Yesterday, Thursday 23rd July, severe thermal bursts struck southern parts of the Alicante province, bringing powerful wind gusts and rapid temperature spikes to areas including Torrevieja, according to the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) in the Valencian Community.
Data from the Valencian Meteorological Association (Avamet) revealed that a thermal burst featuring wind gusts exceeding 90 kilometres per hour swept across the coastline between Santa Pola, where temperatures reached 41.8 degrees, and Guardamar del Segura, which hit 41.6 degrees. Nearby, the weather station on the island of Tabarca recorded a peak of 41.4 degrees, a remarkable figure given that the station had only passed 34 degrees once since its installation.
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Further reports gathered by the Climatology Laboratory at the University of Alicante highlighted that a storm delivered hail to Beniardà in the Guadalest valley, a phenomenon also observed in surrounding villages. A thermal burst was additionally reported in the municipality of Aspe, alongside a probable similar event in Algayat, located within La Romana. Meanwhile, MeteoElx recorded wind gusts reaching 92 kilometres per hour in the Carrizales area of Elche.
These weather events occurred while Aemet placed the southern coasts of Alicante and Valencia under a red warning for extreme temperatures of up to 42 degrees. An orange warning was simultaneously declared for coastal Alicante due to storms accompanied by strong wind gusts and possible hail, while the interior of the province remained under a yellow storm warning.
The peak of the third heatwave of the summer saw temperatures surpass 43 degrees across several locations in the region. Bicorp recorded 43.9 degrees, closely followed by Villena at 43.7 degrees and Alcoy at 43.5 degrees. Readings in Bicorp rose by nearly 9 degrees in a single day, while Villena and Alcoy experienced jumps of almost 7 and 8 degrees respectively.
Other notable maximum temperatures across the region included 42.9 degrees in Chelva, 42.7 degrees in Pinoso, 42.5 degrees in Ontinyent, 42 degrees in Fontanars dels Alforins, 41.8 degrees in Orihuela, 41.5 degrees in Xàtiva, 40.8 degrees in Bejís, and 40.7 degrees in both Zarra and Ademuz. Furthermore, Jalance reached 40.3 degrees, Montanejos 40.2 degrees, Carcaixent 39.6 degrees, Pego 39.3 degrees, Turís and Llíria 39 degrees, Utiel and Novelda 38.7 degrees, Barx 38.6 degrees, and Elche registered 37 degrees. In the provincial capitals, Alicante recorded a maximum of 33.8 degrees, Castellón 32.5 degrees, and Valencia 32 degrees.
