Mallorca sea hits 33.02°C in record-hot summer

Mallorca’s waters off Dragonera hit a record 33.02 degrees Celsius in summer 2026: across the western Mediterranean, it is the hottest summer since records began in 1982. The Balearic Islands Coastal Observation System (Socib) reported the figures on Tuesday, 6 October.

Sea heat lasts for months

From January to September, the western Mediterranean recorded 158 days of marine heatwaves — periods of extreme sea warmth. At their peak, temperatures came close to six degrees above historical values. The sea’s average surface temperature for the summer was 26.87 degrees Celsius, or 2.85 degrees above the 1982–2015 average.

August was the hottest month in the region’s records. Its average of 27.79 degrees Celsius beat the previous August record, set in 2024, by 0.81 degrees. At coastal stations, the sea stayed above 30 degrees Celsius for 22 days at Dragonera, Maó and the Bay of Palma. At the port of Pollença, it did so for 42 days in a row.

What the heat could bring

Socib’s report warns that warmth in the upper layers makes it harder for seawater to mix, limits nutrients and reduces oxygen deeper down. Prolonged heat stress could damage Posidonia seagrass beds and affect other marine life.

The concern now turns to autumn. Unusually warm water releases more heat and moisture into the air, which could intensify severe storms and heavy rain. Those could in turn cause flooding, beach loss and damage to infrastructure. The report warns of the risk; it does not say such events will happen.

Topics: Flooding · Sea & coast · Weather · Pollença · Palma

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com