Spain’s State Meteorological Agency has activated yellow weather warnings for parts of the Comunitat Valenciana as strong westerly winds move in on Thursday. The conditions are linked to Storm Leonardo, which is expected to have its greatest impact during the middle of the day.

Forecasters say gusts could reach up to 80 kilometres per hour in Valencia province, inland areas of Alicante and southern inland Castellón, with warnings in place between 10 am and 6 pm. The westerly flow will bring in warmer air of tropical origin, causing a notable rise in temperatures, with highs exceeding 22 to 23 degrees in low-lying coastal and pre-coastal areas.

Rainfall is expected to be limited, with generally light showers possible inland and in the northern third of the region, occasionally moderate. Along the coast, southern Alicante will also be under a yellow warning for coastal conditions, with south-westerly winds of up to 60 kilometres per hour and waves of three to four metres. Northern Alicante’s coast will see slightly lower seas, with waves of around three metres.