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Climate in Spain


Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine

Flag - Spain

Map - Spain

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In Spain there are, broadly speaking, five types of climate:
- the climate of the northern Atlantic coast, cool, humid and rainy;
- the climate of the central plateau, quite arid and moderately continental, with relatively cold winters and hot summers (see Madrid);
- the Mediterranean climate of the southern and eastern coasts (see Barcelona, Balearic Islands, Valencia, Málaga), mild and sunny;
- the almost African climate of the Andalusian plain (see Seville, Córdoba), mild in winter and very hot in summer;
- finally, the mountainous climate of the Pyrenees and the Sierras, more or less cold depending on altitude.
Therefore, Spain is not always warm and sunny as you might think.
However, if you exclude the north-facing coast, in much of Spain the summer is hot, dry and sunny.
In the following map, we can see the climate zones in Spain.

Map with the climate zones in Spain

The climate in detail


  • The north - Atlantic coast, Santander
  • Mediterranean climate - Barcelona, Balearic Islands, Alicante
  • Interior - Meseta, Madrid, Andalusian plain
  • Mountains - Puerto Navacerrada
  • Sea temperature
  • When to go
  • What to pack
  • Climate data

The north


Atlantic coast

In the north, along the coast bordering the Atlantic Ocean (see La Coruna, Gijon, Santander, Bilbao), winter is mild and humid: rainfall is frequent and sunshine is relatively rare.
The coasts of Galicia and Asturias, more exposed to the westerly winds, are often windy, but sometimes this can happen in Cantabria and in the Basque Country too.
In Galicia (see Santiago de Compostela), the rainfall is particularly abundant, especially from October to April.
In this area, summer is cool and quite rainy, and even in July and August the sky is often covered with clouds; the sea is not warm, barely reaching 21 °C (70 °F) in August.
In Santander, in Cantabria, the average temperature ranges from 10.5 °C (51 °F) in January and February, to 20.5 °C (69 °F) in August.
In this northern area, the rains are abundant, and some rain may also fall in summer. In Santander, more than 1,100 mm (43 in) of rain fall per year.
On the north coast of the Atlantic Ocean, the sun does not shine very often, even in summer.

Image of Santander

Mediterranean climate



On the coast of the Mediterranean Sea and on the small Atlantic coastline of the Gulf of Cádiz (see Barcelona, Valencia, Balearic Islands, Almeria, Málaga, Cádiz, Jerez de la Frontera), winter is mild. However, in comparison to the northern coast, the rains are rarer and the sunshine is more frequent. This is due to the fact that the Mediterranean coasts of Spain, exposed as they are to the east and the south, are relatively sheltered from Atlantic weather fronts.
Along the Mediterranean coast and on the Balearic Islands, summer is hot and sunny, as is typical of the Mediterranean climate. The air is humid, but sea breezes temper the heat during the day.
On the Costa Brava, in Catalonia, on the border with France (see Lloret de Mar), the average January temperature is 8.5 °C (47 °F). In the northernmost part of the coast, the tramontana, the cold wind from France, can sometimes blow.
Further to the south, in Barcelona, the January average reaches 10 °C (50 °F). The summer is hot and sunny, a little less hot but more humid than in Madrid, with occasional thunderstorms during the afternoon.
The rains are not abundant, approximately 600 mm (23.5 in) per year, and residents are asked not to waste water.

Image of Barcelona

Further south, in the Valencian Community (see Castellón de la Plana, Valencia), the January average is around 11 °C (52 °F), and the rainfall is even lower, 470 mm (18.5 in) per year.

East of Valencia, the Balearic Islands (Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, Formentera) have a Mediterranean climate, but they are also quite windy. While the easternmost island, Menorca, is the windiest because of the cool wind blowing at times from southern France, Ibiza and Formentera, located more to the south, are milder and more sheltered. However, summer is hot and sunny on all the islands.
South of Valencia, in the province of Alicante and in the Costa Blanca, where the coast is exposed to the south-east, the winter is particularly mild, with an average in January of about 12 °C (53.5 °F). Besides, annual rainfall drops below 400 mm (15.5 in) per year, and the sun shines quite often even in winter.

Image of Alicante

More to the south, the southern part of the Costa de Murcia (Costa Cálida) and the Costa de Almería, being protected by the Sierra Nevada, are even more arid, and have a relatively dry and sunny winter.
As a result, the climate of these areas is semi-desert, and this happens also in Los Monegros, between Zaragoza and Lleida, where the movies called "spaghetti Western" were shot.

On the coast of Andalusia (Costa del Sol), continuing westwards, the climate is still Mediterranean (see Málaga), but on the southern tip, where Gibraltar and Tarifa are found, it is cooler and windier in summer, and rainier in winter.
Costa de la Luz, map showing where is located
Costa de la Luz, where is located
In south-western Spain, we find another portion of the coast facing the Atlantic Ocean, the Costa de la Luz (see Huelva, Rota, Cádiz). However, here the climate is Mediterranean, ie with hot and sunny summers, although the influence of the ocean is felt, so the heat is generally not as sultry as on the Mediterranean coast; moreover, the sea is very cool even in the middle of summer (see below).

Interior


Meseta

The interior of Spain (see Valladolid, León, Pamplona, Madrid, Salamanca, Zaragoza), is largely occupied by a plateau, called meseta, which has an average altitude of 700/800 meters (2,300/2,600 feet) and has colder winters.
In Madrid, the capital, located at the center of the plateau, 650 meters (2,100 ft) above sea level, in January the temperatures hover around 2 °C (36 °F) at night and around 11 °C (52 °F) during the day, but sometimes, during cold spells, it can freeze and snow.
On the plateau, the summer days are often scorching, with highs well above 30 °C (86 °F), but thanks to the altitude, nights are pretty cool, and on the other hand, moisture is low, so the heat is more bearable. In Madrid, the temperature easily reaches 35/36 °C (95/97 °F), and sometimes as high as 40 °C (104 °F).
On the plateau, precipitation is not abundant (though it is quite frequent in winter) because the bulk of the moisture coming from the ocean falls as rain on the Atlantic slopes. In Madrid, precipitation amounts to 455 mm (18 in) per year.

Image of Madrid

Andalusian plain

In the southern inland regions, in the lower areas of Extremadura (see Badajoz) and in the interior of Andalusia, winter is mild, with daily averages above 10 °C, furthermore, summer is very hot: Seville and Córdoba are actually the hottest cities in Europe, and this area is like a piece of Africa in Europe. In summer, the temperatures often reach 38/40 °C (100/104 °F), and sometimes up to 45 °C (113 °F).
In inland areas, especially in the south, in summer the sky is normally clear, and even in winter there are many sunny days.

Image of Granada, Alhambra

In the southern cities located at an altitude higher than the plain, such as Granada, located at 700 meters (2,300 feet) above sea level, the heat is tempered by the altitude, and nights are a bit cooler, but the days are often scorching.

Mountains


In the mountain regions, the climate becomes progressively more cold and snowy with increasing altitude. In addition, at the same altitude the Pyrenees in the north are certainly colder than the Sierra Nevada, but the latter is higher (Mount Mulhacen reaches nearly 3,500 meters or 11,500 ft), so, even though it is located at a southern latitude, usually it has enough snow for skiing (at high altitudes). It is possible to combine a morning's skiing with an afternoon on the coast in order to enjoy the balmy air of the nearby Costa Tropical (Motril is about an hour and a half drive away).

There is also a mountainous range that crosses the Meseta, called Central System, which is divided into various chains. The one closest to the capital is the Sierra de Guadarrama, whose highest peak is Peñalara (2,428 meters or 7,966 feet), where you can ski in winter. To the south-west we find another chain, the Sierra de Gredos, at no great distance from Madrid as well.
In Puerto de Navacerrada, located at 1,858 meters (6,095 ft) above sea level, the average temperature ranges from 0 °C (32 °F) in January to 17.5 °C (63.5 °F) in July and August.
Here the landscape is green because of the higher amount of precipitation, 1,240 mm (49 in) per year, with a maximum between October and December of 160/180 mm (6.3/7.1 in) per month and a minimum in July and August of 25 mm (1 in) per month.

Image of Puerto de Navacerrada

In the northern parts of Navarre, Aragon and Catalonia, we find the chain of the Pyrenees. The highest peak, Pico de Aneto, 3,404 meters (11,168 feet) high, is located in Aragon. Above 2,700 meters (9,000 feet) glaciers are found.

In the North, we also find a mountain chain parallel to the coast, the Cantabrian Mountains, whose highest peak, Torre Cerredo, 2,648 meters (8,688 ft), belongs to the group of the Picos de Europa.

Sea temperature



On the north-west coast, for example in La Coruña, the sea is always very cool, if not cold, and reaches a maximum of 19 °C (66 °F) in August.
On the north coast, the sea temperature is still very cool, although it is a little higher. For example, in Bilbao it reaches 21.5 °C (70.5 °F) in August.
On the coast of the Mediterranean Sea (see Barcelona, Balearic Islands, Costa Blanca), the sea temperature is higher, and it is warm enough for swimming from July to September. In August, the sea temperature is 25 °C (77 °F) in Barcelona and 26 °C (79 °F) in Valencia.
On the Costa del Sol (see Malaga), the sea is not as warm as in the rest of the Mediterranean because of the infiltration of Atlantic waters, and reaches 23 °C (73.5 °F) in August.
The sea in the small portion of the south-west overlooking the Atlantic Ocean (Costa de la Luz) is even cooler. Here, the ocean temperature reaches only 22 °C (72 °F) in August and September, even though the weather is hot and sunny.

When to go



For a beach holiday in Spain, the Northern Atlantic coast has a cool and fairly rainy summer. Moreover, the ocean temperature is quite cool even in this period, so the Mediterranean coast is preferable, and the best months are July and August.

For those wishing to visit cities and go on excursions, summer is a great season on the Atlantic side (north and north-west), where you can find cool or mild weather, very different from the rest of Spain. The same can be said with regard to the mountainous areas, which are sunny but not too hot.
The rest of Spain, during summer, is hot, especially in July and August, and the heat can be difficult to bear, at least for those who don't like it. This applies especially to the Southern inland areas (see Seville, Córdoba), which are literally on fire, almost an outpost of Africa in Europe.
In general, the best seasons to visit the southern and central parts of Spain are spring and autumn. In Madrid and Barcelona, for example, May, June and September are the best months (though in September, especially in Barcelona, the first autumn rains occur); in Seville, which is characterized by a particularly long and hot summer, the best months are May, October and April, when the maximum temperature can already exceed 25 °C (77 °F) with some ease.

In winter, the weather in the southern coasts of Spain (Costa de la Luz, Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca) is usually mild and sunny, so a stay in these areas can be pleasant even in this season (at least when compared to other parts of Europe).

For a ski holiday, snow is more likely in the Pyrenees than in the mountainous areas of the center and south. As mentioned above, you can also ski north of Madrid, in the Sierra de Guadarrama, and further south in the Sierra Nevada. However, even though ski runs in the Sierra Nevada are located at very high altitudes, above 3,000 meters (10,000 ft), they are not always covered with snow, as we saw some years ago, when the World Ski Championships were postponed to the next year because of lack of snow.

What to pack



In winter, for Madrid and the plateau, pack warm clothes such as a sweater, a down jacket, and a raincoat or umbrella. For the Northern Atlantic coast and Barcelona, bring warm clothes like a sweater, a jacket, a raincoat or umbrella. For the south coast: spring/autumn clothes are appropriate, including a sweater, a jacket, a raincoat or umbrella. For the high mountains: mountain clothing.

In summer, for the Northern Atlantic coast, bring light clothing such T-shirts, but also a jacket, a sweatshirt or sweater and a raincoat or umbrella. For Madrid and the plateau, you will also need light clothing as well as a sun hat, a sweatshirt for cool evenings and possibly an umbrella. For Barcelona, the Balearic Islands and the South it is wise to pack light clothes, a sun hat, and a sweatshirt for the evening in June and September (but also in July and August in the Costa de la Luz and in Tarifa).
For the mountains, bring a sweatshirt, a jacket, hiking shoes, sunscreen and sunglasses.

See also the climate of the Canary Islands.

Climate data - Spain


Temperatures: °C, Precipitation: mm
Abaurregaina (1.050 meters)
Abaurregaina, location on the map
Abaurregaina, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-1-1126911119620
Max temp.6691116202424201597
Precip.155135135155125856560105145180160
Day length951061201351471531491381241109791

Alicante
Alicante, location on the map
Alicante, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.77911141821221915118
Max temp.171819212428303128252118
Precip.2020203030105540453525
Prec. days433442114444
Humidity64%63%63%62%63%62%65%66%66%68%66%66%
Day length9910812013314314814513612411110195
Sun hours667891111108765
Sea temp151414161822252625221916

Barcelona
Barcelona, location on the map
Barcelona, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.6681014182121181496
Max temp.141516192226282926221815
Precip.4040354055302065851006540
Prec. days445554255755
Humidity72%71%72%72%73%72%71%71%72%75%72%72%
Day length961071201341461511481371241109892
Sun hours5667891097654
Sea temp131313141720232523201715

Bilbao
Bilbao, location on the map
Bilbao, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.557811141616141286
Max temp.141417182124262725221714
Precip.12085901058060507575110145120
Prec. days13111113117788111312
Humidity74%71%68%70%71%73%74%73%73%72%75%74%
Day length941061201351471531501391241109790
Sun hours334556665433
Sea temp131213131518212220181614

Cadiz
Cadiz, location on the map
Cadiz, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.101012141720222220181311
Max temp.161719202325282826242017
Precip.7060354525500256510090
Prec. days765631003678
Humidity75%74%71%69%70%69%68%70%71%74%74%76%
Day length10010912013214214614313512411210297
Sun hours6778101111118765
Sea temp161616171820222322211917

Granada (700 meters)
Granada, location on the map
Granada, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.235811151818141164
Max temp.131518202530343428221714
Precip.4035353530100525405050
Prec. days665652013577
Humidity72%68%60%57%51%43%37%41%51%62%71%75%
Day length9910912013214214714413512411210296
Sun hours567891112118755

Ibiza
Ibiza, location on the map
Ibiza, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.88912151822222016129
Max temp.161618202327303028242017
Precip.40304040251552545705560
Prec. days656653134566
Humidity76%74%73%73%73%72%72%73%73%76%74%77%
Day length9810812013314314914613612411110095
Sun hours567891011108755
Sea temp151415161821242624221916

La Coruña
La Coruña, location on the map
La Coruña, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.88910121416171513119
Max temp.141416171921222322201614
Precip.1159080908045353565135140135
Prec. days15121214117668131515
Humidity80%76%73%74%74%74%75%75%75%79%82%81%
Day length941061201351471541501391241109790
Sun hours345667886533
Sea temp131313131416181918171514

Madrid (685 meters)
Madrid, location on the map
Madrid, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.235711161919151053
Max temp.111316192430333328211511
Precip.403525505530151525505560
Prec. days665784223677
Humidity69%60%53%52%46%37%33%35%43%56%66%70%
Day length971071201331451501471371241119993
Sun hours567891112118754

Malaga
Malaga, location on the map
Malaga, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.881011141821211915119
Max temp.171820222529313228242018
Precip.70605045205052055100100
Prec. days654531012467
Humidity70%68%68%64%61%57%59%60%64%71%71%73%
Day length10010912013214214614413512411210297
Sun hours667891111108765
Sea temp161515161720222322201816

Merida (215 meters)
Merida, location on the map
Merida, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.458912161717151286
Max temp.141720212733353532251815
Precip.5040355045155525607070
Prec. days1098982125101013
Sun hours567891112119754

Palma
Palma, location on the map
Palma, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.446812161920171396
Max temp.161618202428313228241916
Precip.35303035251551550705045
Prec. days555542124666
Humidity81%79%76%74%71%67%67%70%74%78%80%81%
Day length9710712013314414914613612411110094
Sun hours567891111107755

Puerto Navacerrada (1.858 meters)
Puerto Navacerrada, location on the map
Puerto Navacerrada, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-3-3-10491212840-2
Max temp.336813192323171164
Precip.125958512512565252560155175165
Prec. days1210912127347121213
Humidity78%76%69%70%64%57%46%47%57%70%77%79%
Day length961071201341451511471371241119993
Sun hours445671011107533

Santander
Santander, location on the map
Santander, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.88910121517181614109
Max temp.131315161820222322201614
Precip.11085851007560507090115155125
Prec. days131110121198910121013
Humidity74%74%73%74%76%77%77%77%76%75%75%74%
Day length941061201351481541501391241109790
Sun hours344566665432
Sea temp131213131517202120181514

Seville
Seville, location on the map
Seville, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.67911141820201815107
Max temp.171922242833363632272117
Precip.65503555301005257090100
Prec. days664641012668
Humidity75%69%63%59%53%48%45%46%54%63%71%76%
Day length9910912013214214714413512411210196
Sun hours677891111118765

Tarifa
Tarifa, location on the map
Tarifa, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.101012131518192019171312
Max temp.151517182023252524211816
Precip.7585556025505208095120
Prec. days7967410026810
Humidity77%79%78%77%78%79%80%81%81%81%79%78%
Day length10010912013214114614313412411210298
Sun hours56679910108765
Sea temp161616161820222322201817

Valencia
Valencia, location on the map
Valencia, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.5681014182121181496
Max temp.161719212528313128252017
Precip.403530404020151565705550
Prec. days443553125544
Humidity67%64%63%62%62%61%64%65%67%68%66%69%
Day length9810812013314414914613612411110094
Sun hours66789101198765
Sea temp141314151721242624211815

Valladolid (700 meters)
Valladolid, location on the map
Valladolid, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.1135812141512842
Max temp.8111518222731302619129
Precip.452530454525151030605045
Prec. days756874224877
Humidity83%71%63%63%58%49%43%44%52%65%78%84%
Day length961061201341461521481381241109892
Sun hours467891112118643

Zaragoza (250 meters)
Zaragoza, location on the map
Zaragoza, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.336812161818151163
Max temp.111418202530333227221511
Precip.202020404525201530353020
Prec. days444674323555
Humidity76%68%61%58%55%50%48%50%56%65%73%78%
Day length961061201341461521481381241109892
Sun hours467891011108654



See also the temperatures month by month

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 See also (cities or regions):
 Albacete
 Alicante
 Almeria
 Andalusia
 Aragon
 Asturias
 Avila
 Aviles
 Badajoz
 Others (expand)
 Balearic Islands
 Barcelona
 Basque Country
 Bilbao
 Burgos
 Caceres
 Cadiz
 Camino Santiago
 Cantabria
 Castellon
 Castile and Leon
 Castile La Mancha
 Catalonia
 Ceuta
 Ciudad Real
 Colmenar Viejo
 Cordoba
 Costa Almeria
 Costa Blanca
 Costa Calida
 Costa de la Luz
 Costa del Sol
 Costa Tropical
 Cuenca
 Daroca
 Extremadura
 Formentera
 Fuenterrabia
 Galicia
 Gijon
 Girona
 Granada
 Huelva
 Huesca
 Ibiza
 Jaca
 Jaen
 Jerez de la Frontera
 La Coruña
 Leon
 Lleida
 Lloret de Mar
 Logrono
 Lugo
 Madrid
 Majorca
 Malaga
 Merida
 Minorca
 Molina de Aragon
 Moron de la Frontera
 Motril
 Murcia
 Navarre
 Ourense
 Oviedo
 Pamplona
 Ponferrada
 Pontevedra
 Puerto Navacerrada
 Reus
 Rota
 Salamanca
 San Javier
 San Sebastian
 Santander
 Santiago de Compostela
 Segovia
 Seville
 Soria
 Tarifa
 Tarragona
 Teruel
 Toledo
 Torrevieja
 Tortosa
 Valencia
 Valladolid
 Vigo
 Vitoria Gasteiz
 Zamora
 Zaragoza

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