Weather and climate in Rota (Andalusia)

The climate of Rota is Mediterranean, with mild, relatively rainy winters and hot, sunny summers.
The city is located in the extreme south of Spain, on the Atlantic coast of Andalusia (called Costa de la Luz), and overlooks the bay of Cadiz.
The city is quite windy, in particular, it receives the westerly wind (Poniente, more frequent from October to April) and the east wind (Levante, more frequent from May to September), although to a lesser extent than in Strait of Gibraltar, which is further south.
The average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of 11.2 °C (52.1 °F), that of the warmest month (August) is of 25.2 °C (77.4 °F). Here are the average temperatures.

Precipitation amounts to 580 millimeters (22.8 inches) per year: so, it is at an intermediate level. It ranges from 0 mm (0 in) in the driest month (July) to 95 mm (3.7 in) in the wettest ones (November, December). In autumn and winter, the rains can sometimes be heavy and concentrated in a short time. Here is the average precipitation.

The winter, from December to February, is mild. There are some periods of bad weather, but also many sunny days.
It rarely gets very cold, however, in periods of good weather, it can get cold at night, and fog can sometimes form. On the coldest nights of the year, the temperature typically drops to around 0 °C (32 °F). In January 2005, it dropped to -4.7 °C (23.5 °F).
Snow in Rota is extremely rare. The last time that the city was covered in a white blanket was in February 1954.

Summer, from June to mid-September, is very hot and sunny, with very rare rains.
However, there are different periods, because the currents from the ocean (which remains cool even in summer) sometimes prevail, while at other times the currents blow from the interior, where there are scorching temperatures. And so, there may be periods when the wind blows and highs remain around 25 °C (77 °F), and others with highs around 35 °C (95 °F) and more. On the hottest days of the year, the temperature normally reaches 39/40 °C (102/104 °F).
The heat record is 47 °C (116.5 °F), recorded in August 1982, although it was an anomalous value. From 2000 to 2020, the highest temperature was 42 °C (107.5 °F) and was recorded in July 2006.



The sea temperature ranges between 16 °C (61 °F) and 23 °C (73 °F). The Atlantic Ocean does not get very warm even in summer, however, it is all in all acceptable for swimming from July to September. Here are the average sea temperatures.

Best Time

The best time to visit Rota is from mid-April to mid-June. For a beach holiday, you can go from July to mid-September. In June, as we have said, the sea is still very cool. However, it is better to bring a sweatshirt or sweater for cool and windy evenings, especially in June, but for safety, also in July and August, especially if you are sensitive to cold.

Back to Andalusia.

Rota - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 11.2 °C (52 °F), with a minimum of 6.4 °C (43.5 °F) and a maximum of 16 °C (60.8 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 1.5 °C (34.5 °F). However, it dropped to -4.7 °C (23.5 °F) in January 2005.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 19.5 °C (67.5 °F). However, it reached 22 °C (71.6 °F) in January 2014.
Precipitation amounts to 80 mm (3.1 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 59% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 16.5 °C (61.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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February is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 12.3 °C (54 °F), with a minimum of 7.3 °C (45.1 °F) and a maximum of 17.3 °C (63.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 2.5 °C (36.5 °F). However, it dropped to -2.3 °C (27.9 °F) in February 2012.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 21.5 °C (70.5 °F). However, it reached 24.2 °C (75.6 °F) in February 1997.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 64% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 16 °C (60.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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March is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 14.8 °C (59 °F), with a minimum of 9.8 °C (49.6 °F) and a maximum of 19.7 °C (67.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 4 °C (39 °F). However, it dropped to 0.4 °C (32.7 °F) in March 1993.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 25.5 °C (78.5 °F). However, it reached 30.1 °C (86.2 °F) in March 2002.
Precipitation amounts to 45 mm (1.8 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 61% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is 17 kph (11 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 16 °C (61 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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April is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 16.5 °C (62 °F), with a minimum of 11.6 °C (52.9 °F) and a maximum of 21.4 °C (70.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 7 °C (44.5 °F). However, it dropped to 3.6 °C (38.5 °F) in April 1994.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 28 °C (82.5 °F). However, it reached 33 °C (91.4 °F) in April 1997.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 65% of the time.
The average humidity is 66%.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 17 °C (62 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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May is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 19.4 °C (67 °F), with a minimum of 14.4 °C (57.9 °F) and a maximum of 24.4 °C (75.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 9.5 °C (49.5 °F). However, it dropped to 6.8 °C (44.2 °F) in May 1991.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 31.5 °C (89 °F). However, it reached 38 °C (100.4 °F) in May 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 25 mm (1 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 10 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 70% of the time.
The average humidity is 58%.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 18 °C (64.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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June is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of 22.6 °C (73 °F), with a minimum of 17.5 °C (63.5 °F) and a maximum of 27.6 °C (81.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 13.5 °C (56.5 °F). However, it dropped to 10.8 °C (51.4 °F) in June 1992.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 35 °C (95 °F). However, it reached 40.2 °C (104.4 °F) in June 2017.
Precipitation amounts to 20 mm (0.8 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 35 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 11 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 76% of the time.
The average humidity is 55%.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 20 °C (68 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.

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July is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of 24.7 °C (76 °F), with a minimum of 19.3 °C (66.7 °F) and a maximum of 30.1 °C (86.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 15 °C (59.5 °F). However, it dropped to 11.5 °C (52.7 °F) in July 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 37.5 °C (99 °F). However, it reached 42.2 °C (108 °F) in July 2006.
Precipitation amounts to only 0 mm (0 in), so on average it never rains in the whole month.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 25 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 11.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 79% of the time.
The average humidity is 53%.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 22 °C (71.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.

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August, the hottest month of the year, is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of 25.2 °C (77 °F), with a minimum of 19.8 °C (67.6 °F) and a maximum of 30.6 °C (87.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 15.5 °C (60 °F). However, it dropped to 13.3 °C (55.9 °F) in August 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 37 °C (98.5 °F). However, it reached 41.2 °C (106.2 °F) in August 2003.
Precipitation amounts to only 5 mm (0.2 in), distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 11 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 80% of the time.
The average humidity is 55%.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 22.5 °C (72.5 °F). Therefore, the sea can be considered barely acceptable for swimming.

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September is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of 22.8 °C (73 °F), with a minimum of 17.8 °C (64 °F) and a maximum of 27.9 °C (82.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 13.5 °C (56 °F). However, it dropped to 10.3 °C (50.5 °F) in September 1994.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34 °C (93.5 °F). However, it reached 38 °C (100.4 °F) in September 1991.
Precipitation amounts to 25 mm (1 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 68% of the time.
The average humidity is 63%.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 22 °C (71.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.

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October is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 19.6 °C (67 °F), with a minimum of 14.7 °C (58.5 °F) and a maximum of 24.5 °C (76.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 9.5 °C (48.5 °F). However, it dropped to 6.2 °C (43.2 °F) in October 2008.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 30 °C (85.5 °F). However, it reached 33.7 °C (92.7 °F) in October 2004.
Precipitation amounts to 70 mm (2.8 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 66% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 20.5 °C (69 °F). Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.

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November is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 15.0 °C (59 °F), with a minimum of 10.4 °C (50.7 °F) and a maximum of 19.7 °C (67.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 5 °C (41 °F). However, it dropped to 0 °C (32 °F) in November 1999.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 24.5 °C (76.5 °F). However, it reached 27.7 °C (81.9 °F) in November 2001.
Precipitation amounts to 95 mm (3.7 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 61% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 19 °C (66 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.

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December is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 12.3 °C (54 °F), with a minimum of 7.8 °C (46 °F) and a maximum of 16.8 °C (62.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 1.5 °C (35 °F). However, it dropped to -1.6 °C (29.1 °F) in December 2009.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 20.5 °C (69.5 °F). However, it reached 24.8 °C (76.6 °F) in December 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 95 mm (3.7 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 40 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 55% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 17.5 °C (63.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.