Andorra - The climate in short
In Andorra, a small mountainous country located in the Pyrenees between France and Spain, there is a temperate climate in the lower valleys, and a mountain climate at high altitudes.
Precipitation (rain or snow) is quite frequent, since Atlantic frontal systems affect the country for many months a year, while in summer, when the Azores anticyclone prevails, and therefore good weather, thunderstorms can break out in the afternoon.
The climate in detail
Main towns
Andorra La Vella
The capital,
Andorra la Vella, is located at 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) above sea level, in the Valira Valley, in one of the lowest points in the country, the lowest point being Sant Julia de Loria, 840 meters (2,755 feet) above sea level, in the south, near the border with Spain. Here, the climate is not too cold: the average temperature in January is 2.5 °C (36.5 °F), while in July and August it's 19 °C (66 °F).
Winter is cold but not freezing, although the night temperature drops quite often a few degrees below freezing. The wind from the north has foehn-like characteristics, that is of a warm, dry wind that descends from the mountains. However, heavy snowfalls and frosts may occasionally occur.
Summer is quite warm during the day, with highs around 25 °C (77 °F), but relative humidity is not high, and nights are cool. In the afternoon, thunderstorms can occur.
Here are the average temperatures in Andorra La Vella.
Andorra La Vella - Average temperatures| Month | Min (°C) | Max (°C) | Mean (°C) | Min (°F) | Max (°F) | Mean (°F) |
|---|
| January | -1 | 6 | 2.5 | 30 | 43 | 36.5 |
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| February | -1 | 7 | 3 | 30 | 45 | 37.4 |
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| March | 2 | 12 | 7 | 36 | 54 | 44.6 |
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| April | 4 | 14 | 9 | 39 | 57 | 48.2 |
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| May | 6 | 17 | 11.5 | 43 | 63 | 52.7 |
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| June | 10 | 23 | 16.5 | 50 | 73 | 61.7 |
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| July | 12 | 26 | 19 | 54 | 79 | 66.2 |
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| August | 12 | 24 | 18 | 54 | 75 | 64.4 |
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| September | 10 | 22 | 16 | 50 | 72 | 60.8 |
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| October | 6 | 16 | 11 | 43 | 61 | 51.8 |
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| November | 2 | 10 | 6 | 36 | 50 | 42.8 |
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| December | -1 | 6 | 2.5 | 30 | 43 | 36.5 |
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| Year | 5.1 | 15.3 | 10.2 | 41.2 | 59.5 | 50.5 |
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In Andorra La Vella, precipitation amounts to 800 millimeters (32 inches) per year, and it's well distributed throughout the year, although there's a relative minimum in winter and early spring, while the rainiest months are May and June because of afternoon thunderstorms. Here is the average precipitation.
Andorra La Vella - Average precipitation| Month | Millimeters | Inches | Days |
|---|
| January | 50 | 2 | 6 |
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| February | 30 | 1.2 | 5 |
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| March | 40 | 1.6 | 6 |
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| April | 70 | 2.8 | 9 |
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| May | 90 | 3.5 | 11 |
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| June | 85 | 3.3 | 9 |
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| July | 60 | 2.4 | 7 |
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| August | 80 | 3.1 | 7 |
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| September | 85 | 3.3 | 7 |
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| October | 80 | 3.1 | 8 |
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| November | 80 | 3.1 | 7 |
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| December | 60 | 2.4 | 6 |
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| Year | 810 | 31.9 | 88 |
|---|
The amount of
sunshine in Andorra is quite good in summer, when sunny days are frequent, while it is just acceptable in the other months due to the frequent passage of disturbances. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.
Andorra La Vella - Sunshine hours| Month | Average | Total |
|---|
January | 5 | 155 | February | 5 | 140 | March | 5 | 155 | April | 6 | 180 | May | 6 | 185 | June | 7 | 210 | July | 9 | 280 | August | 8 | 250 | September | 6 | 180 | October | 5 | 155 | November | 5 | 150 | December | 4 | 125 | Year | 5.9 | 2165 |
Soldeu
In
Soldeu, located 1,800 meters (5,900 feet) above sea level, the climate is much colder: the average temperature reaches a minimum of -3 °C (26.5 °F) in January and February and a maximum of 12 °C (53.5 °F) in July and August. An average of 1,300 mm (51 in) of rain (or snow, from November to April) falls each year. There is no dry season, since here too, afternoon thunderstorms can occur in summer.
Here are the average temperatures in Soldeu.
Soldeu - Average temperatures| Month | Min (°C) | Max (°C) | Mean (°C) | Min (°F) | Max (°F) | Mean (°F) |
|---|
| January | -7 | 1 | -3 | 19 | 34 | 26.6 |
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| February | -7 | 1 | -3 | 19 | 34 | 26.6 |
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| March | -6 | 3 | -1.5 | 21 | 37 | 29.3 |
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| April | -4 | 5 | 0.5 | 25 | 41 | 32.9 |
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| May | 0 | 9 | 4.5 | 32 | 48 | 40.1 |
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| June | 3 | 14 | 8.5 | 37 | 57 | 47.3 |
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| July | 6 | 18 | 12 | 43 | 64 | 53.6 |
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| August | 6 | 17 | 11.5 | 43 | 63 | 52.7 |
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| September | 4 | 14 | 9 | 39 | 57 | 48.2 |
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| October | 1 | 9 | 5 | 34 | 48 | 41 |
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| November | -3 | 4 | 0.5 | 27 | 39 | 32.9 |
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| December | -6 | 1 | -2.5 | 21 | 34 | 27.5 |
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| Year | -1 | 8 | 3.5 | 30.1 | 46.5 | 38.5 |
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The average altitude of the country is 1,900 meters (6,200 feet). On high mountains, heavy snowfalls occur during winter. In the highest peaks, snow can linger on the ground until July. The highest point in the country is Coma Pedrosa, 2,942 meters (9,652 feet) high.
When to go
The best time to visit Andorra runs from
June to mid-September, since it is the least cold in the mountains, while in the valley bottom it's warm but not too much. You should be equipped for cool temperatures at night in the valleys, and even for the cold at high altitudes, as well as for afternoon thunderstorms.
As mentioned, July and August are the warmest months; in July, thunderstorms are generally not as frequent as in August.
What to pack
In
winter: bring warm clothing, a sweater, a down jacket, a hat and gloves.
In
summer: bring light clothes, T-shirts, but also long pants, a jacket and a sweater for the evening and the mountains; hiking shoes, sunscreen and sunglasses, and a raincoat or umbrella.
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