Cold weather set to hit hard in Alicante and Murcia
Residents will to wake up to freezing temperatures this morning
THE FIRST cold snap of the winter was set to arrive overnight in Alicante province and Murcia – leaving sub-zero temperatures this morning (Friday) in many inland areas.
State weather agency AEMET published a special bulletin on Monday warning that northerly winds would bring ‘a mass of freezing polar air which would arrive from north-east continental Europe'.
“During Thursday this will cross the whole of the Iberian Peninsula,” notes the bulletin. It will start off being wet (in the north of Spain) but will soon dry up. The drop in temperatures will lead to heavy frosts in many areas.”
Wind chill factor
They explained that strong winds will make the temperature feel even colder.
According to AEMET, the lowest daytime temperatures in Alicante province will be today (Friday), with Torrevieja set to record a high of 12°C, Orihuela 11°C, Benidorm 12°C, Villena 9°C and Confrides in the Guadalest Valley 6°C. Overnight the mercury is set to dip to just 2°C by dawn on Saturday morning in Torrevieja, -2°C in Orihuela, 5°C in Benidorm, -4°C in Confrides and -7°C in Villena. On Saturday the highs will reach 13°C in Benidorm, 13°C in Orihuela and 14°C in Torrevieja. AEMET said both daytime and night-time temperatures with rise from Sunday, with a high of 17°C forecasted for Torrevieja on Monday.
Director of the regional agency for emergencies José María Ángel advised residents to ‘take precautions’ due to the arrival of the cold weather.
His department sent a bulletin to town halls noting that freezing temperatures at night could have adverse effects on vulnerable people such as the elderly, the chronically ill, and the homeless. Sr Ángel also warned about ice on the roads.