Ok thanks, just ordered it.

The bad weather, especially the wind called the Mistral, is a weather situation caused when there is high pressure over the Bay of Biscay and low pressure in the Gulf of Genoa. This caused very strong NW winds across the northern Mediterranean which can affect the Balearics.

Not so far away, in Valencia, you are more likely to have decent weather as a result of the high pressure and are far enough away from the affected area further east.

It can happen in the summer as well as the winter. I spent some time sailing in that area and it is something to be carefully avoided.

On the other hand, Valencia and the east coast in general, can suffer, in winter, from the dreaded Gota Fria which does not affect the Balearics.

Mediterranean weather is very much more complex than the Atlantic weather which affects the UK and northern Europe.

The Gota Fria used to be a regular event here, lasting about a week on average often in October, yet the past two or three years it doesn't seem to have happened.

The Gota Fria is a very specific weather phenomenon and is quite localised. The climate changes that we are experiencing now will affect these sorts of things. The problem is that after a year or two of not having one, when you do it may be catastrophic. The floods in Cumbria are a good example of this.

This winter in Spain has been one of the warmest and storm free on record. Sadly, weather has a habit of averaging out over time so what we have gained, we will almost certainly lose. Whether it comes in the next two months or saves it up for next winter remains to be seen, but it will happen.

As I understand it, the Gota Fria is normally caused by or during the period of weather change in Autumn when the fresh cooler Atlantic systems meet the still warm moist air from the Med, usually in October and that is the way I've experienced it for many years.
As you say it is often localised.
I've seen some bad ones in April also, however that works I don't know, but to the best of my knowledge they are not a mid Winter occurance and I don't recall experiencing anything similar in mid winter.

That seems to be the way wiki describes it also.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_drop

You are splitting hairs - as far as I am concerned, it's a winter phenomenon rather than a summer phenomenon and yes, it's usually in October.

We actually had a similar situation here in the south last year - very unusual.

Spanish Winter in October ?

Winter usually starts in January up this way, that's if it starts at all.

I recall the reports from down South last year.

Until last Summer, we've had three years of almost total drought here, though there was some rainfall not too far away.
This area has almost always been a very green and pleasant land, but that drought had me really worried for a while, wildfires everywhere as well.
One came very close to the village after travelling almost 50 Kms, then fortunately the wind changed direction just in time.

Strange weather patterns, that's for sure.
Droughts and wildfires up north and north west where they normally get more rainfall than the UK .

Winter in October - no.

Winter weather in October - yes.

From a meteorological point of view, there are only two seasons in the Med, with a month or so of transitional weather between the two.

I can best explain it by quoting from the US Naval Reseach Laboratory who divides the winds of the Mediterranean into two distinct seasons: summer and winter. The end of the summer season in September sees windier conditions along the northwestern Mediterranean. In October, when the winter season begins, a transition occurs and winds in the eastern part of the sea begin to dominate. While wintertime is known as the choppier of the seasons at sea, wind conditions in October, because winds are making a seasonal transition, can vary.

That's one reason why everyone stops sailing in the Med by mid October and tucks up somewhere for the winter, ready to emerge in late April/early May.

I think we're talking about two different things Fred, though possibly there is a connection.
I know exactly what you mean about the Med in general, when the weather changes to variable Winter conditions in October and stays that way throughout the Winter.
I spent a lot of time on the smaller Greek Islands and the moment the first bad spell hit in October almost everyone in business shut up shop and the holiday season was virtually over.

The Gota Fria is a more temporary phenomena usually for a short period in October and often localised along the East Coast of Spain after which the weather normally settles again to pleasant conditions until January at least and sometimes right through the Winter.

That accounts for the more unsettled Winter conditions in Majorca compared to the Eastern Spanish Costas.

I'm not sure the weather in Mallorca is affected by the climatic conditions that form the Gota Fria. That is something that usually involves large land masses with wet air coming off the sea and as you say it is very temporary and sometimes doesn't happen.

Mallorca is basically in a normal maritime climate as it is essentially a small island in a large sea and that is why it is likely to be windier and wetter in winter. As I said earlier, it's just in the path of the Mistral as well, whereas that never affects the mainland east coast.

The weather here this winter has been really odd - no rain to speak of and more unusual, very little wind. Usually by now, the garden has been stripped bare by severe gales - this year virtually nothing significant.

The weather in Spain never ceases to amaze me - it's hardly surprising that the forecasts are frequently way out - it must be a nightmare for the forecasters whereas in the UK forecasting is far simpler.

The weather along the south coast is dominated by the mountains on either side of the Alboran Sea. It blows 90% of the time either from the east or west and can change from one to the other in the space of a couple of hours. That can be less than amusing if you are out sailing!

Yes, Fred, that sounds consistent with what I'm seeing here. We've had a few windy days, and a few rainy ones, but overall it's been sunnier and warmer than usual. Has been for a few years actually. Last real "winter" I remember was years ago. But then, come April and May, it can be very unpredictable, especially after a warm winter.