STORMS WASH IN BOAT ON BENIDORM BEACH
THIS week's heavy storms have proved a godsend for many drought-hit areas of the province.
In some areas, the amount of rainfall has broken all records for the month of August.
On Wednesday, the weather station at Alicante-Elche airport recorded 42.1 litres per square metre, an all-time high, beating the 32 litres of rainfall in 1974.
Alicante city collected 46 litres in the city centre and 53.6 on San Juan beach, beating the amount collected in 1939.
Between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning it rained most in the area of l'Alacanti, followed by the Marina Alta and then the Marina Baixa.
Jávea registered 70 litres over the two days.
August 2017 is now the second month of the year with most rainfall. Although this is not the only year that August has had a lot of rain, it also rained in August 2013 and 2002.
Jorge Olcina, director of Alicante University's weather lab, said: "Since 2000, the month of August is becoming an autumn season month, due to rising sea water temperatures caused by global warming."
Yacht on Levante Beach
A 12-foot yacht was washed up on Benidorm's main beach on Wednesday morning. The boat's British man and wife crew had decided to anchor close to the coast as a precaution. However, the strong wind caused the yacht to break its anchor and pushed them onto the beach.
Both managed to walk off the boat onto the sand unharmed.
Beaches damaged
The heavy rainfall damaged many beaches.
Elche lost sand from the Arenales del Sol beaches and foot showers were damaged.
Santa Pola's Calas de Santiago Bernabeú were also adversely affected.
The storm caused an estimated €4,000 worth of damage to Campello's Muchavista beach. Heavy ran shifted walkways and carried sand out to sea.
Alicante's Albufereta beach was dived in two, the sand washed away when floodwater gushed down a gorge. Around 2,000 homes in Albufereta also suffered an electricity blackout.
Three people had to be rescued from cars in La Alcoraya, while in San Vicente del Raspeig a tree blew over.