ARCHIVED - Heat peak to hit Alicante province from Wednesday

Climatology experts at Alicante University predict a "third heat wave of the summer".

Alicante province faces a third heat peak from Wednesday, July 21, with scorching temperatures of up to 44 degrees Celsius, according to researchers at Alicante University's Climatology Laboratory.

Professor of Regional Geographic Analysis, Jorge Olcina, previously predicted two earlier "heat peaks" in July, and says a third is on its way, explaining that "rising Mediterranean sea water temperature is the key to the climate changes we are currently experiencing".

"This is the reason for the tropical nights we have been suffering. This does not happen in the interior of the peninsula, where it cools down at night. But in Alicante province we have heat which lasts many more hours, day and night".

The Mediterranean sea is apparently warming at twice the rate of air temperature, and since 1980, the temperature has risen 1.40 degrees Celsius, while the air has warmed by 0.70 degrees, as illustrated in the image.

"The effects of climate change in our area are becoming more and more evident in summer, resulting in an extension of the season, which begins in June and extends until September/October, and the phenomenon of tropical nights are occurring with increasing intensity", adds Olcina.

On Monday, July 12, the province recorded temperatures of between 43 and 44 degrees in the Elche-Crevillent-Orihuela area, the second time in July, with Mercury having previously risen on July 5 and 6, according to the Climatology Laboratory, but the good news is these sharp rises are considered "peaks" rather than a heatwave because they are brief. 

Meanwhile, Spain's met office, Aemet, has also warned of a rise in temperatures, with 36 to 38 degrees Celsius expected across the Valencian region on Thursday, July 22.

IMAGE: Alicante University/Aemet