Spain Climate

Climate of Spain

Most of Spain lies in the subtropical climate zone, but due to its large area, varied relief and the influence of sea currents, the country has a fair amount of climatic diversity.

Northern and northwestern Spain and the coast of the Bay of Biscay are the cloudiest and rainiest parts of the country. It has a subtropical maritime climate with mild winters and warm summers. The average temperature in the summer months reaches 20°C, there is usually no heat and rarely do thermometers exceed 25°C. Thunderstorms and frequent rains can occur, resulting in very lush and intensely green vegetation in the area. Precipitation occurs throughout the year, with the highest intensity in the winter months, when winds blowing from the Atlantic Ocean bring a lot of moisture. There is cool, foggy weather with numerous clouds and drizzles. Temperatures in the coldest months range from 5°C - 10°C. Annual precipitation reaches over 1,000 mm, with occasional snowfall.

Central Spain (including Madrid) is characterized by a subtropical climate of the continental variety. There are hot and dry summers with temperatures reaching above 30°C. During this time it is sultry and windless, and some regions experience extreme heat (including northern Andalusia), then temperatures reach above 40°C. The most pleasant weather in the area occurs in autumn and spring, when temperatures oscillate between 15°C and 25°C. Sometimes there is precipitation, but most days are dry and cheerful. Winters are unpredictable, sometimes mild and rainy, other times cold and snowy. Annual rainfall does not exceed 500 mm. Typically, the more northerly areas are a few degrees colder than the southern areas. Average winter temperatures hover around 3°C - 10°C, but occasionally frosts can occur.

The eastern and southern coasts of Spain have a subtropical Mediterranean climate with warm and dry summers and mild winters. The more southerly the area, the hotter its climate becomes. Temperatures on the coasts hover around 30°C, and you can count on about 12 hours of sunshine a day. Often there are also hot days, where thermometers indicate 35°C and more (especially in the south). Precipitation is not abundant, amounting to about 400 mm - 600 mm, and occurs mainly in spring and autumn, often in the form of downpours and thunderstorms. Winter weather is rather mild, with temperatures fluctuating around 5°C - 15°C. Usually there is no frost, and it is reasonably cheerful, but more windy.

The Cantabrian Mountains, the Castilian Mountains, the Betic Mountains and the Pyrenees are dominated by a mountain climate with cooler summers and snowy and cold winters. The weather is determined by climatic floors. As the altitude increases, the temperature decreases. In the warmest months, thermometers indicate about 15°C at the foothills and up to 0°C in the higher parts of the mountains. In contrast, in the coldest they drop to 3°C - 5°C in the lowest parts of the mountains and to -10°C and less at altitudes above 2,500 m. At altitudes of 3,200 m above sea level there are perpetual snows. Precipitation is quite abundant, about 2,000 mm and occurs throughout the year, with snow predominating in winter and rain at other times.

The Canary Islands (including Fuerteventura, Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote) lie in a dry tropical climate zone shaped by the influence of the cold Canary Current and the Atlantic Azores Current. The weather here is warm and very sunny all year round. In summer there is no extreme heat, with temperatures reaching 25°C - 30°C, and this is due to the influence of sea currents that cool the air. Winter is extremely mild, with temperatures dropping to levels of 18°C - 20°C. In the higher parts of the mountains (including Teide in Tenerife), temperatures are slightly lower and can be close to 0°C. Precipitation is extremely sparse (especially on the coasts) - about 200 mm per year, only in the mountains, inland it is higher. Sometimes it doesn't rain at all throughout the summer. In contrast, the highest rainfall occurs in winter and early spring.

The Balearic Islands (including Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza) have a mild and warm subtropical Mediterranean climate. It is characterized by wet autumns, mild winters and hot and dry summers. Summer temperatures usually exceed 30°C, while winter temperatures drop to around 10°C - 15°C. The water temperature is also pleasantly warm: 21°C - 25°C. Rainfall is not very heavy, about 450 mm per year. Very infrequent in the summer months with a slightly higher intensity in autumn and winter.