Majorca weather warning after meteo-tsunami alarms tourists

A major weather warning has been issued at a popular holiday hotspot after a "meteo-tsunami". The unusual weather phenomenon hit Majorca's shores with force.

Shocking scenes unfolded as the sea level surged and inundated parts of Puerto Alcudia on the island's northeast, catching holidaymakers off guard. Authorities raised an amber alert for the Balearic island on Tuesday in anticipation of severe weather conditions.

The Spanish national meteorological agency AEMET issued warnings about the 40 to 70 per cent chance of a "rissaga", or meteotsunami, expected between Wednesday evening and Thursday morning.

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These unusual tsunami-like phenomena are caused by swift changes in atmospheric pressure associated with fast-moving weather systems, including thunderstorms.

Aemet Met Agency spokesperson Miquel Gili delved into the specifics of how the meteo-tsunami came about, tying it to storm-induced pressure fluctuations. He elaborated: "Pressure variations affect sea level. If the pressure increases, the sea drops; if the pressure drops, the sea rises."

"The peculiar nature of these oscillations is their rapidity. The sea level can undergo significant elevation or depression within as little as quarter of an hour, only to stabilise shortly after."

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Fortunately, this instance of the meteo-tsunami did not result in substantial harm. However, the Majorcan coastline hasn't always been so lucky. In 2018 a similar event wreaked havoc across holiday spots, sweeping waves into beachfront establishments at Port Andratx.

A German father of two tragically lost his life after being swept out to sea in Majorca, mere hours after a tsunami devastated the holiday island's beaches.In Menorca's port city of Ciutadella, a colossal wave, nearly five feet high, caused chaos as it crashed into the shoreline.

Yacht owners were caught on camera in a desperate struggle to prevent their boats from being carried away by the powerful current.