Nocturnal Lightning Flood: Mallorca Experienced Unusually Prolonged Brightness

When the Night No Longer Goes Dark

At around two o'clock in the night I stared out the kitchen window and wondered: It did not get dark. No spotlight, no street festival — the sky flickered again and again, as if someone tirelessly flashed with a camera. In several places on the island, including Pina, Andratx and Palma, neighbors reported exactly this effect: an eerie, almost permanent brightness that turned the night into a trembling twilight.

What happened

The thunderstorm cells moved from the southwest onto the island and produced within a short time an enormous number of lightning bolts. The result: not a single bright flash, but a kind of flickering glow that lasted for minutes. Some witnesses said it could no longer get really dark — phones beeped, children woke, dogs barked.

For the south coast and the southwest it was also a small weather turning point: in these regions, the first notable rainfall amounts in weeks fell. Those on the drive to work this noon saw wet streets and scattered puddles everywhere.

Radar, warning levels and outlook

The weather radars showed that the wet situation could persist until including Wednesday. Accordingly, the Orange warning level applied to large parts. Meteorologists expect a calming by Thursday — until then the guidance is: stay alert, plan trips and heed local announcements.

How the island reacted

On social media channels in the morning, numerous videos and photos of bright flashes circulated, some described the event as a thunderstorm concert. Police and road maintenance authorities warn: especially in low areas and under trees it can be slippery, and the sewer system is not yet fully prepared for larger amounts in some places. Tourists with booked flights should expect delays — at the airport there have already been occasional delays.

An elderly man in my neighborhood summed it up: I have never seen sea-light like that, it was like daylight flying at night. A small anecdote: in a bar on the Plaza the espresso machine took unplanned breaks because the attendant stood outside counting the flashes.

Practical tips

If you are out today: avoid unnecessary trips through flood-prone streets, don't park in depressions and regularly check local warnings. Nature has given us this time a loud, bright reminder — and a few wet streets besides.

I will go back to the window tonight, of course with a cup of tea. Not out of sensationalism, but to see whether the night stays dark this time.