Costa del Sol to Experience Sunny Christmas Weekend
The Costa del Sol is set to enjoy a sunny Christmas holiday weekend, according to weather forecasters. However, the unseasonably high temperatures experienced earlier this month are not expected to return. The State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) predicts that a large anticyclone will control the weather across Malaga province, with no rain and temperatures potentially exceeding 20 degrees on Christmas Day in some coastal areas.
Christmas Eve Weather Forecast
On Christmas Eve, the weather is expected to be predominantly sunny, with some cloudy intervals along the coast. The temperatures are expected to be similar to those recorded this week. The maximum temperatures will generally range between 16 and 19 degrees, but may rise above 20 degrees in coastal areas of Malaga province, especially on the west coast. During the evening and night, the minimum temperatures will range between 7 and 10 degrees on the coast, and a cooler 2 to 5 degrees inland.
Temperature Predictions for Christmas Day
On Christmas Day, temperatures in Malaga, Marbella, and Velez-Malaga are expected to range between 10 and 18 degrees from 7am to 6pm. In Ronda and Antequera, the forecast predicts temperatures between 4 and 16 degrees. A slight increase in temperature is expected in municipalities such as Velez-Malaga, Torremolinos, Rincon de la Victoria, Estepona and Manilva, although the change will not be significantly noticeable.
2023: The Driest and Warmest Year in Six Decades
As the year draws to a close, 2023 is set to be the driest and warmest year in Malaga province for six decades, as the area continues to experience a long-term drought. The autumn season, which ended in late November, was particularly dry and ranks as the tenth driest since 1961, when modern records began. The rainfall in September, October and November was 71.8 square metres per litre, which is only 34% of the usual amount, according to Jesus Riesco, head of Aemet in Malaga.
Autumn Temperatures Significantly Warm
Riesco also highlighted the ‘extremely warm’ autumn temperatures. The average temperature was 19.1 degrees, which is 1.6 degrees above the normal average temperature for the reference period between 1991-2020. This makes it the third warmest autumn in the province since 1961.
