‘Warmer’ summer forecasted
A hot Mediterranean 'increases the probability of end of summer storms'
SUMMER is just a few weeks away and it is forecasted to be hotter than in an ‘average’ year in Spain, according to the preliminary forecast from Alicante university climatology laboratory.
Meteorologist Samuel Biener noted that the largest ‘anomalies’ will occur in the centre and west of the country, where the temperature is set to be between 0.5ºC and 1ºC warmer than the mean.
However, in the south-east of Spain and along the Mediterranean coast it is forecasted to be between 0.2ºC and 0.5ºC higher than average. According to Sr Biener, Alicante and other provinces on the coast are likely to benefit from cooling easterly winds off the sea.
However, he noted that the Mediterranean is already warmer than normal at this time of year, with the temperature over 20ºC in some areas.
He stated that this is a ‘very important factor’ in generating so-called ‘tropical nights’, in which the mercury fails to drop below 21°C (Torrevieja had its first of the year on Wednesday/ Thursday).
A warm Mediterranean also increases the probability of end of summer storms – as have occurred in recent years – if cut-off low pressure weather systems affect the south east of Spain.
With the threat of flooding in mind, regional justice and interior councillor Gabriela Bravo has urged town halls to complete their local emergency plans, which have to be sent to her department. She reminded that climate change has brought a greater threat of flooding to the Valencia region.
The plans ‘are necessary to give an adequate response and to protect residents, their property and the environment’, she said. In the coming weeks her department will hold meetings with town halls that do not have flood risk plans ‘in order to offer them help’.
The first points of contact will be in the Vega Baja, which was hit by devastating flooding in September.
Forecast
Hot weather and storms are set to affect south-east Spain in the coming days. High temperatures hit yesterday (Thursday), with Orihuela city set to record a high of 32°C – and Torrevieja and Dénia set to reach 29ºC and 31ºC respectively.
State weather agency AEMET reported that storms were likely to occur in the north of the province yesterday afternoon. They forecasted that the high temperatures would continue until Sunday, before dropping sharply on Monday when Alicante province and other areas could be affected by a period of rain.
Any weather warnings published by AEMET will be reported on the Costa Blanca News Facebook page.