Ibiza and Formentera face a rough start to the school year as the Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (Aemet) has issued an orange alert for violent storms and heavy rain, with wind gusts of over 90 km/h. The highest risk is expected on Wednesday between 10:00 and 21:00, when up to 40 litres of rain per square metre could fall in just one hour. There is a 40% to 70% chance of severe downpours, with possible hail. Emergencias 112 Baleares reports that the alert covers the entire Balearic archipelago. The storm is linked to a weather front moving in from the Iberian Peninsula.
After 21:00, the alert drops to yellow, but the risk of intense rainfall, up to 30 litres per square metre in an hour, remains until midnight. Coastal conditions add to the concerns: Aemet has a yellow warning in place all day, with northerly and northeasterly winds reaching 60 km/h and waves up to four metres. The chance of rain rises from 35% in the early morning to 80% by late afternoon, then drops to 50% at night. Temperatures are expected to range from 23 to 32 degrees. This follows a period of yellow alerts for extreme heat, with Ibiza recently nearing 40°C, a sharp shift to unsettled weather, information from Periodico de Ibiza.
"The official forecast notes that a temperature drop of around 10°C is expected during the storm episode, with rough sea conditions likely to persist until Thursday."
Aemet
Thursday brings little relief. Unsettled weather will continue into the morning, just as students return to classrooms across the Pitiusas. From midnight to 7:59, yellow alerts for rain and storms remain in effect, with a renewed risk of 30 litres per square metre in an hour and a 40% to 70% chance of further downpours. Coastal warnings stay in place until midday, with winds of up to 50 km/h and waves reaching three metres. The chance of rain is 70% during the first half of the day, falling to 15% in the afternoon as conditions slowly improve. Temperatures should range from 20 to 29 degrees. Aemet warns that marine hazards will outlast the heaviest rain, so caution is still needed for coastal activities.
The forecast shows some improvement by the weekend, though further showers are possible. On Friday, the chance of rain is 45% in the morning and 35% in the afternoon, with temperatures between 20 and 29 degrees. Saturday brings a 45% risk of rain and slightly warmer highs. Sunday looks calmer, with only a 15% chance of rain and temperatures steady between 21 and 30 degrees.
"The severe weather episode is described by primary sources as short but intense, with the most impressive risks concentrated on Wednesday. But, the marine warnings are expected to remain in place longer than the heaviest rainfall, potentially affecting ferry schedules and coastal transport until at least Thursday."
Emergencias 112 Baleares
These warnings are part of a wider pattern of severe weather along Spain’s coast. Similar alerts were recently issued in Galicia, where storms and heavy rain disrupted daily life, as reported earlier. For the Balearics, the timing of the storms creates additional challenges for schools and families, as local authorities adjust plans for the start of the school year.
Aemet’s warnings highlight the risks of severe weather coinciding with the start of classes, including pressure on local infrastructure and the need for a rapid response. The forecast points to better weather by the weekend, but the storms show how unpredictable conditions have become a regular part of life in Spain’s island communities.
