Other hotspots included Ontinyent, Pego, Oliva, and Palma de Gandia. Credit: GIROMIN STUDIO / Shutterstock.com
The Costa Blanca woke up on Sunday July 20 under an orange alert for high temperatures, with predictions of up to 40°C in inland areas—and reality exceeded expectations in many places. After a record-breaking June and Mediterranean waters warmer than ever, the region is settling into a worrying pattern of relentless heat.
According to Spain’s State Meteorological Agency (Aemet), six provinces remain under weather alerts. The outlook for the weekend is uncertain, with coastal weather models showing growing instability. Inland, temperatures are expected to remain extreme, while along the coast, everything depends on the battle between sea breezes and the dry, hot poniente wind. If the latter wins, thermometers could spike again.
At 3 a.m. in the coastal town of Javea (Xàbia), urban thermometers already showed 33°C—close to the day’s maximum—a clear sign of how relentless the heat has become even overnight.
Thursday July 17 has been one of the hottest days of the year across the region, surpassing the extreme highs recorded on Sunday June 30. According to the Associació Valenciana de Meteorologia (Avamet), more than 20 municipalities experienced ‘feels like’ temperatures above 45°C due to a combination of high humidity (around 40–50%) and soaring heat.
A staggering 51°C
While official thermometers may have stopped short of 40°C in many towns, the heat index told a much harsher story. At 6:30 p.m., Avamet reported that the ‘feels like’ temperature in La Pobla del Duc reached a staggering 51°C, despite the actual reading being 39.4°C. Quatretonda and Albaida followed closely with 49°C and 48°C respectively. Other hotspots included Ontinyent, Pego, Oliva, and Palma de Gandia.
Experts stress this is no coincidence but a result of specific conditions—especially humidity—amplifying the heat’s effects on the human body. “The thermometer says one thing, the body feels another,” said Avamet.
Relief may come soon. A notable drop in daytime highs is also forecast, potentially falling below 30°C in many parts of the region—welcome news after a truly sweltering spell.