Alicante hits 33°C today, feels like 40°C, no heat alert

Today's essentials (5 key points)

• Alicante is set for a hot day with a high near 33°C, climbing to 34°C inland across the province.
• A serious crash on the N-332 near Benissa left two people dead and two injured on Saturday, according to elperiodic Alicante.
• Santa Pola council has banned swimming at Gran Playa over water-quality concerns, the Olive Press reports.
• Retirees in the Marina Alta draw a median pension of 1,031 euros a month, 210 euros below the regional average, according to La Marina Plaza.
• Torrevieja has awarded the design and technical-management contract for the San Roque civic centre, elperiodic Alicante reports.

Today's essentials

Alicante hits 33°C today, feels like 40°C, no heat alert. Alicante is in for a hot but calm Monday, with a low of 25°C and a high of 33°C, and AEMET has placed no yellow or orange warning on the province of Alicante today, according to its official municipal forecast.

Weather today

Costa Blanca weather: hot day, coast around 31 to 33°C. Expect a hot day across the Costa Blanca on Monday 10 August, with highs of 33°C in Alicante city, 34°C inland and 31°C on the northern coast, according to Open-Meteo.

In Alicante city, Open-Meteo forecasts a low of 26°C and a high of 33°C under an overcast sky, with only a 13% chance of rain and winds up to 16 km/h. Inland around Elda it climbs a touch higher, from 23°C at dawn to 34°C, with scattered showers possible (15% chance) and gustier winds up to 21 km/h. On the northern coast at Javea, the range is tighter, 27°C to 31°C, cloudy, with light winds up to 15 km/h.

With highs at or above 34°C inland, keep water on you, plan errands and beach time for the early morning or after sunset, and stay out of direct sun during the hottest hours of the afternoon.

Transport & traffic

• Alicante airport passed 12 million passengers back in 2016. Alicante-Elche airport reached its 12-millionth passenger of the year during 2016, a milestone AlicanteOut cites as a marker of the Costa Blanca's tourism health. The figure is dated, but the point still holds for anyone flying in or out today: the airport is one of Spain's busiest holiday gateways, which means frequent connections across Europe but also long queues at check-in and security in peak summer. If you are travelling this August, arrive well ahead of your slot and expect the terminal to be crowded, especially on weekend mornings.
• Two dead, two injured in N-332 crash at Benissa. A serious crash on the N-332 at Benissa on Saturday left two people dead and two others injured, according to elperiodic Alicante. The N-332 is the main coastal road linking the towns of the Marina Alta and Marina Baixa, and it carries heavy holiday traffic through Benissa in August. If you drive this stretch, allow extra time and expect possible delays around the accident site while investigations and clearance continue.

What's changing for you

• Doing Alicante on a budget. AlicanteOut is running a guide to visiting Alicante cheaply, aimed at travellers who want a full trip without overspending. The practical takeaway is simple enough: on the Costa Blanca in high summer you can cut costs a lot by shifting demand away from the peak, book accommodation inland or a short bus ride from the seafront, travel midweek rather than at weekends, and lean on free public beaches and outdoor events instead of paid attractions.

Local news to know

• Torrevieja awards San Roque civic centre design contract. elperiodic Alicante reports that Torrevieja's local government board has awarded the contract to draw up the plans and provide technical management for the new San Roque civic centre.
• Santa Pola: mostly clear, warm day ahead. Santa Pola is set for a largely clear, warm Monday, good for outdoor plans, according to Informacion.
• Marina Alta pensions run 210 euros below regional average. La Marina Plaza reports that retirees in the Marina Alta receive a median monthly pension of 1,031 euros, 210 euros less than the average for the Valencian Community and the eighth-lowest in the region.
• Another sweltering night: Dénia sensors read 35°C at midnight. Urban sensors in Dénia registered up to 35°C shortly after 11pm, with overnight lows staying above 26°C across both the coast and the inland valleys of the Marina Alta, according to La Marina Plaza.

Things to do today

• Swimming banned at Santa Pola's Gran Playa. The Olive Press reports that Santa Pola council has banned swimming at Gran Playa, one of its main beaches, over water-quality concerns after tests by the regional water authority. If you were planning a swim there, choose another beach until the ban is lifted, and watch for the council's flags and notices at the shoreline before going in.