Storm Chaos Expected? Palma Airport Braces As Rare Winter Blast Hits Mallorca

Mallorca isn’t precisely known for snowfall shovels and stiff runways… but this weekend, Palma Airport is preparing conscionable successful lawsuit nan land wakes up looking a small much for illustration nan Alps than nan Med.

A abrupt burst of Arctic air has barrelled into Spain and nan Balearics are correct successful nan way of nan acold wave. The result: unusually debased temperatures, dense rain, icy winds – and moreover nan anticipation of snowfall successful nan Serra de Tramuntana.

That’s capable to trigger a afloat Winter Plan astatine Palma Airport, which is thing you seldom perceive extracurricular of Madrid, León aliases nan Pyrenees.

“We’d alternatively beryllium prepared than caught off-guard,” airdrome sources told section property this week – and judging by nan forecast, that sounds for illustration a smart approach.

How Palma Airport is getting winter-ready

Even though Mallorca seldom sees thing harsher than a chilly morning, nan airdrome follows nan aforesaid information procedures arsenic overmuch frostier places connected nan mainland.

Aena, nan Spanish airdrome authority, has already mobilised its wintertime ops resources — portion of a web serving 21 airports crossed nan country. There are much than 200 master vehicles connected standby nationwide: snowploughs, runway sweepers, 4x4s fitted pinch blades and, crucially, de-icing units loaded pinch some liquid and coagulated products. Across Spain, supplies see astir 500 tonnes of de-icer and much than 420,000 litres of anti-icing fluid.

Technicians are moving down nan scenes 24/7, moving friction-testing vehicles complete nan runway to make judge craft tyres support capable grip. If numbers slip, de-icing teams move successful earlier passengers moreover announcement a thing.

It’s each astir preventing delays and – much importantly – keeping pilots happy astatine landing speed.

What travellers tin expect connected Friday

If you’re flying successful aliases retired today, brace for upwind that feels much for illustration February than precocious November. The Balearic upwind work is informing of torrential rain, a noticeable driblet successful temperatures and a existent chance of snowfall supra 600 metres – which intends upland villages could concisely move white.

Maximums successful Palma whitethorn hardly scope 11°C to 13°C, and windy coastal areas will consciousness moreover sharper. Inland towns could autumn to astir 3°C overnight, truthful bring that wintertime overgarment if you’re arriving aft dark.

Anyone driving to nan airdrome from higher terrain should let other time. You don’t request snowfall chains conscionable yet — but slippery roads and spray-filled postulation jams aren’t retired of nan question.

Good news for play travellers

Luckily, this wintry section won’t beryllium sticking astir agelong capable to spoil nan weekend.

A milder Atlantic beforehand is expected from Saturday afternoon, taking nan separator disconnected nan acold and lifting snowfall levels backmost up to astir 900 metres. The land will still consciousness caller and damp, but nan worst should walk quickly.

By Sunday, we’re apt to beryllium backmost to Mallorca’s accustomed marque of winter: coat-worthy, but still very liveable.

Advice for passengers heading done Palma Airport

There are nary awesome disruptions reported astatine nan infinitesimal – and fingers crossed it stays that way. But if you’re travelling coming aliases early Saturday:

• Check your formation position earlier leaving location — delays tin hap erstwhile craft request de-icing
• Arrive earlier than usual, particularly if dense rainfall slows down traffic
• Bring lukewarm layers, peculiarly if you’re staying inland aliases catching a precocious flight
• Keep an oculus connected updates from your airline

Most travellers will hardly announcement what’s going connected down nan scenes – and that’s precisely really airdrome unit for illustration it.

Mallorca whitethorn not beryllium trading thenar trees for snowdrifts anytime soon… but for now, nan land is getting a little reminder that wintertime exists. And pinch Palma Airport fresh to enactment if temperatures plunge again, holidaymakers tin relax – conscionable remember, this weekend, battalion a jumper.