Red alert in Alicante, Valencia as heatwave prompts beach closures

The Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (AEMET) has activated a red alert for extreme temperatures (up to 42°C) on the southern coasts of Alicante and Valencia, alongside an orange alert for storms with strong winds and hail. Source: La Vanguardia

Beach closures and discrepancies

Several municipalities—including Alicante city, Orihuela, and Guardamar del Segura—banned swimming from 5 PM and hoisted red flags, while others like Benidorm and Finestrat said they would monitor conditions. Source: Infobae The closure is not uniform: El Campello kept its beach open despite it being the same stretch as Alicante's San Juan, highlighting inconsistent local responses. Source: La Vanguardia

Risk of heat bursts and tropical conditions

Meteorologists warn of "reventones cálidos" (heat bursts) that could produce winds exceeding 100 km/h and sudden temperature drops, similar to those that hit Elda and Petrer earlier this week. Source: El Mundo The University of Alicante's climatology lab noted that high humidity is pushing felt temperatures above 40–50°C, describing the air as "more typical of tropical latitudes." Source: La Vanguardia MeteoElx specifically highlighted a "real risk" in Elche after 4 PM. Source: Infobae

Weekend outlook

AEMET predicts slightly cooler temperatures for Friday, with highs around 32°C in Gandia and 34°C in Valencia, but the heat is expected to return over the weekend. Source: El Confidencial