Arrival of the 'Superstorm' Bert: How Will It Affect Alicante?

After experiencing the effects of storm Caetano, the Iberian Peninsula is bracing for the 'superstorm' Bert. Although this atmospheric phenomenon will originate in the British Isles, Alicante and much of the country will not escape its influence.

According to Samuel Biener, a researcher and communicator at the UA's Climatology Laboratory, Bert is a "very anomalous storm and possibly a record-breaker for November," due to its significant pressure drop of 40 hPa or more.

Very active fronts and strong southwesterly winds will cause this storm to approach the Iberian Peninsula by Sunday evening, bringing locally heavy and occasionally stormy rains to Galicia, while extending to other parts of the west-northwest and the Cantabrian coast. Intense waves are expected in the western Cantabrian Sea, with some waves possibly exceeding 8-9 metres off the Galician coast.

The province of Alicante, along with the rest of the Mediterranean arc, will avoid these showers, but will notice a slight increase in temperatures. According to the UA climatologist, temperatures in the city of Alicante could reach a maximum of 25ºC on Sunday; a temperature that could persist until mid-next week.

The situation will be widespread throughout the province, with slightly cooler temperatures in the Alicante interior, such as in Alcoi, with nighttime values ranging between 9ºC and 12ºC, but daytime highs could reach 25ºC.

On the other hand, during the early hours of Friday to Saturday, some showers could appear in Alicante, although not related to storm Bert. "The convergence of cold air at high altitudes combined with surface winds will create favourable conditions for showers at sea and along the coast, which will move inland," says Biener. This phenomenon is expected to reach the province via the Vega Baja coast and move northwards into the interior.