Costa Blanca & Benidorm: summer heat and the autumn risk people forget

The Costa Blanca — with Benidorm, Alicante and Denia — has been one of the most trusted sunny destinations for Dutch and Belgian travelers for generations. Plenty of sunshine, a long promenade, everything geared toward tourists. In terms of natural hazards, the region is also not extreme: fire risk is low because the coastal strip is densely built and there's little continuous forest.

Yet the region scores a total risk of approximately 58% in our atlas. This is due to two very different factors that occur in two different seasons.

Two risks, two seasons

The dominant risk in summer is extreme heat. In July and August, temperatures regularly approach 35 °C, with increasingly frequent tropical nights above 25 °C. Along the coast this is manageable thanks to the sea breeze, but inland and in cities it takes a heavy toll.

The second risk is more insidious because it falls outside the peak season: the DANA. This is a cold-air drop that can develop over the warm Mediterranean waters in autumn, leading to enormous downpours.

In October 2024, a DANA around Valencia caused flash flooding with more than 220 deaths — one of Spain's most severe natural disasters in recent decades.

The record-warm seawater of recent years is precisely the fuel for this type of storm. September, October and November are therefore statistically the most dangerous months for flooding — precisely when many people think the "quiet" shoulder season has arrived.

What to watch for when booking

• Don't book accommodation in or near a barranco — a dry riverbed that lies empty most of the year but can fill in minutes during a DANA.
• Avoid a basement or ground floor in areas known for flooding, especially in autumn.
• Choose a coastal location in summer with air conditioning; the sea breeze and cooling make the biggest difference at night.

When is the best time to go?

• May, June and early September are ideal: warm, sea at comfortable temperature, and outside the hottest and wettest peaks.
• July and August are the busiest and hottest — fine for a beach holiday as long as your accommodation has air conditioning.
• Late September through November is DANA season. Not necessarily to avoid, but keep a close eye on the weather forecast and book with flexible terms.

In short

The Costa Blanca is a comfortable, well-organized destination where the real risk doesn't lie in the fire season, but in the combination of summer heat and autumn DANA risk. Both are manageable if you know they exist. Check the current heat and weather forecast for your location in the atlas shortly before departure — especially in autumn.