Why have there been so many lightning strikes this afternoon in the Balearic Islands?

The Balearic Islands were illuminated this evening by intense and constant lightning, amidst a storm episode that has affected different parts of the Islands, leaving 75 incidents, according to data from the Emergency Coordination Center. The electrical activity has left a spectacular sky full of lightning, as can be seen in the images recorded in Colònia de Sant Pere by geographer Miquel Salamanca. The phenomenon, however, is not exceptional at this time of year. According to him, it is a "very typical" pattern for the end of August in the Balearic Islands and the Mediterranean.

The key is the combination of several atmospheric factors. "At the end of summer, we have all the ingredients for strong storms to form," points out Salamanca. On the one hand, there is a lot of accumulated energy on the surface and, especially, with the sea which is very hot this year. On the other hand, the first drops or incursions of cold air arrive in the middle and upper layers of the atmosphere. This temperature difference favors the vertical development of clouds and allows very powerful stormy structures to form. "The combination makes very powerful clouds grow that we don't have at other times of the year," explains the geographer.

A line of storms from the Pitiusas to Mallorca and Menorca

This afternoon's episode was dominated by a line of storms formed by several nuclei. The system initially formed in the Pitiusas and subsequently moved towards Mallorca and Menorca.

Salamanca recalls that these storms are very localized phenomena. Therefore, differences can be significant even between relatively close areas: while it may rain very intensely at the point where the most active nucleus passes, a few kilometers away practically no drop may fall.

In addition to rain and lightning, these storms have been associated with strong gusts of wind. During this evening's episode, gusts of over 90 km/h were recorded in Ibiza and Mallorca, while at Menorca airport, 121 km/h was reached.

What are the squalls that accompany storms?

These strong gusts of wind are called downbursts, a phenomenon associated with storms that can cause damage.

According to Salamanca, they are produced by the descending cold air that accompanies precipitation. This air falls with force from the cloud to the surface and, upon reaching the ground, can disperse in all directions, causing a sudden increase in wind speed.

More than 30 incidents in Mallorca, 27 in Menorca, 14 in Ibiza

Regarding the 75 incidents due to the storm, according to information from the Balearic Islands Emergency Coordination Centre, 31 were in Mallorca, distributed among seven in Manacor, six in Felanitx, three in Calvià, and three in Sant Llorenç; 27 in Menorca, the majority in Maó (13) and six more in Alaior and four in Es Castell; 14 in Eivissa distributed among six in Sant Josep and four in Santa Eulària, and three in Formentera.

The majority (33) were fallen trees, and there were also eight interruptions of basic services and seven detachments of urban elements. Obstacles or liquids on the road (5), risks of detachments (4), drifting boats (4), floods in buildings or establishments (2), and other cases such as floods on public roads, traffic accidents, people in danger at sea, and various fires of different typologies were also attended to. This Friday at first light, a total of 13 incidents were still open, including six interruptions of basic services, two detachments of urban elements, four fallen trees, and one flood in an establishment.