Palma will hold its traditional Christmas lights switch-on this Saturday, 22nd November, while thousands of residents and visitors keep a watchful eye on weather forecasts. The island has been under the influence of an Arctic air mass in recent days, which has brought rain, hail, cold temperatures and strong winds to the region.
However, the Balearics' territorial delegation of the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) has shared positive news for those planning to attend the festive celebration. In short: no rain is expected and winds will gradually ease by evening.
Aemet's prediction for Saturday in the Balearic capital indicates cloudy intervals, trending towards clearer skies by afternoon. While some isolated and occasional precipitation may occur during early morning hours, no rainfall is expected during the evening and night. Consequently, the event organised by Palma's City Council should proceed without weather disruptions, as it's scheduled for 7pm. Nevertheless, attendees should dress warmly as temperatures will remain chilly, with minimum temperatures between 4°C and 8°C, while maximum temperatures will reach only 14°C-15°C.
Wind conditions will also improve throughout the day. During early morning and morning hours, gusts will range between 20 and 30 kilometres per hour, occasionally reaching 50-60 kilometres per hour in some areas. By evening, westerly winds will decrease significantly to just 5-15 kilometres per hour.
The weather in Palma will therefore improve notably by Saturday evening, allowing attendees to enjoy the Christmas lights switch-on without rain or wind interference. It's advisable, however, that visitors dress appropriately for the cold temperatures.