A heatwave is coming – the peak of which will hit on Thursday, with estimates of 37 degrees in Benidorm. Temperatures have already been recorded into the 30´s over the weekend and the warm winds from the Sahara have made this the hottest May ever recorded... magic words here are sun protection people!
This is all great news for visitors, here to get away from the grey and gloom of the UK and also the bars are loving it too - especially those on the beach front. Just a shame that Aqualandia is not due to open until 23rd May, although maybe with the forecast they´ll have a quick rethink?
But as you walk about with not very much on though take a moment to sympathize with the local police – who are still patrolling in their long sleeved winter uniform! The unions have condemned the Town Hall who have been caught off guard with the sudden change in temperature.
Last November they changed the the colour – from two tone blue to dark blue only at a cost of €100,000 – but the summer short sleeved tops are not ready yet. The union has asked that the Town Hall allows officers to wear the old two tone polo tops until the new ones have arrived… to be honest, I don´t think that many people would even realize or care, so long as they are out on patrol! The 10 extra promised beach police are due to start in June - walking up and down the beaches and keeping the hawkers at bay.
The last year has been the driest of the last 150 years and although holiday makers are happy, it is devastating the local agriculture sector. The reservoir up in Guadalest is dangerously low but thankfully 5hm3 of water has just been transferred from inland to ensure that Benidorm does not run out of drinking water. With so many hotels it would be devastating for the tourism sector so please use the water responsibly – and in this heat make sure that you keep hydrated by drinking plenty… water not alcohol!
