A severe weather system has unleashed chaos upon the popular holiday island of Mallorca, bringing ferocious winds, colossal waves, and a bizarre hailstorm that blanketed parts of the landscape in white.
Orange Alert and Coastal Dangers
Spain's State Meteorological Agency, AEMET, took decisive action on Thursday by issuing an orange storm alert for Mallorca. The agency warned residents and tourists alike to brace for impact, specifically highlighting the threat of huge waves reaching up to 40 feet along the island's eastern coastline.
The public warning was stark: 'Be vigilant and check the current weather forecast regularly'. AEMET further cautioned that damage to people and property is possible, especially for those in exposed locations or who are particularly vulnerable.
Adding to the perilous conditions, ferocious winds of up to 90km/h have been sweeping across the Spanish island, with predictions they would persist throughout much of the day.
Freak Hailstorm Turns Island White
The extreme weather began on Wednesday with a startling meteorological event. A freak hailstorm pummelled the island, leaving shocked locals reporting that the hailstones were the size of walnuts.
Astonishing images and videos emerged from the scene, showing streets in the typically sun-drenched destination covered in thick sheets of icy pebbles. The tourist resort of Cala Rajada in the northeast was identified as the worst-hit area, where the violent downpour of ice rocks lashed against roads and vehicles.
Meteorologists suggest this unusual hail was likely the result of a sudden and significant drop in temperature, as a winter storm funnels through parts of Southern Europe.
Wider Weather Disruption Across the Region
The disruptive weather is not confined to Mallorca. The neighbouring island of Menorca has also been placed under a moderate weather warning due to strong winds and waves expected to reach 20 feet.
Meanwhile, the rest of Spain is bracing for a severe Arctic blast, which is forecast to bring significant temperature drops. The Pyrenees are anticipating heavy snowfall in the coming hours.
This latest extreme weather episode follows closely on the heels of storm Melissa, which recently caused widespread flooding in Spain, turning roads into rivers in Barcelona and causing travel chaos on Mallorca.
The severe conditions are also affecting other Mediterranean nations. Both Portugal and Greece have issued their own weather warnings, with Greece expecting heavy rain, thunderstorms, and hail, compounded by reduced visibility from dust influxes from Africa.
