The intense heatwave reached its peak this Friday in La Marina Alta, with the center of Pego recording the highest temperature at 36.7 degrees. Other locations such as l’Atzúvia, Pedreguer, the center of Dénia, and el Ràfol surpassed 35 degrees, while Verger, Ondara, Sagra, Parcent, the Vall de Gallinera, Els Poblets, l’Arenal de Xàbia, Xaló, and Benigembla exceeded 34 degrees, according to data from Avamet and MeteoXàbia. In total, 15 towns in the region, approximately the northern half, experienced temperatures above 34 degrees.

The southern part of the region was not spared from tropical nights either, with minimum temperatures not dropping below 20 degrees in stations in Calp, Benissa, Benitatxell, and Teulada. Other towns like Parcent, Sagra, the Vall d’Ebo, Xàbia, Pego, the Vall de Laguar, and l’Atzúvia also registered nights without thermal comfort, totaling 13 affected localities.

These readings are unusual for a May, being more typical of July. Forecasts indicate that the heat will not subside; in fact, starting Wednesday of next week, which marks the beginning of June, a thermal rise is expected to bring temperatures to heatwave levels, the hottest period of the year, as reported by MeteoParcent.

Furthermore, the temperature of the Mediterranean Sea continues to rise. The Valencia buoy recorded 23 degrees this Friday for the first time in historical records for the month of May, indicating an exceptionally warm sea state.