Majorcan winter finally arrives

Rain around daybreak today fell across most of the island, while there was snow on the highest peaks, the first this year. This cold snap is set to endure throughout the week, with forecasts from the meteorology agency, Aena, pointing to a rise in temperatures from Sunday.

Evidence of the cold northern front was particularly noticeable this morning, with highs down to between ten and twelve degrees; they had been 20 or more on Sunday. Minimums were also down, in general, to seven and eight degrees, but up in the mountains of Alfabia and Tramuntana they were hitting zero.

The forecast for tomorrow is for mostly cloudy weather with the chance of showers, though Aemet says that they won't be as heavy as was the case in some parts of the island today. The snow level won't drop below 800 metres, while highs will be similar to those today. The unstable conditions during the week will mean that temperatures are below what would be considered normal for the time of year. The return of warmer weather at the weekend should see highs back up to as much three degrees above a typical maximum of 15 degrees for the second half of February.

The snowfall today was to a level of 20 centimetres on the Puig Major, while the heaviest rain was also in the mountains, with 94 litres per square metre in Lluc and 86 in Escorca. Elsewhere, there was not the same intensity. Calvia, for example, registered 39 litres while in Son Servera there were only eleven.

The rain in the mountains means that a particularly dry February has in fact become a wetter one than usual. Rainfall in Lluc is up to a total of 145 litres, when the average for February is 100. The rain has been particularly welcome news for the reservoirs: since Friday, Gorg Blau has recovered 59 centimetres and Cuber 25.

In Minorca and north-eastern Majorca an amber alert for wind will stay in place today. Sea conditions were such today that ferry crossings between Alcudia and both Ciutadella and Mahon had to be cancelled.