The Government warns of the risk of fires due to lightning strikes from storms.

PalmThe Government does not expect the rains that will fall this Wednesday in the Balearic Islands to cause flooding, but warned that the storms will be accompanied by electrical equipment, whose lightning could cause a fireAccording to forecasts from the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet), the next few hours will be unstable, with the first critical moment of the day expected between 12:00 and 18:00. A cold air front is expected to collide with the warm air masses, causing severe storms with rainfall of up to 50 liters per square meter. These could be accompanied by electrical disturbances and possible disasters, as well as a slight drop in temperature, according to Europa Press.

The storms are expected to primarily affect the channel area between Ibiza and Mallorca and move across the south and east of Mallorca in the coming hours, with winds that could gust up to 80 kilometers per hour. Menorca may have been affected since early this morning and into Thursday.

"Right now, the main concern is electrical equipment, as we've had weeks of high temperatures and the ground is dry, so a lightning strike could easily cause a fire, as happened Tuesday in Ibiza," warned Pablo Gárriz, Director General of Emergencies and the Interior.

The Director General, however, noted that the storms do not appear likely to cause flooding, as the forecast is that even if they discharge heavily, they will not last more than an hour. The cleanup carried out in the torrents, he explained, helps prevent the risk.

Gárriz also called on citizens to be responsible, recommending that they follow the self-protection advice disseminated by Emergencies 112.

The Government maintains the orange alert (Severity Index 1) of the Special Plan for Adverse Meteorological Phenomena (Meteobal) and the yellow forecast for Menorca (Severity Index 0) due to rain and storms in Ibiza and Formentera.

The General Directorate of Emergencies and the Interior is continuously monitoring the weather situation, together with Aemet, which issues bulletins and warnings corresponding to these predictions. Depending on how the situation develops, the Technical Advisory Committee may convene again this Wednesday afternoon.

Risk of damage

For the first time, the Government has launched an awareness campaign with self-protection tips tailored to prevent the risks posed by the arrival of a possible storm.

This campaign aims to reach citizens through official government channels, but also through media outlets such as the print and local press, radio, television, and digital media.

"We are very clear that the best possible strategy when the weather conditions are adverse is for citizens to have all the necessary information to ensure their safety and promote a culture of self-protection," explained Second Vice President and Minister of the Presidency, Antonia Maria Estarellas.