A powerful storm has struck Majorca, with locals bracing to see massive waves as tall as 40ft, while parts of the island turned white after a freak hailstorm lashed down on the holiday hotspot.
Spain’s weather agency AEMET issued an orange storm alert on Thursday for Majorca and warned that huge waves were expected to hit the eastern coast of the island.
‘Be vigilant and check the current weather forecast regularly’, the weather agency warned.
‘Damage to people and property is possible, especially to vulnerable individuals or those in exposed locations’, the agency said, advising people to take caution while visiting beaches.
Ferocious winds of up to 90km/h have swept through the Spanish island and are predicted to continue until later in the day.
It comes after Majorca was covered in a blanket of white yesterday following a freak hailstorm that left shocked locals saying that the hailstones were the size of walnuts.
Astonishing images showed streets in the usually-sunny island covered in sheets of icy pebbles.
The tourist resort of Cala Rajada in the northeast of the island was the worst hit by the hail dump, with videos showing how rocks of ice violently lashed down against the roads and vehicles.
The hailstorm was likely the result of a sudden drop in temperature as parts of Southern Europe have been funnelled by a winter storm.
Neighbouring island Menorca has also been issued a moderate weather warning due to strong winds blowing between 50 and 5km/h and waves reaching 20ft.
The rest of Spain is also bracing for severe drops in temperature due to an Arctic blast, with significant snowfall expected in the Pyrenees in the coming hours.
Strong gusts of northerly winds have also been tearing through the northeastern Ebro and Emporda regions, while the regions of Cantabria, Asturias and Galicia are expecting heavy rainfall and some snowfall.
This is the latest mega storm to strike Spain after the country had its roads turn to rivers after the country was pounded by storm Melissa.
Dramatic videos show cars battling through torrents of flood water in Barcelona where a warning to stay indoors has been issued.
Ferocious winds and torrential heavy rain also caused chaos on the holiday island of Majorca where flights were grounded and roads were blocked.
Weather warnings have also been issued across the border in Portugal, with the country’s Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere placing its Azores islands under a yellow alert due to expected heavy rainfall.
Meanwhile Greece is expecting heavy rain, thunderstorms and hail on Thursday.
The powerful storms are expected to strike its Ionian Islands, the Peloponnese and the western mainland.
A significant influx of dust from Africa is also headed for Greece, which will result in muddy rain across several regions, reducing visibility and air quality.
Due to a high alert from the Hellenic National Meteorological Service, all schools in central and southern Corfu will be closed on Thursday, as well as the local university.
Meteorologists have also warned of a high probability of localised flooding, while strong southerly winds are expected across the islands.
The freak winter storm tearing through southern Europe comes after freezing Arctic air swept across the UK last week, with temperatures dropping to -7C in the Highlands.
