Brrrrrrrrr. Christmas weather. The Costa Blanca woke up to one of the coldest and wettest Christmas Days in recent years.
A mass of cold air, pushed in by easterly winds, brought steady rain and a sharp drop in temperatures. This was not a day for beach walks or outdoor lunches.
By 20:00, parts of the northern coast had recorded close to 100 litres of rain per square metre. AEMET issued an orange weather alert for heavy rain, upgrading it from yellow earlier in the evening. The alert remained in place until 06:00 on Friday 26 December.
The rain was widespread and constant. There were no major downpours, but it did not stop either. Inland areas felt the cold even more. Sub zero temperatures were recorded in several towns, with the lowest temperature in Villena, in the area of Hondo de la Lagunilla. Daytime highs struggled to reach 13 degrees.
Costa Blanca Christmas weather
The worst of the storm is expected to ease early Friday morning. The break should last until Sunday, when rain may return and continue into Monday. The cold will stay, although it should not be quite as biting as on Thursday.
By 14:00, the Climatology Laboratory at the University of Alicante reported rainfall totals of 10 to 15 litres in parts of the countryside, with rain still falling. Conditions were described as cold and very damp.
According to Avamet, by 20:00 the heaviest rain was in the Marina Alta.
Sagra recorded 101.2 litres, followed by Orba with 97.2, Valle de Laguar with 81, Los Poblets with 80.3, La Adsubia with 80.2, Confrides with 72.2, Valle de Ebo with 67.6, Dénia with 66.4, and Benigembla with 66 litres. Many nearby towns saw similar figures.
Elsewhere in the province, rainfall totals of around 30 litres were recorded in parts of the Marina Baixa, Vega Baja, Baix Vinalopó, l’Alacantí, l’Alcoià, and El Comtat. The Medio and Alto Vinalopó saw lower totals, generally between 10 and 25 litres.
Costa Blanca rain
Most of the rain fell along the coast, especially in the Marina Alta and Vega Baja. Even so, it reached almost every part of the province. The good news is that it was mostly gentle rain. Apart from the Marina Alta, there were no serious problems reported.
The Provincial Fire Consortium attended five rain related incidents in Dénia, Pego, Senija, and Balones.
Temperatures on Christmas Eve were equally chilly. Villena recorded -3.5 degrees, Jijona -3.2, Onil -3, Banyeres de Mariola -1.9, Pinoso -1.8, Castell de Castells -1.6, Alcoy -1.1, and Muro de Alcoy -1.
Maximum temperatures stayed low. Isla de Tabarca reached 13.4 degrees, Villajoyosa 13.2, El Campello 12.8, Calpe and Altea 12.7, Jávea and Benidorm 12.3, and Pego 11.9.
Higher ground was even colder. Aitana reached just 0.7 degrees, El Menejador in Alcoy 1.9, the Sierra de Salinas in Villena 2.5, and La Carrasqueta in Jijona 3.7. Many inland towns, including Alcoy, Alfafara, Torre de las Maçanas, and Cocentaina, barely reached 5 degrees.
Weekend weather forecast
AEMET forecasts cloudy skies for Friday, becoming partly cloudy later in the day. Light rain is expected during the morning, with moderate rain along the northern coast early on. Minimum temperatures will change little, while maximum temperatures should rise slightly. Winds will be moderate from the northwest, easing and turning westerly later.
Saturday should be partly cloudy, with more cloud towards the evening and a chance of light rain. Temperatures will stay similar or fall slightly. Westerly winds will turn easterly from midday, becoming moderate along the coast.
Sunday brings more cloud and light rain across the province. Minimum temperatures will rise, possibly sharply in some areas. Maximum temperatures will rise slightly in Castellón and remain steady elsewhere. Coastal winds will be easterly and northeasterly, lighter inland.
