Holidaymakers hit the Benidorm beaches amid freak winter heatwave of 30C

26 January 2024 , 11:26

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Beaches are full of people enjoying beaches in Spain (Image: SOLARPIX.COM)

Beaches in areas of Spain have been packed out all week after temperatures in the country rocketed to more than 30C.

The conditions in areas including Murcia, Malaga and Valencia have reached temperatures usually seen in the summer months. The mercury usually reaches around half the current heat being experienced by people in the country. Thousands of people are making the most of the heat, caused by an anticyclone in the Mediterranean, and flocking to beaches.

The unseasonal weather certainly sounds more appealing than in the UK, where several storms have battered the nation in the last week, causing at least five deaths, transport nightmares and power cuts. And before that, Britain shivered through sub zero temperatures after just getting over severe flooding.

David Corell, from the University of Valencia, told AFPTV: “There are no studies yet evaluating the long-term trend of this type of event but it is clear we are experiencing this type of abnormal situation more and more frequently.” The unseasonal heat has also crossed into southern France where places such as Marseilles are basking in 20C.

Among those to make the most of the heat in Spain were Brits Graham, 38, and Darren, 48, who regularly travel to the tourist hotspot and say their holiday is cheaper than warming their homes. The pair got return flights for £37.99 each from Newcastle Airport.

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Temperatures have reached more than 30C (SOLARPIX.COM)

As the UK shivered in cold conditions, they enjoyed 24C heat and sunshine. Their accommodation at the Carlos V apartments in Benidorm cost £70.86. Meanwhile, at home Gram says his electric and gas bill costs him £120 per week with another £130 on the food shop.

He said: “I feel not enough is done to help people with the cost of living and people see no way out. In the UK - £250 wouldn't get you much but in Benidorm, that kind of money gets you a lot." The heatwave in Spain follows much milder weather as a colder Atlantic front brought the mercury down as low as minus 12.

The north and centre of the country was affected by snow with the cold weather front working its way further south towards the beach resorts. The full bulletin issued at the time by the Spanish national weather forecaster warned the "greatest thicknesses" of snow was predicted in the Cantabrian Mountains, North Iberian and Western Pyrenees.

Antony Clements-Thrower