Index
Introduction
The Costa Blanca ("White Coast"), the part of the Spanish south-eastern coast belonging to the
province of Alicante, has a
Mediterranean climate, with mild, relatively rainy winters and hot, sunny summers. Because of its exposure to the southeast, the Costa Blanca has a mild and sunny microclimate. There are towns like Denia, Javea, Moraira, Calpe, Altea, Benidorm, Villajoyosa, El Campello,
Alicante, Elche, Guardamar del Segura,
Torrevieja.
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Climate chart - Torrevieja
The daily average
temperature ranges from about 12 °C (53.5 °F) in January and February to about 26 °C (79 °F) in July and August.
Even in mid-winter, there are many sunny days, with daytime temperatures reaching or exceeding 20 °C (68 °F). In winter, very cold days are rare, but on colder periods, the minimum temperature can drop to about freezing; in practice, it never snows. The coldest records are around -4 °C (25 °F).
In summer, there's sultry heat, though it's generally bearable, also because of the sea breeze, however, there may be periods of intense heat, during which the temperature can reach as high as 38/40 °C (100/104 °F).
Rainfall in the Costa Blanca is scarce, since it is even lower than 300 millimeters (12 inches) per year, and follows the Mediterranean pattern, in fact, most of it occurs from September to March, while in summer, it almost never rains. Rainy days are particularly rare, but when it rains, it can rain a lot, and the rains can sometimes be intense and concentrated in time, causing floods. Owing to the scarcity of rainfall, the landscape is arid.
In Torrevieja, rainfall amounts to just 280 mm (11 in) per year.
The amount of
sunshine in the Costa Blanca is decent in winter, when Atlantic or Mediterranean disturbances can sometimes affect this area, however, there is a good number of sunny days (there are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day even in January). Spring is a sunny season, especially in May. The sunniest period is from June to August, when clear skies are the norm. In September, there are the first Atlantic fronts, so in autumn the sun is not always guaranteed.
On average, there are almost 3,000 hours of sunshine per year.
Sea temperature
The
sea in the Costa Blanca is warm enough for swimming from July to September, when the water temperature reaches or exceeds 24 °C (75 °F); in June, it's still cool.
Best Time
The
best time for a beach holiday in the Costa Blanca is the summer, from June to August. The water temperature is comfortable enough from July to September, although in September, which overall is still a good month (especially in the first half), the first Atlantic fronts begin to show up. May and June are sunny months, but the sea is still a bit cool, especially in May, when it is actually a bit cold.
Although good weather is not always guaranteed, spring and autumn are ideal for visiting cities and going on excursions to the interior, since it can be very hot in summer.
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