Cold weather to continue in Mallorca

A NEW wave of polar-air hit Mallorca this week, bringing temperatures to -3oC and keeping snow level to 500m above sea level.

It is expected the ‘cold-snap’ will continue through to the weekend, according to the State Metrological Agency (AEMET), although not as cold as the weekend past and would probably not reach below zero degrees Celsius.

While it is unlikely to snow again, clouds and rain are set to accompany the cold winds. By Sunday, temperatures should begin to slowly rise again.

Meanwhile, stretches of roads in the Serra Tramuntana had to be closed yesterday (Wednesday) morning following the previous night’s snowfall, according to the traffic department.

This includes 50km of the Carretera de la Serra de Tramuntana (Ma-10) between Pollença and Soller as well as from Valldemossa to Esporles.

The road between Randa and Cura (Ma-5018) and the Ma-2130 from Caimari to Lluc were also closed.

As was the Ma-2100 from Bunyola to Orient and the Carretera del Coll in Soller (Ma-11A). The stretch between Valldemossa and s’Esgleieta on the Ma-1110 was the first to open to traffic after being cleared of snow.

Traffic was slowed on the Soller tunel on the Ma-11 at Km16.5 in the direction of Palma de Mallorca while cleared away the snow. This follows record low temperatures and snow falling on the island’s beaches over the weekend.

Temperatures in some places around Palma de Mallorca reached to -5oC temperatures on Sunday, the lowest in 40 years, according to AEMET. Heavy snow caused the roof of a house in Calle Regal and the ice-rink in Palma to collapse.

Nobody was injured at either location. Meanwhile, icy roads are believed to be the cause of dozens of minor traffic accidents.

Up to 17 roads in Mallorca, 10 of which were in the Serra de Tramutana, were closed over the weekend due to snow levels. On Saturday six people were trapped inside three cars at the foot of the Sierra de Alfabia in Bunyola.

By Monday, only four had reopened. More than 100 people worked to clear the roads of snow. Early Sunday morning flights – 7am and 8am departures – were delayed nearly five hours at Palma’s airport.

This was due to ice that had to be removed from 30 planes and snow that had to be cleared from the runways. The average delay time for departures was 26 minutes and for arrivals four minutes.

None of the 237 scheduled flights at Son Sant Joan airport on Sunday were cancelled. Boat connections between Menorca and Mallorca and the Peninsula that had been cancelled, reopened on Saturday.

Photo credit: Phoenix Media Mallorca
By Nicole Hallett