Bare-chested Brits top up their tans and hit the beach in Benidorm as January’s extreme heatwave pushes temperatures in Spain to almost 30 degrees Celsius

Holidaymakers are heading to Benidorm beaches to soak up the winter sun as a freak heatwave has brought temperatures of up to 30 degrees Celsius in parts of Spain.

The mercury rose to 29.5 degrees Celsius in Valencia, 28.5 degrees Celsius in Murcia in the south-east and 27.8 degrees Celsius near Malaga in the south – temperatures usually observed in June rather than January.

The Valencian Society of Meteorology said yesterday it had recorded as much as 30.7 degrees Celsius at a weather station in Calles, which would be a European record for January, but this has since been disputed.

The scenes on Benidorm’s beaches yesterday could have been mistaken for a summer’s day as Brits and locals took out the sun loungers and bathed in the sea as temperatures in the resort reached 25 degrees Celsius.

The winter heat is caused by the presence of a powerful anticyclone over the Mediterranean Sea. These blocks can last for several weeks, meaning the warm weather can last until February.

Sun worshipers have stripped off to enjoy the unusual weather, taking pictures of a packed Benidorm beach.

Elsewhere in the Valencian Community, swimmers were pictured jumping into the sea in bathing suits, taking advantage of the abnormally warm air temperature.

Night temperatures were also mild across Spain, with the mercury remaining above 10 degrees Celsius in most areas in recent nights.

This also applies to the small ski area of ​​Puerto de Navacerrada near Madrid, which is 1800 meters above sea level and is normally covered in snow at this time of year.

Spain also recorded unusually high temperatures in December, peaking at 29.9 degrees Celsius in Malaga, a national record for the month.

“No studies have yet evaluated the long-term trend of these types of events, but it is clear that we are experiencing these types of abnormal situations more and more often,” said David Corell, a researcher at the University of Valencia. AFPTV.

The heat comes amid a prolonged drought affecting much of the country, especially the northeastern region of Catalonia and the southwestern region of Andalusia.

In the Catalan capital Barcelona, ​​Spain’s second-largest city, the level of water reservoirs fell to around 17 percent of their capacity in mid-January.

If they fall below 16 percent of their capacity – which could be imminent – ​​the region will declare a state of emergency.

As global temperatures rise due to climate change, scientists have warned that heat waves will become more frequent and intense.

The heat wave has also hit southeastern France, with temperatures reaching just under 20 degrees Celsius in Marseille.

Last year was Spain’s second warmest on record after 2022, with successive heatwaves causing droughts and forest fires.

“We are a bit surprised that it is so pleasantly warm… And it is nice for us now, but we don’t think it is completely normal,” said German tourist Thorsten Petersen, 66, in central Madrid.

Adela, a local pensioner, added: ‘Those who say there is no climate change only have to look at what is happening: it is too cold or too hot. I think this is a disaster.’

Footage showed people in the Spanish capital taking off their winter coats and some wearing shorts and T-shirts.

In neighboring Portugal, the air warmed most in the central district of Leiria, reaching 23 degrees Celsius, and the weather agency IPMA expected 24 degrees Celsius there on Friday.

In the north, temperatures were 8 to 9 degrees Celsius above normal.

“I think it’s because of climate change,” said French tourist Jane Dubois, standing by the Tagus River in Lisbon. “It’s our future, so we have to protect the planet.”

Fabio Silvestre, visiting Lisbon with his young daughter from Italy, echoed climate concerns.

He said: ‘I’m a little worried about my daughter… The weather is not normal like this.’