GALE FORCE WINDS CAUSE CHAOS

SEA routes between Ciutadella and the rest of the Balearics and the mainland re-opened yesterday afternoon after gale force winds forced port closures and crossings to be suspended on Friday afternoon but Mahon remained closed and a number of sailings from Palma were suspended. As winds peaking at 120 kilometres per hour started to batter the Balearics again yesterday morning, two crossings from Palma to Valencia and Barcelona were suspended while ferries were replaced by high speed catamarans between the islands of Ibiza and Formentera. On Friday night, one of the high speed catamarans running from Palma to Barcelona was cancelled because of the high winds and rough sea conditions.
Yesterday lunch time Civil Protection issued a weather warning for the Balearics and the alert is not expected to be lifted until tomorrow with gale forces winds forecast to sweep across the region for the next 36 hours. In Majorca and Minorca, winds may reach speed of 120 kilometres per hour up high in the hills while elsewhere, the north to north easterly winds will gust at around 80 kilometres per hour. On Friday night, the wind started gusting at 136 kilometres per hour in Mahon, hence why the Port Authority ordered Minorca's two ports to close.
The Balearic Met. Office reported yesterday that 136 kilometre per hours winds were also recorded in Alfabia, 114 kmph in Capdepera, 68 kpmh in the Port of Pollensa and 67 kmph on Portocolom. A water spout tornado was also witnessed off the north coast between Deya and Soller.
The gales have not only been causing problems at sea but also on land.
A number of trees were brought down along the road between Puigpunyent and Galilea and fire fighters were out yesterday morning clearing fallen tress in Son Severa. People are advised to be vigilant today with the gales set to continue.