Mallorca faces record sea temperature as heatwave intensifies

The Balearic island of Mallorca is under a severe heatwave with daytime temperatures reaching up to 42 °C. In the Bay of Pollença, the Spanish harbour authority recorded sea‑water at 30.1 °C – the first time the Mediterranean around the island has exceeded 30 °C this year. The national weather service AEMET has issued orange‑level heat warnings for Monday‑Wednesday, noting that Saharan dust is also degrading air quality.

Authorities advise residents and tourists to avoid outdoor activities during the peak heat and to stay in cooled indoor spaces at midday. Forecasts expect inland highs of up to 39 °C, with nighttime temperatures staying above 20 °C, causing sleep disturbances for many visitors.

The heatwave extends across southern Europe, with Spain, France, Greece and Portugal reporting thousands of deaths and wildfires burning tens of thousands of hectares. Legal experts say that travelers can only claim free cancellations if extreme heat leads to concrete disruptions such as evacuations, infrastructure failures or safety risks, not merely high temperatures.