Residents and tourists across Spain’s Mediterranean coast and the Balearic Islands have faced a tumultuous start to the week, as severe storms and torrential rain battered the region, triggering widespread flooding, travel chaos, and urgent weather alerts. The State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) raised the alarm on October 13, 2025, upgrading Mallorca’s weather warning to orange—signifying a serious risk—amid forecasts of rainfall reaching up to 50 litres per square metre in a single hour. The orange alert remains in effect from midnight through 6pm on October 14, 2025, a stark escalation from the previous yellow warning.
According to reporting from the Majorca Daily Bulletin, this latest warning follows a weekend of relentless rain that had already caused significant disruption and flooding across the Balearic Islands. The deluge was so intense that, in Ibiza, a car was swept away by rising waters, and emergency services were forced into action to rescue people trapped in vehicles. The Independent described scenes of muddy torrents carrying cars and debris through the streets of Tarragona, a city on the Catalonian coast, as Storm Alice—the system responsible for the chaos—swept through the region over October 11 and 12.
Travel infrastructure bore the brunt of the storm’s fury. Ibiza airport was forced to suspend flights temporarily on October 12, 2025, as heavy rain and storms inundated the island. The situation inside the airport was equally dire, with indoor areas closed due to water leaking through the ceilings and pooling on floors. On the mainland, train services between Barcelona and Valencia ground to a halt, as tracks in low-lying areas disappeared beneath floodwaters. Several major roads were closed, stranding motorists and further complicating rescue efforts.
Emergency services responded swiftly to the crisis. As reported by The Independent, rescue teams worked through the weekend to free drivers trapped in submerged vehicles. "People were trapped in cars," the report noted, and the images circulating online—showing vehicles bobbing in muddy water—left little doubt about the storm’s severity. Despite the dramatic scenes, authorities confirmed that there were no reports of deaths or serious injuries, a testament to the rapid response of local emergency personnel.
Weather authorities scrambled to keep pace with the evolving situation. On October 13, Aemet issued further amber warnings for the Mediterranean coastline, including Valencia, Tarragona, and Barcelona, as well as for the Balearic Islands. These warnings predicted rainfall of up to 40mm per hour for the coastal regions, with the possibility of hail and powerful wind gusts. For Ibiza, the forecast was even more dire: up to 50mm of rain in just one hour.
Majorca, meanwhile, was initially placed under a yellow warning for rain on October 13. However, as conditions deteriorated, Aemet upgraded the warning to orange, reflecting the growing concern about the potential for flash floods and further disruption. The orange alert—covering the entire island—was set to last from midnight to 6pm on October 14, 2025.
The impact of Storm Alice was not limited to the Balearics. On the mainland, the storm’s effects were felt most acutely in Catalonia and along the Mediterranean corridor, where flash floods left towns reeling. The city of Tarragona, in particular, saw streets transformed into rivers, with torrents of muddy water sweeping up anything in their path. Reports from The Independent highlighted the suspension of train services and closure of roads in these areas, as authorities worked to contain the damage and keep residents safe.
For many, the storm brought back memories of previous severe weather events that have struck Spain in recent years. The country’s Mediterranean coast and islands are no strangers to autumn storms, but the intensity and frequency of such events have raised questions about changing climate patterns and the challenges of safeguarding vulnerable communities. The rapid escalation from yellow to orange alerts underscored the unpredictability of the situation and the need for residents and visitors to remain vigilant.
Despite the weekend’s chaos, there was some hope on the horizon. Weather forecasts indicated that conditions would gradually improve for mainland Spain starting October 14, with most amber alerts expected to be lifted. However, the Balearic Islands remained under threat, with the worst of the weather predicted to hit Mallorca and Ibiza through Tuesday. By Wednesday, the front was forecast to move eastward, leaving only a yellow warning in place for Menorca.
Travelers hoping to visit or depart from the affected regions were urged to check with airlines and transportation providers for the latest updates, as delays and cancellations continued to ripple through the system. Palma Airport, the main gateway to Mallorca, experienced widespread delays due to the heavy rain, with further disruptions possible as the storms persisted. The Majorca Daily Bulletin reported that the adverse weather had already caused significant backlogs, and with the orange alert in effect, authorities were bracing for additional challenges.
Looking ahead, officials stressed the importance of heeding official warnings and avoiding unnecessary travel during periods of intense rainfall. Local governments issued advisories urging residents to stay indoors, keep away from flood-prone areas, and follow instructions from emergency services. The rapid response over the weekend—coupled with the lack of fatalities—demonstrated the effectiveness of these measures, but the situation remained fluid as the storms continued to lash the region.
For those living in or visiting Spain’s Mediterranean coast and the Balearic Islands, the past several days have served as a stark reminder of nature’s power and unpredictability. As the country braces for more extreme weather in the future, the lessons learned from Storm Alice will no doubt inform preparations and response strategies in the years to come.
With the orange alert in place for Mallorca until 6pm on October 14, and further warnings for the Balearic Islands, authorities remain on high alert—hoping the worst has passed, but prepared for whatever comes next.
