Weather and climate in Basque Country (Spain)

Index

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• Introduction
• The cities - Bilbao, San Sebastián, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Logroño
• Sea temperature
• Best Time

Introduction

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In the Basque Country (Euskadi in Basque, or País Vasco in Spanish), an autonomous community in northern Spain, the climate is cool and damp on the coast because of the influence of the Atlantic ocean, while in inland areas, it becomes colder with increasing altitude, and a little more continental (therefore warmer in summer) and more arid in the south.
Along the coast, the wind blows frequently, in fact, there are beaches frequented by surfers.
Winter is quite mild on the coast, but cold air masses from the northeast can sometimes bring cold periods, when it can even snow, and night frosts may occur, typically light. This happens more easily in the eastern part of the coast (see San Sebastián) than in the west (see Bilbao).
Rainfall is quite abundant in the northern part of the Basque Country, where it typically exceeds 1,000 millimeters (40 inches) per year; in the central part, instead, it drops below 800 mm (31.5 in), and in the far south, where the landscape is much more arid, even below 500 mm (20 in). Summer is everywhere the least rainy season.
In the interior, we find hills and mountains: the Basque Mountains, which are part of the Cantabrian Mountains, separate the cool and damp part of Spain from the arid plateau (Meseta); the highest point is the Aizkorri massif, which reaches 1,551 meters (5,089 feet).
The wind that comes down from the mountains can cause rapid increases in temperature due to the föhn effect: in these cases, along the coast, the temperature can exceed 20 °C (68 °F) in winter, 30 °C (86 °F) in autumn and spring, and 35 °C (95 °F) in summer, when, however, this wind is rare.
The coast, overlooking the Bay of Biscay (or Vizcaya) is indented, and characterized by cliffs that plunge into the sea and by caves, though there are also beaches.
On average, the amount of sunshine in the Basque Country is never very good, at least in the northern and central part: in July and August, there are 6/7 hours of sunshine per day in Bilbao and San Sebastián, and 7/8 in Vitoria; in the other seasons, and especially in late autumn and winter, it is even worse, and the sky is often cloudy. On the contrary, in the south, in the valley of the Ebro, summer is sunny.

The cities

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Bilbao

In the west, a short distance from the coast, we find Bilbao: here, the monthly average temperature ranges from 9.5 °C (49 °F) in January to 21 °C (70 °F) in August. Here are the average temperatures.

Rainfall amounts to almost 1,200 mm (47 in) per year, with a maximum in November of 145 mm (5.7 in) and a minimum in July of 50 mm (2 in), when, however, there are quite frequent drizzles and short showers.

San Sebastian

In the eastern part of the coast, we find San Sebastián. Here, the average temperature ranges from 8.5 °C (47.5 °F) in January to 20 °C (68 °F) in August. Although the winter temperatures are typically mild, as mentioned, this eastern part of the coast is more exposed to cold air outbreaks, and consequently, to snow and frost. In January 1985, the temperature dropped to -9 °C (16 °F), and in February 2012, to -5 °C (23 °F). In summer, although the temperatures are generally mild, there may be short heat waves. In August 2003, the temperatures reached 38.6 °C (101.5 °F).

Rainfall in San Sebastián amounts to 1,500 mm (60 in) per year: we are in the wettest area of the coast. At the Hondarribia airport, slightly further to the east and at the border with France, it reaches 1,650 mm (65 in). Summer is the least rainy season, but it still rains for 10/11 days per month, and the amount does not drop below 85 mm (3.3 in) in July.



In the central part of the Basque Country, in the area called Llanada Alavesa, the weather gets colder in winter and a bit warmer on summer days.

Vitoria-Gasteiz

In Vitoria-Gasteiz, the capital, located at 500 meters (1,600 feet) above sea level, winter is cold enough, but above all, the city is exposed to cold air invasions, which can produce snow and frost: on average, 11 days with snowfall per year occur, from November to April. In summer, the average temperatures are similar to those of the coast, although it can get hot with a higher frequency during the day, while nights are definitely cool.

Precipitation in Vitoria-Gasteiz amounts to 750 mm (29.5 in) per year; the rainiest month is November with 90 mm (3.5 in), while the driest are July, August and September with 40 mm (1.6 in).



In the southern part of the Basque Country, in the Ebro Valley (the area called Rioja Alavesa, see Laguardia), the climate acquires semi-continental characteristics, similar to those of the Meseta. In fact, it is semi-arid, since annual rainfall drops below 500 mm (20 in) per year; winters are quite cold, with a January average around 6.5 °C (43.5 °F); summers are hot, and there may be some scorching days, while nights remain pretty cool. It is an area renowned for its wine.

Logroño

In Logroño, which is located in the same area, but on the south bank of the Ebro River, therefore in La Rioja province, the maximum temperatures exceed 30 °C (86 °F) in July and August.

In Logroño, just 435 mm (17 in) of rain fall per year, with a maximum in April and May of 50 mm (2 in) and a minimum in August of 20 mm (0.8 in). Owing to the barrier formed by the aforementioned Basque Mountains, Atlantic currents arrive with difficulty in this area, so Autumn and winter are not very rainy.

Sea temperature

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The sea in the Basque Country is very cool even in summer, in fact, the water temperature at its highest, from July to September, is still around 21/22 °C (70/72 °F), as can be seen from the sea temperature near Bilbao.

Best Time

The best time to visit the Basque Country, at least the center-north, is the summer, from June to August or the first half of September, since it is the driest and sunniest period of the year. July and August are the warmest and least rainy months. Even in midsummer, you must take into account some rain, and some nights a bit cool on the coast, and a bit cold in central inland areas.
In summer, in good weather (which is not very frequent), you can take a break at the beach and sunbathe, with an air temperature often pleasant and a cool breeze from the ocean, although, as I said, the sea is a bit cold for swimming.
In the south, in the Ebro valley, which can be very hot in summer, you can go in spring and autumn, especially in May and from mid-September to mid-October, although the rains are more frequent; in autumn, the landscape occupied by vast vineyards shows spectacular colors.

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See also the temperatures by month.