Blanket of snow spreads to Corsica after Mallorca was hit by 20 inches as Storm Juliette brings Balearic blizzards to southern Europe
- Storm Juliette hit Mallorca, known for its sun-drenched beaches, on Sunday
- The Balearic island was covered in snow and the storm has now hit Corsica
The French island of Corsica, famed for its searing temperatures and sun-bleached terracotta coastal towns, has been blanketed with snow as Storm Juliette sweeps across the Mediterranean.
Much of the island’s rocky terrain sitting above 800m in altitude was battered by a blizzard which had hours earlier dumped more than a dozen inches of snow on the Spanish holiday destination of Mallorca.
Parts of the French island under 800m in altitude have instead been lashed with heavy rain, while winds as high as 55mph punished the coastline.
Images from the town of Vizzavona – which sits roughly 1km above sea level – saw snowploughs deployed to clear away several inches of snowfall from the roads as villagers, wrapped in heavy winter clothing, staggered through the blizzard.
One man was seen struggling across a field in seemingly knee-deep snow while mothers carried their children on their backs.
A snowplough sweeps the road along the Vizzavona pass, as heavy snow covers the mountains on the French Mediterranean island of Corsica in Vizzavona on February 28, 2023
A woman carries her child as she walks along a street in the village of Vizzavona
A man struggles through knee-deep snow in Vizzavona
A man and his child build a snowman in the village of Vizzavona, as heavy snow covers the mountains on the French Mediterranean island of Corsica
Though residents of Corsica are battling the blizzards and heavy rain uncharacteristic of the Mediterranean, Juliette’s impact on Mallorca was far worse with 20 inches of snow shutting roads and cutting power in dozens of towns.
The Spanish holiday island was covered with snow Monday and Tuesday and officials issued a rare red alert warning for the second day in a row as a further 15 inches is expected to fall in the next 24 hours.
Storm Juliette first hit Mallorca, known for its beautiful sandy beaches and near year-round excellent weather, on Sunday and has since brought blizzards and cold weather to the Balearic island.
Spain’s meteorological agency AEMET warned the coastal regions in northern Mallorca will be hit with 55mph winds and 26ft waves.
AEMET issued a red warning for snow Tuesday afternoon and warned 15 inches will fall in the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range in the north of the island within 24 hours.
Storm Juliette hit Mallorca – known for its sun-drenched beaches – on Sunday and has since then brought rare blizzards and cold weather to the Balearic island
Snow and fallen branches covers a road in the Serra de Tramuntana mountains in Mallorca on Tuesday
Workers remove fallen branches and trees after a heavy snow in Serra de Tramuntana mountains in Mallorca on Tuesday
Workers remove fallen branches and trees after a heavy snow in Serra de Tramuntana mountains in Mallorca on Tuesday
Workers remove fallen branches and trees after a heavy snow in Serra de Tramuntana mountains in Mallorca on Tuesday
Spain’s meteorological agency AEMET warned the coastal regions in northern Mallorca will be hit with 55mph winds and 26ft waves
When you think of the Spanish holiday island of Mallorca, you might think of bikini-clad tourists enjoying a sun-drenched day at the beach. But today, the island was covered in snow. Pictured: File image of Magaluf beach in Calvia, Mallorca
The meteorological experts had predicted 16 inches of snow would fall by early Tuesday, but more than 20 inches blanketed the town of Valldemossa where temperatures have plummeted to -2C (28.4 Fahrenheit).
The snow storm has also led to power cuts in dozens of towns including Valldemossa, Alaró, Vilafranca and Port d’Alcúdia.
20 inches of snow has also forced the closure of up to 15 roads in the Serra de Tramuntana region.
And AEMET has also issued an amber warning for rainfall, with 100mm expected in the Serra de Tramuntana range.
In the past eight hours the highest accumulated precipitation – 128.4mm – has been recorded in Pollença, a town in northern Mallorca.
In the rest of the island, orange and yellow warnings have been activated for winds of more than 70km/hr and precipitation that could exceed three inches in some areas.
Snow has also covered parts of Ibiza and it has an active yellow warning for 13ft waves today.
And in neighbouring Menorca, there are active orange warnings for 90km/hr winds which have left the island cut off by the sea following the closure of port Maó.
Emergency services and civil guard work in the area of Cala Sant Vicens in Pollensa, Mallorca, because of fallen trees on the road and flooding due to storm Juliette
Snow covers Serra de Tramuntana mountains in Mallorca, Spain, on Tuesday
A sign reading ‘Closed road’ is seen after a heavy snow storm in the Serra de Tramuntana mountains in Mallorca,
AEMET issued a red warning for snow today and warned that 15 inches of snow will fall in the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range in the north of the island within 24 hours
Snow covers Serra de Tramuntana mountains in Mallorca, Spain, on Tuesday
Young prickly pear cactus are seen covered in snow at Serra de Tramuntana mountains in Mallorca on Tuesday
Snow covers Serra de Tramuntana mountains in Mallorca, Spain, February 28, 2023
Mallorca has been gripped by a winter storm that is wreaking havoc on the Spanish holiday island, with 20 inches of snow shutting down roads and cutting off power. Pictured: Town of Valldemossa covered in snow
Two people walk down a snow-covered street in the mountain village of Valldemossa during a heavy snow-fall, on the Spanish Balearic island of Mallorca on Monday
A woman walks down a snowy street in Valldemossa on February 27
A van stops after skidding on a snow-covered road close to the mountain village of Valldemossa
Local residents in Valldemossa throw snowballs at each other amid the snow storm on Monday
Snow covers Serra de Tramuntana mountains in Mallorca, Spain, on February 28
Snow covers Serra de Tramuntana mountains in Mallorca, Spain, on February 28
A person walks close to the Cartoixa de Valldemossa palace in Valldemossa
The snow storm has also led to power cuts in dozens of towns including Valldemossa, Alaró, Vilafranca and Port d’Alcúdia
Heavy snowfall is seen in the village of Valldemossa in Mallorca due to the Storm Juliette
A person walks down a snow-covered street in the mountain village of Valldemossa during a heavy snow-fall, on the Spanish Balearic island of Mallorca
Storm Juliette also hit Spain on Monday, leaving some regions completely white as heavy snowfalls beat across the country.
The storm is expected to cause low temperatures and strong cold winds across the country and Balearic Islands until Thursday, AEMET said on Monday.
Elsewhere in Europe, hundreds of people in Croatia were stuck in their cars on Monday after a snowstorm halted traffic and cut off parts of the country.
The sudden change in the weather over the weekend after a period of warm and balmy days also snarled up traffic in neighbouring Serbia and Bosnia.
The weather left areas in western Serbia without power and cut railway traffic to neighbouring Montenegro.
A person walks close to the Cartoixa de Valdemossa palace in the mountain village of Valldemossa covered in snow in Mallorca on Monday
AEMET issued a red warning for snow today and warned 15 inches will fall in the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range in the north of the island within 24 hours
Storm Juliette hit Mallorca, known for its sun-drenched beaches, on Sunday and has since brought blizzards and cold weather to the Balearic island
A woman walks down a snow-covered street in the mountain village of Valldemossa during a heavy snow-fall on Monday
The Cartoixa de Valdemossa palace in the mountain village of Valldemossa is covered in snow in Mallorca on February 27
This picture shows the mountain village of Valldemossa covered in snow on February 27
The meteorological experts had predicted 16 inches of snow would fall by early this morning, but more than 20 inches blanketed the town of Valldemossa where temperatures have plummeted to -2C (28.4 Fahrenheit)
Storm Juliette hit Mallorca, known for its sun-drenched beaches, on Sunday and has since brought blizzards and cold weather to the Balearic island. Pictured: Locals walk through the heavy snow in Valldemossa
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