Index

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• Introduction
• Atlantic coast - Cadiz
• Inland plain - Jerez de la Frontera, Seville, Córdoba
• Mediterranean coast
• Sea temperature
• Hilly and mountainous areas - Jaen
• When to go

Introduction

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In Andalusia, the southernmost region of Spain, there are different types of climate: the Mediterranean climate of the coast, which becomes particularly cool and windy in the southern tip (where the east wind reigns supreme), and particularly arid in the east; the Mediterranean climate with hot summers in the valley of the Guadalquivir; the semi-continental climate of low mountains areas; and finally the alpine climate of the highest mountains.
The region is crossed by two mountain ranges, the Sierra Morena to the north and the Betic Cordillera (which includes the Sierra Nevada) to the south; in the middle we find the Betic Depression, crossed by the river Guadalquivir and characterized by hot summers, where there are cities such as Seville and Córdoba. Some mountain areas are particularly green, and are home to parks, such as Parque Natural de los Alcornocales (within which we find El Bosque de la Niebla, where the east wind creates a fog that deposits water droplets on trees, creating a particularly humid environment) and Parque Natural Sierra de Grazalema, both in the south-west, or Parque Natural de las Sierras de Cazorla, in the northeast, or Parque Nacional de Sierra Nevada, located in the south, in the area in which we find the highest peaks of the chain of the same name and of all continental Spain, starting from Mulhacen, 3,478 metres (11,411 feet) high.
Let's now see the climate of the major cities.

Atlantic coast

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On the Atlantic coast (called Costa de la Luz), the climate is Mediterranean, with very mild winters, and warm and sunny summers.

Cadiz

In Cadiz, the average temperature ranges from 12.5 °C (54.5 °F) in January, to 24.5 °C (76 °F) in July and August.
Here are the average temperatures.

In a typical year, 550 millimetres (21.5 inches) of rain fall, of which more than 80 mm (3.2 in) per month from December to February. In summer, as generally happens in Mediterranean climates, there is little or no rain.
Here is the average precipitation.

The amount of sunshine in Cadiz is great in summer, when clear skies prevail, it is good in spring, especially from mid-April onwards, and it is still decent in autumn and winter, when there is a moderate amount of cloudy days, during periods of bad weather, but there are also sunny periods.

Inland plain

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Moving away from the coast, in the valley of the Guadalquivir, summer becomes much hotter, while winter becomes a bit colder, especially at night.

Jerez de la Frontera

Already in Jerez de la Frontera, about 30 kilometres (18 miles) north-east of Cadiz, the climate becomes slightly colder in winter, especially at night, when occasionally light frosts may occur, while in summer it becomes warmer, especially during the day, when there are several hot days, with highs about 35/36 °C (95/97 °F); the highest records are about 40/42 °C (104/108 °F). Rainfall amounts to about 590 mm (23 in) per year, with a winter maximum and a summer minimum, as usual.
Here are the average temperatures.

Northwest of Jerez de la Frontera lies the Doñana National Park, rich in biodiversity, which near the coast is home to vast sand dunes.

Seville

Continuing to the north-east, in Seville, 70 km (45 miles) away from the coast, summer becomes even hotter, so that in July and August highs are normally about 36 °C (97 °F): this area in summer is the hottest in Europe, and sometimes the temperature can reach 45 °C (113 °F). Rainfall amounts to 560 mm (22 in) per year, still with a Mediterranean pattern.
Here are the average temperatures.

Córdoba

Continuing to the east, in Córdoba the temperatures are similar to those of Seville, but for the longer distance from the sea, it can sometimes be a little colder in winter, while in summer it can be slightly warmer.

Mediterranean coast

The Mediterranean coast has a cooler and more humid climate in the western part, while it becomes progressively more arid and hotter in the summer as it proceeds towards the east.
Precipitation along the Mediterranean coast varies significantly, becoming progressively scarcer towards the east, although the pattern is the same, with a maximum in the cold half of the year, in particular between November and January, and a minimum in summer, when it almost never rains.
In fact, rainfall amounts to 835 millimetres (33 inches) per year in Algeciras, where it can sometimes be abundant from November to March, while it drops to 585 mm (23 in) in Marbella, 525 mm (20.5 in) in Malaga, and 450 mm (17.5 in) in Nerja, while the easternmost part becomes definitely arid, almost desert: in Almería, precipitation amounts to just 200 mm (8 in) per year.
The coast overlooking the Mediterranean Sea can be divided according to the province and to the name that the different parts are given for tourism purposes:
- The westernmost part, in the province of Cadiz, overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar, though the southernmost, it's also the coolest in the summer, because of the prevalence of the east wind ("levante"). The coolest area corresponds precisely to the southern tip of Spain, at the point that separates the Atlantic Ocean from the Mediterranean Sea (see Tarifa). In this strait you can spot dolphins and whales. A little further to the north-east there's the Bay of Gibraltar: in the western part we find the city of Algeciras, in the eastern La Linea de la Concepcion, and just south Gibraltar, which belongs to Great Britain, and has a cool and humid microclimate.

Algeciras

Here are the average temperatures of Algeciras.

The western part of the coast is also the wettest. Here is the average rainfall in Algeciras.

- The central part, called Costa del Sol, corresponds to the coast of the province of Málaga. Here the temperatures are quite similar to that of the Costa de la Luz, Mediterranean-like: summers are hot but not too much, although there can be some very hot days, with highs around 35 °C (95 °F). Here for example, the average temperatures of Málaga.

- The eastern part of the coast is divided between the province of Granada, where it's called Costa Tropical (or Costa de Granada) and the province of Almería, where it's called Costa de Almería. Here the temperatures are similar, while proceeding towards the east the rainfall decreases, and at the same time the temperature of the sea gradually increases (see below).
Here is the average precipitation in Almería: as you can see, we are at the level of a semi-desert climate.

North of Almería there is a desert, the Tabernas Desert (Desierto de Tabernas), in which several western movies were filmed. However, also the southeastern coastal area, from Almería to Cabo de Gata, and from San José to Playa de los Muertos, is semi-desert: the cape of Gata is probably the driest place in Europe, since it receives only 155 mm (6.1 in) of rain per year. Here we find the Cabo de Gata-Nijar Natural Park.

Hilly and mountainous areas

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As mentioned, in Andalusia there are several mountain ranges, and cities located at more or less high elevation. The most important, Granada, is situated at 700 metres (2,300 feet) above sea level, and is often cold at night in winter, while in summer the heat is often intense during the day, while nights remain usually cool.

Jaen

In Jaén, located at an altitude a bit lower, 500 metres (1,600 feet) above sea level, winter is mild enough (despite some cold days), while summer is hot (with several torrid days). Precipitation amounts to 500 mm (20 in) per year, with a maximum in December, of 80 mm (3.1 in), and a minimum in July of 2 mm (0.08 in). Here are the average temperatures in Jaén.

At higher altitudes, the temperature drops further, but still at about 1,000/1,200 metres (3,300/3,900 feet), the maximum temperatures in summer are about 29/31 °C (84/88 °F).

Sea temperature

The temperature of the sea along the Atlantic coast (Costa de la Luz) remains cool even in summer, as we can see in the following table.

In the Costa del Sol the sea is never very warm as well, due to the infiltration of Atlantic waters, however, in summer it becomes slightly warmer than in the Atlantic coast, as we can see from the sea temperature in Málaga.

Continuing to the east, and moving away from the Atlantic, the sea becomes gradually warmer in summer: in Almería the sea temperature reaches 24 °C (75 °F) in August and 23 °C (73 °F) in September; in the far east, in the part of the coast facing southeast, it becomes even warmer, so much so that in Mojacar it reaches 25 °C (77 °F) in August.

When to go

The best months to visit Andalusia, if the trip includes the plain of the Guadalquivir and cities such as Seville and Córdoba, are April, May and October, to avoid the summer heat, although in these months sometimes it can rain. Those who can stand the heat can choose summer, when in the inland plain there is often a scorching heat, but also a more pleasant weather in high mountain areas. In winter you can find several pleasant days in the plains, sunny and spring-like, although it can get cold at night in the interior, and waves of bad weather cannot be excluded.

On the other hand, for a beach holiday the best time is the summer, from June to mid-September. It's better to bring a sweatshirt for cool and windy evenings, especially in the Costa de la Luz and in the province of Cadiz, but for safety also in July and August, especially if you are sensitive to cold.

In winter you can ski in the Sierra Nevada, and maybe take a trip to the sea, where you will usually find a mild weather (though not warm: we are still in the Mediterranean winter), with several sunny days, and possible but not abundant rain.

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