Summer returns to Alicante with highs of 35 ºC and tropical nights

Alicante has not said goodbye to summer, at least in terms of temperature. The State Meteorological Agency warns of rising mercury and announces highs that will reach 35 ºC during the central hours of the day and tropical nights in the provincial capital.

Therefore, the 'veroñal' atmosphere continues in which the Alicante region is installed during the first days of autumn. The images of bathers crowding Postiguet beach in Alicante on Tuesday confirm this, although few are brave enough to swim due to the water temperature.

The hottest days will be this Wednesday and Thursday (October 2 and 3). By the end of the week, the weather will give a break and the highs will drop several degrees to 27, according to Aemet's forecast, but tropical nights will continue throughout the week.

For Thursday, the state agency announces rain - with a 90% probability - but with highs of 31 degrees and lows of 21 in the city of Alicante. Precipitation and heat will be accompanied by another guest that will make for a strange day: wind, with gusts reaching 30 km/h.

Meanwhile, Emergencies 112 CV increases the pre-emergency level for forest fire risk for this Wednesday, October 2, and rates it as "high".

But the worst part is still the nights. During this week, tropical nights return to our dreams (or nightmares), those that exceed 20 degrees. A phenomenon that has already settled throughout the summer and also threatens to extend into autumn.

It is rare but not exceptional to have minimum temperatures above 20 degrees at this time of year. There are already records later with these temperatures, but they were isolated cases. Now it seems to be established.

Since 1938, the first year with records, we have gone from experiencing 19 tropical nights, above 20 degrees, to almost reaching 100 in 2023, according to data provided by Aemet. Last August, the Alicante observatory published that almost one out of every three days exceeds 20 degrees at night in the province.

The increase in temperatures could change tourism in Alicante, according to a BBVA Research report warning that this sharp increase could lead to up to a 40% drop in summer visitors.