Alicante Faces Extreme Heat Wave with Temperatures Expected to Hit 44°C

The State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) has issued a heat wave warning for Alicante, effective Tuesday, with temperatures projected to peak at 44°C on Thursday. This weather event follows a Monday where several inland areas exceeded 40°C and humidity pushed the thermal sensation as high as 53°C in specific locations like El Verger, according to data from Avamet and Aemet.

Current Temperature Peaks and Thermal Sensations

Monday’s heat was characterized by extreme maximums and “equatorial nights,” where temperatures did not drop below 25°C. According to Avamet, l’Orxa recorded the highest maximum at 41.2°C, followed by La Vall d’Alcalà at 40.9°C and Gaianes at 40.8°C. Other areas crossing the 40°C threshold included Planes, Alcoy, Beniarrés, Agres, and l’Alqueria d’Asnar.

The impact of humidity significantly altered the perceived temperature. In El Verger, a recorded temperature of 35.9°C combined with 72% humidity created a thermal sensation of 53°C. This disparity highlights the danger for residents in the Marina Alta and El Comtat regions, where humidity levels remained high.

Meteorological Drivers: The Role of the DANA and North African Air

Aemet attributes this heat wave to a “blocking pattern” involving a stationary DANA (isolated high-altitude depression) located northwest of the Iberian Peninsula. This system, combined with a high-pressure area over North Africa, is forcing a mass of warm, dry air—often carrying suspended dust or calima—into the southeast of Spain and the Balearic Islands.

This atmospheric setup, paired with typical seasonal solar radiation and generalized subsidence, is driving a progressive temperature increase. Aemet warns that the level of danger is “important or even extraordinary” during the central hours of the day, particularly for vulnerable populations, including the elderly and those with cardiovascular diseases.

Forecast and Regional Alerts for the Week

The heat wave is expected to persist through Thursday, with the most intense heat concentrated in the interior of the Vega Baja. Aemet’s current outlook for the week is as follows:

• Tuesday: Yellow alerts for the interior and southern coast. Intervals of mid-to-high clouds with suspended dust. Possible afternoon storms in the interior.
• Wednesday: Continued high temperatures in the interior. Low clouds on the coast and potential for weak precipitation and wind gusts in inland areas.
• Thursday: The peak of the episode, with temperatures potentially reaching 44°C in the interior of the Vega Baja.
• Friday/Weekend: A projected decrease in temperatures as a cooler air mass enters the peninsula, though Aemet notes this forecast is still being finalized.

Fire Risk and Environmental Hazards

According to Aemet, the risk of wildfires is increasing toward “extreme” values. This risk is compounded by the possibility of “dry storms”—thunderstorms that produce lightning but little to no rainfall—specifically in the mountain areas of the eastern third of the peninsula. Factors such as the evolution of the DANA, the intensity of the calima, and wind direction remain primary sources of uncertainty regarding the exact duration of the heat wave.

Regional Temperature Summary