Climate - Tarragona (Catalonia)

The climate of Tarragona is Mediterranean, with mild, relatively rainy winters and hot, sunny summers.
The city is the capital of the southernmost province of Catalonia and is located on the part of the coast called Costa Dorada.
Sometimes, a strong wind from the north-west can blow, especially in the cold semester (albeit a little less than in Reus).
The average temperature of the coldest months (January and February) is of 10 °C (50 °F), that of the warmest months (Jult and August) is of 25 °C (77 °F). Here are the average temperatures.

Precipitation amounts to 500 millimeters (20 inches) per year: it is therefore quite scarce. In particular, the rains in winter are rarer than normally occurs in Mediterranean climates. Precipitation ranges from 15 mm (0.6 in) in the driest month (July) to 100 mm (4 in) in the wettest one (October). Here is the average precipitation.

The winter, from December to February, is mild. There are sunny periods alternating with rainy periods (which are quite rare).
Sometimes, there may also be cold periods brought by air masses from Eastern Europe, and once every few years (more rarely than in Barcelona, which is a little more to the north), it can also snow.
On the coldest nights of the year, the temperature typically drops to -1/-2 °C (28/30 °F).

Summer, from mid-June to August, is hot and sunny, with rare thunderstorms. During the day, the sea breeze makes the heat more bearable, but nights are muggy.
There may be some particularly hot periods, usually of short duration, in which the temperature reaches 34/35 °C (93/95 °F).



On average, there are around 2,525 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.

The sea temperature ranges between 13 °C (55 °F) and 26 °C (79 °F). The sea is warm enough for swimming from July to September. Here are the average sea temperatures.

Best Time

The best time to visit Tarragona is spring, 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.

Back to Catalonia.

Tarragona - Weather by month

Based on the period 2009-2019

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In January, the weather in Tarragona is usually mild. The average temperature is of 10.3 °C (51 °F), with a minimum of 5.3 °C (41.5 °F) and a maximum of 15.3 °C (59.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -0.5 °C (31.5 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 20.5 °C (69 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 20 mm (0.8 in), distributed over 3 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 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 14 °C (57 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In February, the coldest month of the year, the weather in Tarragona is usually mild. The average temperature is of 10.2 °C (50 °F), with a minimum of 5.1 °C (41.2 °F) and a maximum of 15.4 °C (59.7 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -0.5 °C (31.5 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 22 °C (71.5 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 54% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 13.5 °C (56 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In March, the weather in Tarragona is usually mild. The average temperature is of 12.7 °C (55 °F), with a minimum of 7.4 °C (45.4 °F) and a maximum of 17.9 °C (64.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 2.5 °C (37 °F).
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 24.5 °C (76.5 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 6 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 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 65%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 13.5 °C (56.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In April, the weather in Tarragona is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 15.1 °C (59 °F), with a minimum of 10.2 °C (50.4 °F) and a maximum of 20 °C (67.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 6.5 °C (43.5 °F).
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 25.5 °C (77.5 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 55 mm (2.2 in), distributed over 6 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 64%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 15 °C (58.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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In May, the weather in Tarragona is usually warm. The average temperature is of 18.3 °C (65 °F), with a minimum of 13.4 °C (56.2 °F) and a maximum of 23.2 °C (73.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 9 °C (48 °F).
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 29 °C (84.5 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 25 mm (1 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 30 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 56% of the time.
The average humidity is 65%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 17.5 °C (63.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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In June, the weather in Tarragona is usually warm. The average temperature is of 22.3 °C (72 °F), with a minimum of 17.7 °C (63.9 °F) and a maximum of 26.8 °C (80.3 °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).
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 31.5 °C (89 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 3 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 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 61% of the time.
The average humidity is 63%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 21 °C (70 °F). Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.

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In July, the weather in Tarragona is usually warm to hot. The average temperature is of 25.4 °C (78 °F), with a minimum of 21.1 °C (70 °F) and a maximum of 29.7 °C (85.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 17.5 °C (63.5 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34 °C (93 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 15 mm (0.6 in), 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 61%.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 24 °C (75.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.

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In August, the warmest month of the year, the weather in Tarragona is usually warm to hot. The average temperature is of 25.6 °C (78 °F), with a minimum of 21.3 °C (70.3 °F) and a maximum of 29.9 °C (85.9 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 17.5 °C (63.5 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34 °C (93 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 63% of the time.
The average humidity is 65%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 25.5 °C (78 °F). Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.

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In September, the weather in Tarragona is usually warm to hot. The average temperature is of 22.9 °C (73 °F), with a minimum of 18.2 °C (64.7 °F) and a maximum of 27.6 °C (81.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 13 °C (55.5 °F).
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 31.5 °C (88.5 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm (2 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 56% of the time.
The average humidity is 69%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 24 °C (75.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.

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In October, the weather in Tarragona is usually warm. The average temperature is of 19.2 °C (67 °F), with a minimum of 14.4 °C (57.9 °F) and a maximum of 24 °C (75.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 8 °C (47 °F).
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 29.5 °C (84.5 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 100 mm (3.9 in), distributed over 5 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 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 21.5 °C (70.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.

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In November, the weather in Tarragona is usually mild. The average temperature is of 14.2 °C (58 °F), with a minimum of 9.4 °C (48.8 °F) and a maximum of 19 °C (66.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 2.5 °C (37 °F).
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 24 °C (75.5 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 18 °C (64.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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In December, the weather in Tarragona is usually mild. The average temperature is of 11.0 °C (52 °F), with a minimum of 6 °C (42.8 °F) and a maximum of 16.1 °C (60.9 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 0 °C (32 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 20.5 °C (68.5 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 25 mm (1 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 20 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 50% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 15.5 °C (59.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.