August 24, 2026 Tsunami: Balearic Islands, Spain

Ref #14478:

The State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) in the Valencian Community has explained the causes behind the sudden retreat and subsequent surge of seawater observed on the beaches of Xabia and other parts of the Valencian coastline. The phenomenon, technically known as a “meteotsunami” or “rissaga,” is caused by the formation of atmospheric gravity waves that generate surface pressure variations and push the water level.

The Aemet confirms fluctuations of up to four hectopascals in Xabia this morning, with peaks of greater instability between 10:10 a.m. and 10:20 a.m. These changes in the air mass alter the atmospheric pressure over the sea: a sudden rise or drop in pressure causes an opposite reaction in the water surface, a phenomenon known as the “inverted barometer” effect.

The fluctuations were accurately recorded by the State Ports Authority’s network of tide gauges. In the port of Gandia, the water level fluctuated by 70 centimeters in just five minutes, dropping from a high of +0.336 meters at 9:06 a.m. to a low of -0.371 meters at 9:12 a.m.

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This phenomenon was not limited to Xabia. The “meteotsunami”, that is, the sudden rises and falls in sea level caused by atmospheric gravity waves, was also observed early Monday morning along the coast of Denia: on beaches such as Marineta Cassiana, it was observed that, at five-minute intervals, the Mediterranean’s water level rose and fell by more than forty centimeters, resulting in the contrast seen in the photos above, which were taken precisely at those time intervals.

In this regard, MeteoXabia has provided another very interesting document: the atmospheric pressure graphs for yesterday, Monday morning, taken at the stations in l’Arenal, Puerto, and the Xabia Heliport. They show how “the pressure went haywire for a few hours, rising and falling not gradually, as is usual, but suddenly.” These stations are the closest to l’Arenal Beach, where the event could be clearly observed.

According to Aemet, the sudden changes in surface pressure are an indicator of the presence of gravitational waves. In Xabia, these changes were detected at 7 a.m. and 11 a.m., with a maximum fluctuation of 4 hPa between 10:10 a.m. and 10:20 a.m. local time.

Ref #14480:

The sea swelled to between 50 and 90 centimeters in Sant Antoni during the two rissagues recorded on Monday, August 24. This phenomenon flooded s'Arenal Beach and swept away part of the equipment set up for the concert on the main day of the Sant Bartomeu festivities. In fact, the damage caused by the floodwaters in the concert area forced the City Council to cancel the Guarromanticos concert. The State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) has specified the magnitude of this phenomenon, which was recorded at various locations across the Balearic Islands almost simultaneously.

According to a report by the State Meteorological Agency via its official X account, sea level fluctuations ranging from 50 to 90 centimeters were recorded in the ports of Sant Antoni, La Savina, and Andratx, nearly one meter.

The most intense event reported by the Agency occurred in Ciutadella, on Menorca, where the wave height reached 144 centimeters. Aemet notes that throughout the day, strong swells occurred in various coves and harbors on the islands.

Note: all text above translated via AI tools from original Spanish