Series of Storms

A Complicated January in Formentera

Formentera, February 1, 2026

In the final days of January, Formentera experienced a succession of strong winds and rough seas that had a widespread impact across the island. Port activity, public safety, and several basic services were affected by the persistent adverse weather conditions.

One of the most significant episodes occurred with the arrival of storm Ingrid, which caused major damage to maritime infrastructure and highlighted the coastline’s exposure to winter storms. From that moment on, wind and rain continued to dominate the news for several consecutive days.

The effects were not limited to the maritime sphere. Fallen trees, isolated power outages, and preventive measures by authorities formed part of a scenario that required extreme caution.

Despite the intensity of some of the episodes, both residents and professionals agreed that the weather was typical for this time of year, although the consequences were more visible due to weakened infrastructure and forested areas.

Damage to the Port and Navigation Issues

Storm Ingrid destroyed the buoys marking the entry and exit channels of La Savina port. The beacons installed in 2025 could not withstand the storms and were torn away by the waves—some were broken and washed up along the coast of es Cavall d’en Borràs, inside the Natural Park of ses Salines.
Although official records indicated that one buoy was still operational, in practice, no signage properly marked the channel, posing a risk to less experienced sailors. The Balearic Port Authority announced the installation of a provisional buoy and the study of a more permanent solution.
The duplication of the port’s entry channel, implemented in May 2025 to organize maritime traffic by vessel size, has not delivered the expected results. The storms exposed issues with the positioning of the beacons, especially in shallow areas where wave impact is always greater.

Incidents on Land

The storm’s effects spread across the entire island for several days. Formentera’s firefighters carried out numerous interventions to remove fallen pine trees from rural roads, protected areas, and places near residential zones such as Cala Saona, Porto Salè, Camí Vell de la Mola, and Sant Francesc.
There were also isolated hailstorms and several power outages that affected various areas of the island, including La Savina, es Pujols, la Mola, and Sant Francesc. In Pilar de la Mola, wind gusts exceeded 100 kilometers per hour.
Due to the wind risk, authorities closed off access to the seafront promenade in La Savina port, areas near the Fishermen’s Guild, and a children’s playground. Numerous ferry crossings between Ibiza and Formentera were also cancelled.

Damaged Boats and New Incidents

Storms Joseph and Katrin followed, bringing strong gusts that caused several boats to break free from their moorings in s’Estany des Peix. Three boats ran aground on the shore, and a fourth was nearly submerged after filling with water while still moored. The situation caused concern among owners, who rushed to the area to assess the condition of their vessels.
The various storms also damaged businesses in the port area, including the partial collapse of a restaurant terrace roof in La Savina, which prompted firefighters to cordon off the area for safety.
The latest wind event, recorded on January 31, dragged a Port Authority container into the sea. The container, which stored equipment for an anti-pollution barrier, had been located on La Savina’s dock for months. Due to wind gusts once again exceeding 100 km/h, the container was blown into the sea and ended up on the rocks near sa Sequi, alongside a large maritime buoy also torn off by the storm that battered Formentera in the last days of January.