Mallorca: 28ºC sea raises risk of torrential storms
Mallorca faces a risk of torrential storms in the coming hours, with heavy rain, strong gusts and hail possible across the Balearics. Meteored meteorologists say the same weather pattern has already brought intense rain to Spain’s Mediterranean coast. In Valencia, 81 litres per square metre fell and municipal firefighters handled 250 incidents overnight; Barcelona firefighters dealt with 158.
Cold air meets a warm sea
The set-up combines a trough — a pocket of colder air high in the atmosphere — with a passing front, making the air more unstable. Near the ground, the air is very humid, while the Mediterranean remains at 28ºC, supplying the moisture that feeds storms.
When warm, damp air rises quickly, it can unleash torrential rain. Local winds meeting over one area can also keep storms rebuilding there, Meteored said.
Risk for the Balearics
Meteored says the Balearics face a risk from this same phenomenon in the coming hours. The forecasters expect the storms could bring heavy rain, powerful gusts and hail.
Such episodes are normal in the Mediterranean in September, according to the experts. This time, though, the unusually warm sea adds extra energy, which could make weather that is already capable of becoming extreme more severe.
Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com