Costa Blanca News

03/09/2024

Alicante province on alert for storms today.
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Orange alert for downpours

The north of Alicante province has been placed on orange alert for downpours today (Tuesday) by state weather agency AEMET.
The warning runs from 14.00 to midnight.
AEMET notes that storms could be accompanied by hail.

01/09/2024

Storm alert for the interior of Alicante province.
Read more here

Storm alert

The interior of Alicante province has been included on the storm alert for today (Sunday) and tomorrow.
State weather agency AEMET has published yellow warnings for downpours which could be accompanied by hail.
The alert today runs from 14.00 to 22.00 and on Monday from noon until midnight.
The graphic shows Monday's warning.

31/08/2024

Flushed out after roof fall

Kitten flushed out

Firefighters revealed that this tiny kitten - no bigger than a hand - became trapped in a drainage pipe in San Fulgencio yesterday following a fall from a roof.
They had to use water to flush it out - the only means of rescuing the animal.
The kitten is now back to best after its ordeal.

31/08/2024

Read about Iberian brown bears and their love of nuts

28/08/2024

Intense storms on the horizon - but Alicante province is set to miss the worst of the weather.
Read more below

Storms - then two 'gota frías' for Spain

Intense storms set to hit Spain tomorrow (Thursday) are not due to reach Alicante province, according to state weather agency AEMET.
AEMET issued a special report today on the inclement weather which will affect the Iberian Peninsula over the coming days.
Tomorrow's storm belt will stretch from Andalucía to the Pyrenees - and reach the south of Valencia province, predicts AEMET.
Then two cut-off low pressure weather systems (DANA or gota fría) are due to arrive.
The first, on Friday, will be situated over the north west and move to the north east coast by Sunday.
The second is due to arrive on Monday via the north west.
AEMET remind that the uncertainty associated with these weather systems means they cannot precisely predict the trajectory of the DANAs as they move across Spain.

27/08/2024

Sahara dust is on the way, says MeteOrihuela

🏜️ ¡Para no perder la costumbre! Nueva intrusión de para finalizar , desde las últimas horas del jueves 29 hasta que finalice la semana.

📝 Intervalos de mayor concentración de partículas en el sur y este de la . Cielo turbio y/o blanquecino, empeoramiento de la .

🧐 . ¿Estás pensando en lavar el coche? Creo que es mejor que te esperes, ya que no se descarta (en algunos casos serán solo "cuatro gotas" puntuales) durante el .

26/08/2024

Find out more about harriers in the south of Alicante province

Hail the harriers

Two types of harrier can be seen in La Mata-Torrevieja natural park.
The western marsh harrier is present all year round, while Montagu's harrier migrates from Africa in the spring to reproduce.
Both species nest in the reeds, directly on the ground, which makes them vulnerable to predators - especially dogs that have been let off the lead, behaviour which is expressly prohibited in the natural park.
Information boards giving all sorts of details about the harriers, in Spanish and English, can be found on the eastern shore of La Mata lake, on a track which is a stone's throw from the visitors' centre.

25/08/2024

Native tortoises return to Valencia natural park

Slowly does it

A project to reintroduce Mediterranean tortoises in the Valencia region is bearing fruit - slowly.
The programme started in 2011 after Hermann's tortoise (Testudo hermanni) became extinct in the area during the last century.
They have been bred in captivity and the Valencia government has released 1,857 of the reptiles over 13 years in the Albufera natural park at Devesa del Saler.
Regional secretary for the environment Raul Merida said the Devesa is an ideal spot for Hermann's tortoise to live.

24/08/2024

A guitar in danger of extinction

23/08/2024

Turtle eggs hatch at Elche beach

Hatching in Elche

Loggerhead turtle eggs in the nest at Playa de Carabassi in Elche have hatched.
Torrevieja town hall biologist Juan Antonio Pujol explained that some of the tiny turtles have been taken for the head-starting programme and will be released this time next year when they have reached an optimum size for survival.
Others made their way down to the sea and swam away into the Mediterranean.
Photo from the Xaloc association

22/08/2024

Tiny turtles get a 'head start' in Valencia

22/08/2024

Trapped cat freed by firefighters

21/08/2024

Storm warning for Alicante tomorrow - possible hail and high winds

Storm warning for Alicante

A yellow warning for storms and downpours has been issued by state weather agency AEMET for the north and interior of Alicante province tomorrow (Thursday).
It runs from 14.00 to 22.00.
They note that the storm could be accompanied by hail and very strong gusts of wind.

21/08/2024

Med sea hits record high temperature - 'more intense' storms possible

21/08/2024

Pooling resources - reusing water in Benidorm

19/08/2024

British walker rescued following fall at Denia mountain

19/08/2024

More information and photos on the Denia turtles

18/08/2024

Turtles hatch at hidden nest in the Denia dunes

Turtle surprise

The alert was sounded early this morning after newborn loggerhead turtles were seen crossing Punta Raset beach, close to Denia port.
Valencia university biologists immediately set out for the area, following instructions from the emergency services.
They found that 92 eggs had hatched at a nest in the dunes.
A total of 89 of the baby turtles managed to reach the sea and three disorientated youngsters were located and taken to the Oceanografic sea life centre in Valencia.
Biologists reported that the nest was almost certainly dug by a mother who came ashore on June 27.
She was spotted by youngsters on the beach but no trace of a nest was found at the time.

17/08/2024

Tap water not fit for human consumption - bottled water handed out

Water emergency as wells become salinated

Benitachell town hall is handing out free bottles of water after issuing an edict stating that the tap water is no longer fit for human consumption.
They noted that 'as a consequence of the drought that we have been suffering for the last two years', their principal water well has become salinated.
However, the tap water can be used for personal hygiene and cleaning.
The town hall is taking a number of emergency measures, including handing out bottled water.
The first of the giveaways took place yesterday, with two more on Tuesday and Friday next week starting at 09.00 at the Mercadona car park - beneficiaries have to show ID and proof of their address.
Water deposits are also being set up for the public to fill bottles at the entrance to the Santa Maria Magdalena school in Avenida de Alicante; and the sports zone car park.

16/08/2024

Rescue at Cala Moraig

16/08/2024

Floods in the Balearics

This was the scene in Menorca yesterday when torrential downpours led to vehicles being washed away.
State weather agency AEMET had issued a red alert for the area yesterday, which means the weather posed a risk to life.
When we reported this and highlighted the risk, one contributor suggested this was scaremongering.
However, the video shows the danger that storms present in Spain.
When a government agency issues a red warning it should always be taken very seriously - they are trying to save lives not scare people

16/08/2024

€1,500 fine for not picking up dog dirt

Getting to grips with dirt and dumping

Torrevieja town hall's rubbish and street cleaning by-law came into force this week and it includes large fines for infractors.
One of the most eye-catching points is the €1,500 fine for dog owners who fail to pick up their pet's excrement, or who do not wash down an area where the animal has urinated.
And a €150 fine awaits for people who take rubbish to containers outside the allotted timetable of 20.00 to 23.00, or who fail to use a rubbish bag.
Dumping furniture, white goods or garden waste in the street without informing the street cleaning service incurs a fine of €750.
Fly tipping can be punished with fines of between €250,000 and €500,000.
The town hall has said the wide-reaching by-law is designed to 'reduce almost to zero' their reliance on the use of landfill sites for rubbish.

15/08/2024

15/08/2024

Heatwaves are starting earlier in the year, say Valencia scientists

Heatwaves are arriving earlier

Scientists in Valencia have reported that 'due to global warming' heatwaves are now starting earlier in the year.
A study has been carried out by the centre for environmental studies of the Mediterranean (CEAM).
They found that since 1985 heatwaves have been starting on average four days earlier each decade.
State weather agency AEMET classes a heatwave as a period of at least three consecutive days in which daily maximum temperatures equal or exceed their threshold.
The CEAM report also highlights the 'urban heat island effect' which leads to cities and towns being much hotter than the areas around them.

15/08/2024

A bear cub burned in a forest fire is recovering well

Bear's burns on the mend

An Iberian brown bear cub rescued from a forest fire in Leon province on August 2 is making a good recovery, according to Spain's brown bear foundation (FOP).
The cub suffered burns to its paws and other injuries.
The FOP noted that it has put on three kilos in weight to reach 9.1 kilos.
Vets at the wild animal recovery centre in Valladolid said they hope the youngster will be ready to return to the wild soon.
It will spend time at the acclimatisation centre in Valsemana before being freed.

15/08/2024

Getting ship shape after yesterday's storms

14/08/2024

Red alert for downpours for Mallorca

Red alert for Mallorca

The north and north east of Mallorca have been placed on red alert for torrential rain tomorrow (Thursday) by state weather agency AEMET.
This means the downpours could present a threat to life.
The alert runs from midnight to 15.00 tomorrow.

13/08/2024

Storm alert goes orange

Storm alert goes orange

The level of alert for storms for Alicante province tomorrow (Wednesday) has been increased.
State weather agency AEMET has upped it from yellow to orange.
Their colour coding shows that there is a high risk of cloudbursts with hail and very strong gusts of rain.

13/08/2024

'Gota fría' storm warning issued by AEMET

AEMET 'gota fria' storm warning

State weather agency AEMET has issued a general storm warning for Spain in a special report published this lunchtime.
AEMET notes that 'after the heatwave at the weekend a front will arrive from the Atlantic' that will turn into a DANA (or gota fría), which is a cut-off low pressure weather system in English.
This will lead to an 'intense destabilisation of the atmosphere' in a large part of the east of Spain and the Balearics.
"As a consequence precipitation is expected which will be locally heavy or very heavy, accompanied by storms which in many cases will include hail and very strong gusts of wind'," notes AEMET.
The agency states that the adverse weather will present a high risk to people who are exposed to it.
At the same time, 'the uncertainty inherent in these weather systems makes it very difficult to predict the areas that will suffer the greatest impact'.
The yellow warning for storms starts at 06.00 on Wednesday in the north of Alicante province and 10.00 in the south and runs until midnight.

12/08/2024

Storm warning for Alicante province on Wednesday

Storm warning

The whole of Alicante province has been placed on yellow alert for storms on Wednesday by state weather agency AEMET.
The warning runs from 06.00 to midnight in the north of the province and from noon to midnight in the south.
AEMET state that hail is 'probable' and there may be 'very strong gusts of wind'.