Autumn may officially have arrived, but nobody appears to have told the Costa Blanca weather.
Temperatures will climb as high as 31C in parts of Alicante province this Thursday 24 September, with plenty of sunshine and no rain expected in the main towns covered by the forecast.
Aemet predicts mostly clear or lightly cloudy skies, although some low cloud may appear along the coast during the morning.
The biggest difference will come between the cooler mornings inland and the much warmer afternoons.
Where will it be hottest?
Alcoy, Elda and Orihuela are all forecast to reach 31C, while Elche should peak at 30C.
Alicante city and Denia are expected to reach 29C, with Torrevieja at 28C and Benidorm slightly cooler at 27C.
It will feel rather different first thing in the morning, particularly if you live inland.
Alcoy starts the day at just 14C before temperatures climb by 17 degrees to 31C. Elda has a forecast low of 16C, while Elche begins at 17C.
Along the coast, the nights remain noticeably warmer. Benidorm and Torrevieja both have forecast lows of 20C, while Alicante starts at around 19C.
Sunshine for Alicante and Elche
Alicante city can expect a settled Thursday, with some cloud during the morning and around midday before clearer skies arrive later.
Temperatures will range from 19C to 29C, with no rain forecast.
Elche will also see a mixture of cloud and long sunny spells, with temperatures ranging from 17C to 30C. The forecast gives the city a 0% chance of rain throughout the day.
Benidorm and Torrevieja stay a little cooler
If 31C sounds a bit excessive for late September, the coast offers slightly milder conditions.
Benidorm is forecast to reach 27C after a low of 20C. Some early cloud should give way to increasing sunshine as the day continues.
Torrevieja will range from 20C to 28C, with a mixture of cloud and clear spells. Rain is not expected there either.
Orihuela, meanwhile, will be considerably hotter. Temperatures should rise from 18C in the morning to 31C during the afternoon, making it one of the warmest places in the province today.
A 17-degree temperature swing in Alcoy
One of the more striking forecasts comes from Alcoy.
The city starts Thursday at just 14C but could reach 31C later in the day. Early cloud should clear as the morning progresses, with no rain expected.
Denia will also remain dry, with temperatures between 18C and 29C. Winds there could reach around 20 km/h during the middle of the day.
Across the province, winds will generally remain light and variable early on before shifting towards southerly and easterly directions from around midday. Coastal areas may become breezier during the afternoon.
So while the calendar says autumn, Thursday has decided to hang on to summer for a little longer.
Bridging the Gap’s recap
- Temperatures could reach 31C in parts of Alicante province on Thursday 24 September.
- Alcoy, Elda and Orihuela are forecast to be the hottest at 31C.
- Elche should reach 30C, with Alicante and Denia at 29C.
- Torrevieja can expect 28C and Benidorm 27C.
- Alcoy has the biggest temperature contrast, rising from 14C to 31C.
- Coastal nights remain warmer, with lows of around 20C in Benidorm and Torrevieja.
- No rain is expected in any of the towns covered by the forecast.
- Winds may become slightly stronger along the coast during the afternoon.
