l/m2) last 24 h in #IllesBalears 29-04-2024 8am
Members of the Palma Fire Brigade, intervening in the house affected by the lightning strike. Photo: Pere Bota
Sunday's spectacular thunderclap
A spectacular thunderclap has caused an enormous impact among the citizens of Palma, who in different neighbourhoods noticed this spectacular sound phenomenon. After 8.30pm this past Sunday, a roar caused concern for a few seconds, causing windows and walls to tremble in some corners, as reported on social networks by many witnesses, in addition to the intervention of firefighters and the Local Police of Palma. Even the National Police had to go to deactivate the alarms in critical points of Palma when they were triggered by the powerful thunder.
This thunder and the lightning that fell as a result of the powerful storm, of spectacular dimensions and great sound effect, caused traffic lights to stop working in some neighbourhoods of Palma, such as Son Costa, while others further away, such as s'Aranjassa, also felt the impact of this atmospheric phenomenon, a consequence of the meteorological instability that has affected a large part of Mallorca this Sunday afternoon.
The thunder lasted about three seconds, and comments and even a video by Duncan Wingen, administrator of El Racó Balear de la Meteorología, which captures the acoustic impact of the thunder and the intensity of the moment, immediately spread through the social networks. The thunder was preceded by a spectacular bolt of lightning, the strongest, which is said to have struck in the area of Calle Aragón, with a power of 281,000 amperes, according to some meteorology experts.
Radar image reflecting the location of the main lightning strike.
Numerous citizens reported the intensity of the thunder from areas such as Calle Aragón, Paseo Mallorca and Amanecer. It was a few seconds of uncertainty and concern at the end of an afternoon that startled Palma residents and inhabitants of neighbouring municipalities, as Calvia, Llucmajor and Marratxí also reported the force of the phenomenon, as well as towns in the Part Forana.
The Palma Local Police reported incidents related to traffic lights affected by this phenomenon (in the area of Avingudes or Calle Aragón), although under the control of the room in charge of their management, while in Calle Aragón, more specifically in the area between Son Canals and Hostalets, the presence of the Palma Fire Brigade was required due to the impact of lightning on the roof of a high-rise building, falling on the television aerial and leaving the neighbours without power.
No fire was reported, but there was a strong smell of gas, so the supply and service was cut off until the incident could be located and as a precaution for the neighbours. However, while the traffic lights and street lighting were out of power, the other residents in the area kept the supply on, and despite some initial moments of confusion and uncertainty, the presence of the fire brigade and the local police calmed things down.
The State Meteorological Agency in the Balearic Islands (Aemet) reported storms associated with a stationary front that left these lightning strikes in Mallorca, as well as showing radar images capturing the lightning strikes in Mallorca on Sunday evening, focusing on Palma and the Serra de Tramuntana area, especially in Alfabia.
Endesa did not report any incidents in the electricity supply to private individuals, although the Palma City Council did report incidents in the public lighting in Aragón street, as well as in the road network in that area and in Avingudes.
No comments
To be able to write a comment, you have to be registered and logged in
Currently there are no comments.