Climate - Santa Cruz (Canary Islands)

Santa Cruz is the main city of Tenerife and the capital of the province that includes the western Canary Islands, namely Tenerife, La Gomera, El Hierro and La Palma. The city is located in the north-east of Tenerife, but on the southern side (since to the north we find the Anaga Massif, which reaches an altitude of 1,000 meters or 3,300 feet), at 28 degrees north latitude.
The climate of Santa Cruz de Tenerife is subtropical desert, with very mild winters and hot, sunny summers.
The rare rains occur almost all from October to March. In autumn and winter, weeks can pass without a drop of rain, but sometimes there may be heavier rains, which can cause flooding, as happened in March 2002, December 2013, and October 2014.
The north-east trade wind blows all year round, but especially in summer, tempering the heat.
However, when the wind blows from Africa, the temperature rises by several degrees, the wind becomes weak, and the air is filled with desert sand and dust, becoming polluted. This phenomenon is called calima.
After 1980, the cold record is 10 °C (50 °F), recorded in February 1980 and March 2011. The heat record is 39.5 °C (103 °F), recorded in July 2000.
Santa Cruz De Tenerife overlooks the sea, but there are inland districts that climb the hills, and on the road to La Laguna, the climate becomes progressively cooler and more humid.

Santa Cruz - Climate data

In Santa Cruz, the average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of 18.3 °C (65.0 °F), that of the warmest month (August) is of 25.7 °C (78.3 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
In Santa Cruz, precipitation amounts to 220 millimeters (8.7 inches) per year: it is therefore scarce. It ranges from 0 mm (0 in) in the driest months (June, July) to 40 mm (1.6 in) in the wettest one (March). Here is the average precipitation.
At Santa Cruz, the sea temperature ranges from 19 °C (66 °F) in February, March to 24 °C (75 °F) in September. Here are the average sea temperatures.
In Santa Cruz, there are on average around 2985 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.

Santa Cruz - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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In January, the coldest month of the year, the weather in Santa Cruz is usually warm. The average temperature is of 18.3 °C (65 °F), with a minimum of 15.5 °C (59.9 °F) and a maximum of 21.1 °C (70.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 13 °C (55.5 °F). However, it dropped to 10.1 °C (50.2 °F) in January 1999.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 24.5 °C (76 °F). However, it reached 28.4 °C (83.1 °F) in January 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 57% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 19.5 °C (67.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.

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In February, the weather in Santa Cruz is usually warm. The average temperature is of 18.3 °C (65 °F), with a minimum of 15.4 °C (59.7 °F) and a maximum of 21.3 °C (70.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 13 °C (55.5 °F). However, it dropped to 11.5 °C (52.7 °F) in February 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 25 °C (77 °F). However, it reached 31.2 °C (88.2 °F) in February 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 35 mm (1.4 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 61% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 19 °C (66.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.

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In March, the weather in Santa Cruz is usually warm. The average temperature is of 19.0 °C (66 °F), with a minimum of 15.9 °C (60.7 °F) and a maximum of 22.1 °C (71.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 13.5 °C (56.5 °F). However, it dropped to 10.1 °C (50.2 °F) in March 2011.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 26.5 °C (79.5 °F). However, it reached 34.1 °C (93.4 °F) in March 2002.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 63% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 19 °C (66.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.

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In April, the weather in Santa Cruz is usually warm. The average temperature is of 19.8 °C (68 °F), with a minimum of 16.8 °C (62.2 °F) and a maximum of 22.9 °C (73.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 14.5 °C (58.5 °F). However, it dropped to 12.8 °C (55 °F) in April 1994.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 27 °C (81 °F). However, it reached 35.2 °C (95.4 °F) in April 2013.
Precipitation amounts to 10 mm (0.4 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 65% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 19.5 °C (67 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.

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In May, the weather in Santa Cruz is usually warm. The average temperature is of 21.3 °C (70 °F), with a minimum of 18.1 °C (64.6 °F) and a maximum of 24.4 °C (75.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 16 °C (61 °F). However, it dropped to 14.1 °C (57.4 °F) in May 1993.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 29 °C (84 °F). However, it reached 34.1 °C (93.4 °F) in May 2012.
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 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 68% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 20.5 °C (68.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.

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In June, the weather in Santa Cruz is usually warm to hot. The average temperature is of 23.2 °C (74 °F), with a minimum of 19.8 °C (67.7 °F) and a maximum of 26.5 °C (79.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 18 °C (64 °F). However, it dropped to 16.6 °C (61.9 °F) in June 1991.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 31 °C (88 °F). However, it reached 37.4 °C (99.3 °F) in June 2012.
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 10.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 75% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is 18 kph (11 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 21.5 °C (70.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.

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In July, the weather in Santa Cruz is usually warm to hot. The average temperature is of 25.1 °C (77 °F), with a minimum of 21.4 °C (70.5 °F) and a maximum of 28.8 °C (83.8 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 19.5 °C (67 °F). However, it dropped to 17.4 °C (63.3 °F) in July 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34.5 °C (94 °F). However, it reached 39.7 °C (103.5 °F) in July 2000.
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 11 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 81% of the time.
The average humidity is 64%.
The average wind speed is 18 kph (11 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 22.5 °C (72 °F). Therefore, the sea can be considered barely acceptable for swimming.

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In August, the hottest month of the year, the weather in Santa Cruz is usually warm to hot. The average temperature is of 25.7 °C (78 °F), with a minimum of 22.2 °C (72 °F) and a maximum of 29.2 °C (84.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 20.5 °C (69 °F). However, it dropped to 18.8 °C (65.8 °F) in August 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34 °C (93 °F). However, it reached 38.7 °C (101.7 °F) in August 2010.
Precipitation amounts to only 5 mm (0.2 in), distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 10.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 81% of the time.
The average humidity is 65%.
The average wind speed is 18 kph (11 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 23 °C (73.5 °F). Therefore, the sea can be considered barely acceptable for swimming.

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In September, the weather in Santa Cruz is usually warm to hot. The average temperature is of 25.0 °C (77 °F), with a minimum of 21.9 °C (71.5 °F) and a maximum of 28.1 °C (82.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 20 °C (68 °F). However, it dropped to 18 °C (64.4 °F) in September 2000.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 31.5 °C (89 °F). However, it reached 39.3 °C (102.7 °F) in September 2006.
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 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 72% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 24 °C (75 °F). Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.

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In October, the weather in Santa Cruz is usually warm to hot. The average temperature is of 23.6 °C (74 °F), with a minimum of 20.6 °C (69.1 °F) and a maximum of 26.6 °C (79.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 18 °C (64.5 °F). However, it dropped to 14.6 °C (58.3 °F) in October 1999.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 30.5 °C (86.5 °F). However, it reached 34.8 °C (94.6 °F) in October 2002.
Precipitation amounts to 25 mm (1 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 64% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 23.5 °C (74.5 °F). Therefore, the sea can be considered barely acceptable for swimming.

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In November, the weather in Santa Cruz is usually warm. The average temperature is of 21.3 °C (70 °F), with a minimum of 18.5 °C (65.3 °F) and a maximum of 24.1 °C (75.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 16 °C (60.5 °F). However, it dropped to 13.4 °C (56.1 °F) in November 1991.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 28 °C (82 °F). However, it reached 34 °C (93.2 °F) in November 1999.
Precipitation amounts to 35 mm (1.4 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 56% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 22.5 °C (72 °F). Therefore, the sea can be considered barely acceptable for swimming.

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In December, the weather in Santa Cruz is usually warm. The average temperature is of 19.5 °C (67 °F), with a minimum of 16.8 °C (62.2 °F) and a maximum of 22.2 °C (72 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 14.5 °C (58.5 °F). However, it dropped to 12.8 °C (55 °F) in December 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 25 °C (77.5 °F). However, it reached 28.2 °C (82.8 °F) in December 2009.
Precipitation amounts to 35 mm (1.4 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 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 55% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 21 °C (69.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.