Autumn Storm Alert: DANA Weather System Heading for Mallorca This Weekend
Friday, October 16th, 2026
Travellers planning to fly through Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI) over the coming days should prepare for potential travel disruptions. Spain’s State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) and Civil Protection authorities have issued alerts for severe weather across the Balearic Islands, driven by an incoming autumn storm system.
Weekend Forecast and Possible Flight Impact
After a period of mild, sunny conditions, Mallorca’s weather is set to turn sharply from Saturday, the 17th of October. AEMET forecasts that the most severe conditions will hit between Sunday, the 18th of October and Monday, the 19th of October, bringing torrential rain, severe thunderstorms, high winds, and rough coastal seas. Rain accumulations could exceed 150 to 250 millimetres in affected areas.
Potential Impact on Flights at Palma Airport
Heavy downpours, low visibility, and strong wind gusts can significantly impact air traffic control operations at Palma Airport:
- Air traffic control delays: Flow rate restrictions are frequently imposed during intense thunderstorms to maintain safe spacing between aircraft, leading to rolling ground delays for both arrivals and departures.
- Diversions and holding patterns: In cases of severe cloudbursts or lightning directly over the runway threshold, incoming flights may enter holding patterns or divert to other airports.
- Baggage and ramp operations: Ground handling operations may be temporarily suspended during active lightning strikes to protect airfield staff, which can cause delays in baggage loading and aircraft pushbacks.
If you are scheduled to fly on Sunday or Monday, check your flight status with your airline before travelling to the airport, allow extra travel time to reach PMI due to localised road flooding, and monitor official airport live updates.
What Is a DANA?
The upcoming disturbance is caused by a meteorological phenomenon known in Spain as a DANA (Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos, or Isolated Depression at High Altitudes).
A DANA occurs when a pocket of cold polar air detaches from the main atmospheric jet stream and sinks southwards. Floating isolated high up in the atmosphere, this cold air mass collides with the warm, humid air rising off the Mediterranean Sea. The extreme temperature contrast acts as a trigger, causing warm air to surge rapidly upwards and form heavy storm clouds capable of dropping immense volumes of water in short periods of time.
Outlook for the Coming Week: What Holidaymakers Can Expect
For visitors staying on the island or arriving next week, the severe weather is expected to ease relatively quickly.
- Monday 19 October: Unsettled conditions persist with a high probability of heavy rain and thunderstorms. Highs around 21°C.
- Tuesday 20 October: Rain showers will begin to taper off throughout the day, clearing up by the evening as the storm system moves eastwards. Highs around 22°C.
- Wednesday 21 October onwards: Weather conditions stabilise significantly. Sunnier skies and pleasant mid-autumn temperatures (highs around 22°C to 24°C) are set to return for the remainder of the week, offering far better conditions for sightseeing and travel.
Featured image generated with AI.
