Intense hailstorm hits Menorca, Spain

A sudden and intense hailstorm struck Menorca, Spain, on Tuesday morning, December 5, 2023, particularly affecting Mahon. The storm, not forecasted by Aemet, delivered heavy rainfall, with Mahon receiving 24 mm (0.95 inches) in just 15 minutes.

On the morning of December 5, 2023, the island of Menorca in Spain was taken by surprise by an intense hailstorm. The storm was so severe in Mahon, the island’s capital, that it led to temporarily blocked drains and necessitated the diversion of traffic. This unexpected weather event caused a significant amount of precipitation, with Mahon recording 24 mm (0.95 inches) in a mere 15 minutes. Other areas in Menorca experienced as much as 64 mm (2.5 inches) of rain in an hour.

The hailstorm caused a notable drop in temperatures across the island. In places like Alaior, temperatures plummeted to 6 °C (42.8 °F).

Radar images from Aemet, the Spanish meteorological agency, captured the storm’s trajectory as it moved straight through Menorca, notably missing the neighboring island of Mallorca. This occurrence was unexpected, as the forecast for the region had predicted possible rain, particularly for northern areas of Mallorca, but not a storm of this magnitude.

The weather outlook for Mallorca, in contrast, is currently anticipating thunderstorms on Friday, December 8, which coincides with the holiday for the Immaculate Conception. The forecast suggests that the entire island will experience a very wet and windy day.

Una tempesta molt activa va descarregar a Maó 24.2 mm en tant sols 15 min, la major part en forma de calabruix. pic.twitter.com/muYRxbdmiH

— AEMET_Baleares (@AEMET_Baleares) December 6, 2023

⛈️Aigua i calabruix corrent pels carrers del Maó, efectes d'una forta tempesta que en només 15 min ha deixat 24.2 l/m2

Dades i vídeo de Toni Carreras (col·laborador d'Aemet). pic.twitter.com/A1gpgg3Wsn

— AEMET_Baleares (@AEMET_Baleares) December 5, 2023

Tempesta⛈️ de bon matí entrant per Cavalleria i sortint per Sant Lluís. Ha deixat un màxim de precipitació a Maó d'uns 27,5 mm🌧️ i una intensitat d'uns 64 mm/hora☔. Algunes parts de Maó ha deixat uns cm de calabruix important.@AEMET_Baleares @esdiarimenorca @Meteo_Menorca pic.twitter.com/yANlKYENYH

— BalearicsMeteo (@balearicsmeteo) December 5, 2023

References:

¹ Minorca hit by surprise hailstorm – Majorca Daily Bulletin – December 5, 2023

Featured image credit: Toni Gener Ferrero (stillshot)