MALAGA PROVINCE – Following a brief respite of cooler weather with gentle breezes and temperatures around 32 degrees, the region has been sweltering with intense heat again with thermometers soaring above 40 degrees since Monday. The main cause is the ‘terral wind’.
The Spanish meteorological institute, Aemet, has extended its heat warning for both Malaga and the Costa del Sol. Tuesday saw a red alert indicating extreme risk, and this has been extended for another two days. Both yellow (risk) and red (extreme risk) alerts are in place, signaling temperatures that could approach 40ºC on Wednesday, 2nd August.
Related: Tips for sleeping well during a heatwave in Spain
Tourists and locals in holiday hotspots on the western stretch of the Costa del Sol, such as Torremolinos, Benalmadena, Mijas, Marbella, and Estepona, will particularly feel the heat. The sweltering conditions also extend inland to the Guadalhorce valley, encompassing areas like Coín and Alhaurin el Grande. Certain locales, including Pizarra and Cártama, might even see the thermometer hit 42°C between 1:00 pm and 9:00 pm.
Offshore wind – ‘terral’
The relentless hot offshore winds – in Malaga called ‘terral’ – show no signs of relenting, compelling residents and visitors alike to depend heavily on fans, air conditioning, swimming pools, and the sea for relief. Moreover, the Axarquia region, situated to the east of Málaga, is under a yellow weather alert, with temperatures anticipated to peak at 38°C.
Thursday’s Forecast
The heatwave continues into Thursday, with many parts of Malaga shifting from an orange to a yellow alert. Thermometers are projected to register 38°C well into the evening. However, areas like Antequera and Ronda will enjoy a slight respite with cooler temperatures, around 37°C and 34°C respectively. Nighttime won’t bring much relief either, as Aemet projects nighttime lows hovering between 26-29°C from Wednesday through Friday.
On the bright side, Aemet predicts the end of the intense heat with a notable dip in temperatures beginning Friday. Therefore, Malaga city and its surroundings will experience more comfortable highs of around 29-30°C.
Also read: How to survive how to survive the next heatwave in Spain
