Parts of Alicante province have recorded temperatures above 40°C during an unusually intense spell of early June heat. Two Ametse weather stations in Elda reached 40.2°C on 2 June, while 39.6°C was recorded in Orihuela and 39.4°C in Crevillent. Several other inland towns in the Vinalopó and Vega Baja areas reported highs between 37°C and 39°C. Aemet had issued a yellow warning for high temperatures along the southern coast.
The heat was especially severe inland, although coastal areas were also affected. In Alicante city, El Rebolledo reached 36.2°C, while the city centre remained at 28.2°C. Benidorm recorded 27.7°C and Torrevieja 31.7°C.
Overnight temperatures remained above 20°C in many areas, classifying them as tropical nights. The highest minimum was 23.4°C in Benimassot, with similarly high readings in Xixona, Confrides and Alcoy. Jorge Olcina, director of the University of Alicante’s Climatology Laboratory, said a westerly wind brought in what he described as the first strong surge of Saharan air, raising both land and sea temperatures.
Forecasters say temperatures will fall noticeably from 3 June, particularly inland, with highs expected to stay below 30°C. However, Olcina warned that as sea temperatures have already exceeded 22–23°C, tropical nights are likely to become common along the coast in the coming weeks and months.
This article was written with AI assistance and reviewed by a human editor before publication.