The weather now in PP - 2011

[Sparky]

Hola amigos we have a few clouds around but with plenty of sunshine, a gentle breeze, it's 14.6c in the shade, 16.5c in the sun and the pressure is 1019. Showers have been forecast for the next couple of days.

SWS i will post pics when i can work out how to download them on this new laptop, it's all so different to my old one .

 

[Sparky]

Hola buenas dias it's very cloudy with a strong and gusty SW wind, 13c and the pressure is 1016 and falling. Rain is forecast by my weather station, on TV and in the paper and i must say we could do with a good downpour to wash away the ash/dirt left by the fires.

 

[Belladonna]

Here comes winter!

Enjoy the last of the winter sun and mild weather
STAFF REPORTER

PALMA
THE gloriously sunny and mild start to 2011 is about to come to an abrupt end over the next few days in the Balearics.
Fortunately, conditions stayed dry last night for the San Sebastian festivities in Palma, but from today, temperatures are going to drop sharply, especially over night, and widespread rain showers and snow can be expected.

Until Tuesday, we are going to be under the influence of northerly winds which are going to drive the temperatures down.
Today, for example, snow is forecast at 1'000 metres with a day time maximum of 13ºC predicted while temperatures tumble to nine over night and it is the night time temperatures which are going to remain in single figures until at least the middle of next week. Tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday are going to be the coldest days of this current cold snap.

Tomorrow, the snow line is going to drop to 300 metres with maximum temperatures of around 10ºC and minimums of 5ºC.
Tomorrow and Sunday, snow is forecast at 100 metres, even possibly at sea level, as the maximum temperatures remain at between 10ºC and 11ºC while the minimums fall to just 4ºC.

From Monday, a very gradual improvement is forecast with temperatures rising by 1ºC and the snow line retreating to 400 and 500 metres respectively.
But, for the best part of the next week, the northerly winds, which at times will be gale force in the mountains, will add to the wind chill factor and make conditions feel much colder.

Doctors were warning yesterday that the sudden snap in the weather is going to provoke an increase in the number of ‘flu cases and advised the general public to keep a close eye on the weather forecasts and make sure they dress and eat accordingly.

What is more, any potential ‘flu victims are advised to consult their GP before rushing to hospital to ease the pressure on the accident and emergency wings.

 

[Sparky]

Cath i use Meteosat and according to them it will good until Wednesday and then it will turn wet and much colder ...sorry!.

Well sure enough tonight the temperature has dropped to 6c, it is raining and the wind is really picking up .

 

[Abbess]

WOW! if the snow is coming Belladonna it maybe time to find some skis for February! We are thinking of coming over for Valentines weekend.

 

[Sparky]

Good morning people it is dry at the moment but there are a lot of nasty looking clouds around. The main feature is the N wind which is high, very gusty with a chill factor of 9.2c and the temperature is 9.1c in the sun and 8.8c in the shade, the pressure is 1012. We are on Orange alert for high winds but from next Tuesday the temperature is set to rise.

 

[Belladonna]

Abbess, I'm pretty sure there are no ski slopes in Majorca - indoor or out! But they were used last year to get around in the snow. Stay snuggled up on Valentines Day instead!

 

[CathB]

well it is certainly a tad "bracing" as they say today... very interesting battling the breeze along the front

 

[Belladonna]

Still not looking good.


BALEARICS ON SEVERE WEATHER ALERT
STAFF REPORTER
PALMA
THE Bulletin warned you yesterday to get ready to say good-bye to the sun and mild temperatures for a while and the region is today on severe weather alert for snow and a sharp drop in temperatures.

An estimated two centimetres of snow is forecast to fall on the Tramuntana mountains but the snow line is going to be lower than initially forecast at around 200 metres or even lower in some parts of the island and this is going to be very much the weather trend for the best part of the forthcoming week.

The big freeze is going to grip the whole country, although while the rest of Spain remains mainly dry, it is the Balearics where the rain is going to predominate over the next few days with a wet, windy and cold weekend in store.

The Balearics was first placed on severe weather alert on Wednesday for heavy seas and gale force winds peaking at over 80 kilometres per hour can be expected over the next few days in more northern parts of Majorca and Minorca.

The northerly winds will probably cause some disruption to shipping so check with your ferry company if you have a crossing booked over the weekend.
The Civil Protection department yesterday issued its usual warnings and advice.
Make sure all exterior doors and windows are securely closed and that all objects on terraces are well fastened.

Stay away from the beach, especially the sea, and keep a close eye on weather forecast if planning on going sailing.
For those thinking of a weekend hike in the mountains, the Civil Protection department would recommend thinking again or at least making sure that someone knows your route and that you are well prepared with the correct clothing, supplies and a well charged mobile telephone.

Drivers are also being urged to proceed with extreme caution, especially in the mornings because of the threat of black ice, in particular in the hills and mountains at first thing. And make sure you have plenty of petrol in the tank.


(Love this part;- For those thinking of a weekend hike in the mountains, the Civil Protection department would recommend thinking again Mabe needing those snow shoes soon!)

 

[Sparky]

Bon dia a tots, well we have not had any rain or snow yet and even the wind eased off last night. I have just watched the TV forecast which said that there is a possibilty of showers and thunderstorms with max temps of 9c.
At the moment it is bright and sunny although there are some dark clouds scudding by, the NE wind is brisk and gusty with a chill factor of 9.9c, the air temperature is 9.7c in shade and 11.8c in sun and the pressure is 1018.

Hope you all have a great weekend whatever your weather is like.

 

[Sparky]

Sorry i forgot to add that the Orange Alert has been reduced to Yellow today.

 

[lollipop]

Great for those hardy souls on kite boards though today. Also went round to CSV and the sea is mighty rough round there.

 

[debz1]

Oooo lollipop I love CSV when its stormy!! We often go and just sit for ages watching the waves crashing in. It's so dramatic and such a difference from the still, crystal clear water that's the norm

 

[Sparky]

Good morning peeps at last the wind has gone, to show how bad it has been as i walked along the Formentor road yesterday i noticed a lot of sand had been blown in from the beach .
So this morning is calm, fairly cloudy but bright, 8.9c in the shade and 9.8c in sun. The pressure is 1018 and the forecast is for showers of rain possibly snow.

The days are already getting longer with sunrise at 8.04am and sunset at 5.58pm.

 

[CathB]

well arrived back home this afternoon to a tropical 9c...must have brought it back with me

 

[Sparky]

Buenas dias, it is dry but overcast this morning with hardly any wind, 9.9c and the pressure is 1020.

 

[Belladonna]

On the chilly side!

Stay away from the water!


Battle to save stricken ship as Balearics continues to freeze
By Humphrey Carter

PALMA
THE Tramuntana had another dump of snow over Friday night, although this time the snow fell much lower than on Thursday night making driving treacherous first thing while the snow ploughs cleared and gritted the worst affected roads.

Over night temperatures dropped to as low as -3ºC and struggled to get anywhere near double figures during the day with the highest temperature at Lluc being 2.4ºC.

Fortunately, the northerly winds died down as the morning developed and shortly after lunch, the emergency centre dropped the gale warning from level two to level one, which enabled ports in Minorca to reopen to maritime traffic after being closed for 24 hours.

The improvement in the weather and sea conditions was also making it easier for the air sea rescue services to rescue a ship with a crew of 15 on board which was 15 miles adrift off the south of Minorca yesterday.

On Friday, a member of the crew had to be airlifted to hospital after suffering a fall after a fire broke out in the engine room while the Panamanian-flagged Haci Koksai Mataraci was 50 miles off Girona on the East coast of mainland Spain. However, over night, the 86-metre ship was pushed towards Minorca.

Yesterday morning, two air sea rescue helicopters attempted to airlift all of the crew to safety but the adverse weather conditions prevented the rescue mission from going ahead. However, the air sea rescue services said that the crew had all the necessary provisions and that they were in no real danger.

Yesterday afternoon, after the weather and sea conditions began to calm, another attempt to airlift the crew was being planned while salvage ships were being made ready to sail out to the stricken ship as soon as possible and tow her into port.

The weather is going to be rather similar today with snow forecast as low as 300 metres or perhaps lower at times.
Isolated showers can also be expected but day time temperatures will rise slightly.
But, tonight, it is going to be freezing cold again with the thermometre expected to drop below zero in the mountains, so watch out for black ice tomorrow morning.

 

[Sparky]

Yes Bella i read that in yesterday's DB, thankfully all of that was either up in the mountains or at sea, the weather here in Puerto Pollensa has been much kinder.

 

[Belladonna]

Thank goodness for that Sparky! It must be great to see it on the mountains, but not so great if causes problems in the port. Take care and keep those shutters locked!

 

[Sparky]

There is no snow on the local mountains yet and at the moment it is quite calm and 6.2c.