Weather and climate in Izaña (Canary Islands)

The astronomical observatory of Izaña is located on the island of Tenerife, at 2,390 meters (7,841 feet) above sea level, where the limits of the municipalities of La Orotava, Fasnia and Güímar meet. About 8 km (5 mi) to the west is the summit of Teide volcano, 3,715 meters (12,188 feet) high, which is the highest peak in all of Spain.
The climate can be defined as arid temperate. Winter is quite cold, while summer is mild. The sun is strong all year round, but especially from April to August.
We are above the area (which reaches up to about 2,050 meters or 6,725 feet) where the north-east trade winds bring cloudiness and rain, so the sun shines all year round, and the rains (or snowfalls) only occur when Atlantic disturbances arrive, which are more frequent from October to March.
In winter and spring, there can be cold and windy periods, in which it can even snow. The wind can exceed 100 kph (60 mph), especially in the cold half of the year. From December to April, during the coldest periods, the combination of strong winds and temperatures around or below freezing can give the sensation of polar cold.
The coldest record is -10 °C (14 °F), set in February 1971.
In summer there can be quite warm periods, with highs of 27/28 °C (81/82 °F). The record heat is 30.5 °C (87 °F), set in July 1995.

Izaña - Climate data

The average temperature of the coldest month (February) is of 4.6 °C (40.4 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 18.5 °C (65.2 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Precipitation amounts to 310 millimeters (12.2 inches) per year: it is therefore scarce. It ranges from 0 mm (0 in) in the driest months (June, July) to 60 mm (2.4 in) in the wettest one (December). Here is the average precipitation.
There are on average around 3475 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.

Izaña - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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January is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of 4.7 °C (40 °F), with a minimum of 1.4 °C (34.6 °F) and a maximum of 7.9 °C (46.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -4 °C (24.5 °F). However, it dropped to -7.2 °C (19 °F) in January 2003.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 14 °C (57 °F). However, it reached 18.3 °C (64.9 °F) in January 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm (2 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 69% of the time.
The average humidity is 50%.

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February, the coldest month of the year, is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of 4.6 °C (40 °F), with a minimum of 1.2 °C (34.2 °F) and a maximum of 8.1 °C (46.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -4 °C (25 °F). However, it dropped to -7.2 °C (19 °F) in February 2012.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 13.5 °C (56.5 °F). However, it reached 19.8 °C (67.6 °F) in February 1998.
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm (2 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 71% of the time.
The average humidity is 54%.

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March is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of 6.3 °C (43 °F), with a minimum of 2.6 °C (36.6 °F) and a maximum of 10 °C (49.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -3.5 °C (25.5 °F). However, it dropped to -7.5 °C (18.5 °F) in March 2003.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 17 °C (62 °F). However, it reached 21.1 °C (70 °F) in March 2006.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 70% of the time.
The average humidity is 48%.

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April is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of 8.1 °C (47 °F), with a minimum of 4 °C (39.1 °F) and a maximum of 12.2 °C (54 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -2.5 °C (27.5 °F). However, it dropped to -6.4 °C (20.5 °F) in April 2004.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 18 °C (64.5 °F). However, it reached 21.4 °C (70.5 °F) in April 1996.
Precipitation amounts to 15 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 10 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 76% of the time.
The average humidity is 45%.

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May is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 10.6 °C (51 °F), with a minimum of 6.4 °C (43.4 °F) and a maximum of 14.8 °C (58.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -0.5 °C (31 °F). However, it dropped to -4.2 °C (24.4 °F) in May 1993.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 21 °C (70 °F). However, it reached 26 °C (78.8 °F) in May 2001.
Precipitation amounts to only 5 mm (0.2 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 11.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 85% of the time.
The average humidity is 40%.

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June is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 14.6 °C (58 °F), with a minimum of 10.2 °C (50.3 °F) and a maximum of 19 °C (66.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 4.5 °C (40 °F). However, it dropped to 0 °C (32 °F) in June 1991.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 24.5 °C (76 °F). However, it reached 27.7 °C (81.9 °F) in June 2008.
Precipitation amounts to only 0 mm (0 in), so on average it never rains in the whole month.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 55 minutes. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 12.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 91% of the time.
The average humidity is 32%. Hence, the air is normally dry.

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July, the warmest month of the year, is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 18.5 °C (65 °F), with a minimum of 14 °C (57.3 °F) and a maximum of 22.9 °C (73.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 8 °C (47 °F). However, it dropped to 5 °C (41 °F) in July 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 27.5 °C (81.5 °F). However, it reached 30.4 °C (86.7 °F) in July 1995.
Precipitation amounts to only 0 mm (0 in), so on average it never rains in the whole month.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 12.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 90% of the time.
The average humidity is 25%. Hence, the air is normally dry.

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August is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 18.3 °C (65 °F), with a minimum of 14 °C (57.3 °F) and a maximum of 22.6 °C (72.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 8.5 °C (47.5 °F). However, it dropped to 4.5 °C (40.1 °F) in August 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 27 °C (80.5 °F). However, it reached 29 °C (84.2 °F) in August 2001.
Precipitation amounts to 10 mm (0.4 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 11.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 88% of the time.
The average humidity is 30%. Hence, the air is normally dry.

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September is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 14.6 °C (58 °F), with a minimum of 10.6 °C (51 °F) and a maximum of 18.6 °C (65.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 4.5 °C (39.5 °F). However, it dropped to 0.2 °C (32.4 °F) in September 1996.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 24.5 °C (76 °F). However, it reached 27 °C (80.6 °F) in September 1998.
Precipitation amounts to only 5 mm (0.2 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 10 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 80% of the time.
The average humidity is 43%.

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October is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 10.9 °C (52 °F), with a minimum of 7.2 °C (45 °F) and a maximum of 14.5 °C (58.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 1 °C (34 °F). However, it dropped to -1.9 °C (28.6 °F) in October 2012.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 20 °C (68 °F). However, it reached 24.6 °C (76.3 °F) in October 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 35 mm (1.4 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 73% of the time.
The average humidity is 55%.

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November is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of 7.5 °C (45 °F), with a minimum of 4.2 °C (39.6 °F) and a maximum of 10.7 °C (51.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -1 °C (30 °F). However, it dropped to -4 °C (24.8 °F) in November 1991.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 17 °C (62 °F). However, it reached 20.8 °C (69.4 °F) in November 1999.
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm (2 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 69% of the time.
The average humidity is 54%.

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December is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of 5.9 °C (43 °F), with a minimum of 2.7 °C (36.9 °F) and a maximum of 9.1 °C (48.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -2.5 °C (27.5 °F). However, it dropped to -6 °C (21.2 °F) in December 1998.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 15 °C (59 °F). However, it reached 20.1 °C (68.2 °F) in December 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 25 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 68% of the time.
The average humidity is 52%.