BOTH the Costa Blanca and Costa del Sol remain under an alert for extreme heat this weekend – despite an overall drop in temperatures as Spain’s third heatwave of the summer finally relents.
The mercury climbed towards a scorching 45C in parts of the country earlier this week, with conditions made even more oppressive by exceptionally high humidity.
According to Valencia weather agency Avamet, the city recorded dew points of up to 30C on Thursday afternoon – just 5C shy of the highest dew point ever measured on earth, set in Saudi Arabia in 2003.
While temperatures are forecast to ease over the weekend, residents and holidaymakers are still being urged to exercise caution with heat alerts remaining in force.
On the Costa del Sol, a lower level yellow warning has been activated for Sol y Guadalhorce and Axarquia, which covers locations including Malaga, Marbella and Estepona.
Aemet warns that temperatures could hit around 36C, despite proximity to the coast often meaning it is cooler than inland areas.
It is a similar tale on the Costa Blanca, with the regions of Castellon, Valencia, Alicante and Vega del Segura also under yellow alerts, with highs of 38C forecast in some areas.
Extreme heat warnings are also active on the islands of Ibiza and Mallorca, and on the Catalan coast near Tarragona.
However, it is a different story in the north, where this week’s record-breaking heatwave will give way to thundery weather and heavy downpours.
Orange alerts have been activated on the Cantabrian coast and near Girona and Barcelona, where thunderstorms are expected to hit and up to 30mm of rain could fall in just one hour.
Despite an overall drop in temperatures, much of Spain remains in danger from wildfires.
In a post on social media, the Policia Nacional shared a map showing the country almost entirely coloured in red – indicating an ‘extreme’ risk of wildfires breaking out.
“Do you see the map of Spain coloured red,” the force wrote.
“Then you already know…it is time to take it very seriously and go to great lengths with precautions to avoid forest fires.”
The latest warning comes after more than 60,000 residents were forced to flee their homes or stay indoors as three menacing wildfires leave a trail of destruction near Madrid.
Earlier this month, 13 people – including several British expats – were killed in Almeria after a devastating wildfire hit the popular village of Bedar.
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