The city is the capital of the Autonomous Community of Catalonia and is located in the north-east of Spain, on the Mediterranean coast.
Near the coast, the altitude reaches up to 177 meters (580 feet) on the Montjuic hill, which dominates the port. In inland areas, the altitude gradually increases up to about 200 meters (650 ft) in the neighborhoods at the foot of the
, which culminates with the Tibidabo, the 512-meter (1,680 ft) high mountain that dominates the city.
ranges from 10 °C (50 °F) in January to 25 °C (77 °F) in August.
is not abundant, in fact, the flow of Atlantic weather fronts comes from the west, so when they reach the city, they have already released moisture on the western and inland regions: for this reason, the inhabitants of central and southern Catalonia are accustomed to limiting water consumption.
However, the rains are more frequent in autumn and spring, that is, in the seasons in which the southerly currents, which can pick up moisture from the sea, are more frequent.
In a typical year, 620 millimeters (24.5 inches) of rain fall, with a maximum of 100 mm (4 in) in October. July is the driest month, with just 20 mm (0.8 in); in summer, the rains are rare, but thunderstorms can sometimes erupt in the afternoon, reaching the coast after forming in the interior.
, from December to February, is mild, although different weather situations can occur. When the Azores High moves over Spain, there can be several mild and sunny days, with highs around 15 °C (59 °F). On the other hand, Atlantic fronts can bring clouds and rains for a few days.
from eastern Europe arrive. The lowest temperatures in Barcelona are not particularly cold: on the coldest nights, the temperature typically drops around freezing. On average, there are only four days a year with a minimum below 0 °C (32 °F).
However, in February 1956, the temperature dropped to -6.5 °C (20.5 °F) at the airport and to -10 °C (14 °F) at the Fabra observatory, 400 meters (1,300 ft) above sea level near the top of Tibidabo. The
in Barcelona was broken after the big Christmas snowfall of 1962 (see below), when the temperature dropped to -8 °C (17.5 °F) at the airport. More recently, in January 1985, the temperature dropped to -7 °C (19.5 °F). In the years 2000-2020, it dropped to -3.5 °C (25.5 °F) in February 2012.
in Barcelona are very rare, but not impossible; they are more frequent in the hills near the city. Here are the dates of some important snowfalls occurred in the past: January 15, 1914 (20 cm or 8 inches); February 21, 1933; February 17, 1938; February 18, 1942; February 21, 1948; Christmas 1962 (almost half a meter or one foot in the city, and 80 cm or 2.6 feet at the Tibidabo, the most abundant of the century); January 5, 1985; January 30, 1986 (blizzard, 5 cm or 2 inches in the city and 30 cm or 1 foot at the Tibidabo); March 1, 1993 (especially in the higher areas); December 14, 2001 (especially in the upper areas); March 8, 2010 (blizzard, 10 cm or 4 inches in the city, and 20 cm or 8 inches in the upper areas).
, from mid-June to August, is hot and sunny, with highs close to 30 °C (86 °F). During the day, the sea breeze makes the heat more bearable, but nights are muggy.
The city is somewhat protected from heat waves that can affect other parts of Spain, but we can not exclude some particularly hot days, with peaks of 34/35 °C (93/95 °F). The heat record is 37.5 °C (99.5 °F), recorded in August 2003 and August 2010.
are mild and relatively rainy, however, there is a fair amount of sunny days also in these periods. Sometimes, the rains in autumn can be abundant.
in Barcelona is acceptable in winter, when there are sunny days but also periods with cloudy skies, and very good in summer, when clear skies prevail.
On average, there are 2,500 hours of sunshine per year.
is warm enough for swimming from July to September, with a peak in August of 25 °C (77 °F). In June, the sea is still cool, around 20 °C (68 °F).
, from mid-April to mid-June. September, too, is a good month, but it is quite rainy. Summer, from mid-June to August, can be hot and muggy, though it is the best time for a beach holiday. Winter is usually mild, but sometimes it can get a bit cold and it can rain.
. Here are the average temperatures.
January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
9.8 °C, with a minimum of
5.5 °C and a maximum of
14.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
1 °C. However, it dropped to
-2.7 °C in January 2011.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
19 °C. However, it reached
23.6 °C in January 2018.
Precipitation amounts to
40 mm, distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 50% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
15.1 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
13 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
February is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
10.3 °C, with a minimum of
6 °C and a maximum of
14.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
1.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-3.5 °C in February 2012.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
19.5 °C. However, it reached
24.1 °C in February 2007.
Precipitation amounts to
40 mm, distributed over 4 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 54% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
14.5 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
13 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
March is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
12.3 °C, with a minimum of
8.1 °C and a maximum of
16.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
3.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-1 °C in March 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
22 °C. However, it reached
25 °C in March 1995.
Precipitation amounts to
35 mm, distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 54% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
14.6 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
13 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
April is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
14.5 °C, with a minimum of
10.4 °C and a maximum of
18.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
6 °C. However, it dropped to
2.2 °C in April 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
23.5 °C. However, it reached
26 °C in April 2001.
Precipitation amounts to
40 mm, distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 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 of
14.5 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
14 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
May is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
17.9 °C, with a minimum of
13.9 °C and a maximum of
21.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
9.5 °C. However, it dropped to
4.2 °C in May 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
26.5 °C. However, it reached
30 °C in May 2011.
Precipitation amounts to
55 mm, distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 35 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 54% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
13.5 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
17 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
June is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
21.7 °C, with a minimum of
17.8 °C and a maximum of
25.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
13.5 °C. However, it dropped to
8.7 °C in June 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
30.5 °C. However, it reached
34.9 °C in June 2005.
Precipitation amounts to
30 mm, distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 5 minutes. So the days are long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 58% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
12.9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
20 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.
July is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
24.5 °C, with a minimum of
20.7 °C and a maximum of
28.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
17 °C. However, it dropped to
12.7 °C in July 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
31.5 °C. However, it reached
34.8 °C in July 2009.
Precipitation amounts to
20 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 50 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 10 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 67% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
12.8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
23 °C. Therefore, the sea can be considered barely acceptable for swimming.
August, the hottest month of the year, is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
25.1 °C, with a minimum of
21.2 °C and a maximum of
29.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
17 °C. However, it dropped to
13 °C in August 2002.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
33 °C. However, it reached
37.4 °C in August 2010.
Precipitation amounts to
65 mm, distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 67% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
12.6 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
25 °C. Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.
September is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
22 °C, with a minimum of
18 °C and a maximum of
26.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
13 °C. However, it dropped to
10 °C in September 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
30 °C. However, it reached
34.4 °C in September 1999.
Precipitation amounts to
85 mm, distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 59% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
13.1 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
23 °C. Therefore, the sea can be considered barely acceptable for swimming.
October is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
18.3 °C, with a minimum of
14.3 °C and a maximum of
22.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
9 °C. However, it dropped to
4.1 °C in October 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
27 °C. However, it reached
30.4 °C in October 1997.
Precipitation amounts to
100 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
13.2 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
20 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.
November is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
13.5 °C, with a minimum of
9.2 °C and a maximum of
17.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
3.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-1 °C in November 2007.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
22.5 °C. However, it reached
25.8 °C in November 2013.
Precipitation amounts to
65 mm, distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 49% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
14.1 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
17 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
December is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
10.5 °C, with a minimum of
6.3 °C and a maximum of
14.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
1.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-3.6 °C in December 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
19.5 °C. However, it reached
21.9 °C in December 2017.
Precipitation amounts to
40 mm, distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 10 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 49% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
15.3 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
15 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.