The climate of Minorca (or Menorca), the north-easternmost of the Balearic Islands, is
, with mild, relatively rainy winters and hot, sunny summers, which are a bit sultry but tempered by sea breezes.
Owing to the north wind ("Tramontana") that blows from France, Minorca is pretty
, especially from October to April. Actually, since it lies directly to the south of the Gulf of Lion, it is the windiest of the Balearic Islands.
ranges from 11 °C (52 °F) in January and February to 25.5 °C (78 °F) in August.
amounts to about 600 millimeters (23.5 in) per year, and follows the Mediterranean pattern, so it's more common in autumn and winter, it gradually decreases during spring, and reaches a minimum in summer, when it seldom rains. Menorca is the rainiest of the Balearics. However, the difference is generally noticeable especially in autumn, when the rains are sometimes abundant, and in winter, when there are periods when it rains often.
, from December to February, is mild, with many sunny days, but also with periods of rain and wind.
may even fall. Snowfalls are more abundant in the hill that is located inside the island, Monte Toro, 358 meters (1,175 feet) high, but even the coasts can be covered with snow. Snowfalls that whitened the island occurred for example in February 1956, February 1983, January 1985, February 1996, January 2005, February 2010 and February 2012.
However, frosts are rare, and on the coldest nights of the year, the temperature typically drops to 1/2 °C (34/36 °F). The coldest record is -2.5 °C (27.5 °F), recorded in January 1985. More recently, the temperature dropped to -1 °C (30 °F) in February 2010.
The following map shows how the Tramontana wind reaches the island from the Rhone valley (in France this wind is called Mistral).
, from June to mid-September, is hot and sunny, with very rare rains. Some periods are more pleasant, while others are hotter and more sultry.
Typically, the temperature reaches 35/36 °C (95/97 °F) on the hottest days of the year. In July 1983, it reached 39.5 °C (103 °F), and more recently, in August 2017, it reached 37.5 °C (99.5 °F).
in Menorca is not very good in winter, when Atlantic or Mediterranean depressions pass quite often, however, there is a moderate amount of sunny days also in this period. Spring is a sunny season, especially in May; the sunniest period is from June to August, when clear skies are the norm. In September, the first Atlantic disturbances occur, so, the sun in autumn is not always guaranteed.
in Menorca is warm enough for swimming from July to September, when it reaches or exceeds 24 °C (75 °F), while in June and October, it is quite cool.
to visit Menorca for a beach holiday is the summer, from June to mid-September. The water temperature is comfortable enough from July to September, although in September, which overall is still a good month (especially in the first half), the first periods of bad weather may occur. May and June are sunny months, but the sea is still a bit cool, especially in May, when it is actually cold, and sometimes, cold and windy days can still occur.
April and May are suitable months to visit the island and its cities, while in summer, it can sometimes be too hot for hiking, especially in July and August. In October and November, the temperatures are mild, but the days are shorter and the weather can be rainy and windy.
. Here are the average temperatures.
January is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
11.1 °C, with a minimum of
7.8 °C and a maximum of
14.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
3 °C. However, it dropped to
-1 °C in January 2005.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
18 °C. However, it reached
21.2 °C in January 2018.
Precipitation amounts to
60 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 48% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
15.7 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
15 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
February, the coldest month of the year, is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
10.9 °C, with a minimum of
7.4 °C and a maximum of
14.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
3 °C. However, it dropped to
-1.1 °C in February 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
18 °C. However, it reached
21.2 °C in February 2020.
Precipitation amounts to
50 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 48% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
16.5 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
14 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
March is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
12.6 °C, with a minimum of
8.8 °C and a maximum of
16.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
4 °C. However, it dropped to
0.1 °C in March 2005.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
21 °C. However, it reached
27.2 °C in March 2001.
Precipitation amounts to
50 mm, distributed over 7 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 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
16.7 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
14 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
April is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
14.8 °C, with a minimum of
10.9 °C and a maximum of
18.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
5.5 °C. However, it dropped to
2.8 °C in April 2019.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
23.5 °C. However, it reached
27.7 °C in April 2012.
Precipitation amounts to
45 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 56% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
16.1 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
15 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
May is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
18.1 °C, with a minimum of
14 °C and a maximum of
22.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
10 °C. However, it dropped to
5.4 °C in May 2019.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
27.5 °C. However, it reached
31 °C in May 1999.
Precipitation amounts to
30 mm, distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 25 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 60% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
14.6 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
22.2 °C, with a minimum of
17.9 °C and a maximum of
26.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
13.5 °C. However, it dropped to
10.7 °C in June 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
31.5 °C. However, it reached
34 °C in June 2001.
Precipitation amounts to
15 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 0 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 10.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 69% of the time.
The average humidity is 69%.
The average wind speed is of
14.1 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
21 °C. Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.
July is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of
25.1 °C, with a minimum of
20.9 °C and a maximum of
29.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
17 °C. However, it dropped to
14.6 °C in July 2002.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
33.5 °C. However, it reached
36.1 °C in July 2003.
Precipitation amounts to only
5 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 40 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 11 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 76% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is of
13.5 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
24 °C. Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.
August, the hottest month of the year, is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of
25.6 °C, with a minimum of
21.6 °C and a maximum of
29.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
17 °C. However, it dropped to
13.6 °C in August 1999.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
33.5 °C. However, it reached
37.7 °C in August 2017.
Precipitation amounts to
25 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 10 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 74% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%.
The average wind speed is of
13.4 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
25 °C. Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.
September is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
22.8 °C, with a minimum of
19 °C and a maximum of
26.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
14 °C. However, it dropped to
10.4 °C in September 2007.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
30.5 °C. However, it reached
34.2 °C in September 2016.
Precipitation amounts to
60 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 60% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
13.6 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
24 °C. Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.
October is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
19.5 °C, with a minimum of
16.2 °C and a maximum of
22.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
11 °C. However, it dropped to
7.6 °C in October 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
27 °C. However, it reached
30.1 °C in October 2016.
Precipitation amounts to
100 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
14.6 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
22 °C. Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.
November is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
15 °C, with a minimum of
11.8 °C and a maximum of
18.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
6.5 °C. However, it dropped to
3 °C in November 2013.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
23 °C. However, it reached
25.4 °C in November 2013.
Precipitation amounts to
85 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 48% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
16.3 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
19 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.
December is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
12.2 °C, with a minimum of
9 °C and a maximum of
15.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
4 °C. However, it dropped to
1.4 °C in December 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
19.5 °C. However, it reached
21.4 °C in December 2018.
Precipitation amounts to
80 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 25 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 45% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
15.7 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
16 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.