Climate - Tortosa (Catalonia)

The climate of Tortosa is Mediterranean, with mild, relatively rainy winters and hot, sunny summers.
The city is located in southern Catalonia, 15 kilometers (9 miles) from the Ebro Delta Natural Park, where Spain's longest river flows into the sea. To the north of the Ebro delta, we find the southern part of the so-called Costa Dorada.
In certain meteorological situations, the city is windy, because it is located in an area, which also includes the coastal stretch on the Gulf of San Jorge from Cambrils to l'Ampolla, where the north-west wind manages to climb over the mountains.
The average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of 10.5 °C (51 °F), that of the warmest month (August) is of 27 °C (80.5 °F) at the observatory of Roquetes. Here are the average temperatures.

Precipitation amounts to 510 millimeters (20.1 inches) per year: therefore, it is not abundant. 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 80 mm (3.1 in) in the wettest (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).
As mentioned, there can be some days with strong winds.
Sometimes, there may also be cold periods brought by air masses from Eastern Europe, but with less evident effects than in the rest of Catalonia. Not by chance, snow is very rare.
On the coldest nights of the year, the temperature typically drops to 0 °C (32 °F). The coldest record is -6.5 °C (20.5 °F) and dates back to February 1956, but otherwise, the temperature only dropped to -3 °C (26.5 °F) in the cold January 1985, and from 2000 to 2020, it dropped to -2.5 °C (27.5 °F) in March and December 2005.

Summer, from June to August, is hot and sunny, with rare thunderstorms. Summer is warmer than on the coast, not only because of the distance from the sea, but because the hills to the east partially block the sea breeze.
There may be some particularly hot periods. On the hottest days of the year, the temperature typically reaches 38/40 °C (100/104 °F). The heat record is 43 °C (109.5 °F) and was recorded in July 1982, while in recent years, the temperature has reached 42.5 °C (108.5 °F) in August 2018 and in late June 2019.



On average, there are around 2,665 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 for a beach holiday on the coast near Tortosa (and also to visit the Parc Natural Els Ports, located in the mountains) is the summer, from June to August. The water temperature is comfortable enough from July to September; however, in September, which is still a good month (especially in the first half), the first Atlantic depressions begin to affect this area. May and June are sunny months, but the sea is still a bit cool, especially in May, when it is actually a bit cold.
Although good weather is not always guaranteed, spring and autumn are ideal for visiting the city, since it can be very hot in summer.

Back to Catalonia.

Tortosa - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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In January, the coldest month of the year, the weather in Tortosa is usually mild. The average temperature is of 10.4 °C (51 °F), with a minimum of 5.8 °C (42.4 °F) and a maximum of 15 °C (59 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 0.5 °C (32.5 °F). However, it dropped to -2.1 °C (28.2 °F) in January 2011.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 21.5 °C (71 °F). However, it reached 26 °C (78.8 °F) in January 2007.
Precipitation amounts to 35 mm (1.4 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 55% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
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 weather in Tortosa is usually mild. The average temperature is of 11.4 °C (53 °F), with a minimum of 6.1 °C (42.9 °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 °C (34 °F). However, it dropped to -2.6 °C (27.3 °F) in February 2005.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 22.5 °C (73 °F). However, it reached 27.2 °C (81 °F) in February 2019.
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 6 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 13.5 °C (56 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In March, the weather in Tortosa is usually mild. The average temperature is of 14.0 °C (57 °F), with a minimum of 8.2 °C (46.8 °F) and a maximum of 19.8 °C (67.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 3 °C (38 °F). However, it dropped to -2.5 °C (27.5 °F) in March 2005.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 27 °C (80 °F). However, it reached 32.5 °C (90.5 °F) in March 2001.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 57% of the time.
The average humidity is 60%.
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 Tortosa is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 16.2 °C (61 °F), with a minimum of 10.3 °C (50.5 °F) and a maximum of 22.2 °C (72 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 5.5 °C (42 °F). However, it dropped to 3.5 °C (38.3 °F) in April 1996.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 28.5 °C (83.5 °F). However, it reached 32 °C (89.6 °F) in April 2011.
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm (2 in), 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 57% of the time.
The average humidity is 60%.
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 Tortosa is usually warm. The average temperature is of 19.7 °C (68 °F), with a minimum of 13.8 °C (56.8 °F) and a maximum of 25.7 °C (78.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 9 °C (48 °F). However, it dropped to 5.8 °C (42.4 °F) in May 2001.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 32 °C (90 °F). However, it reached 36 °C (96.8 °F) in May 2006.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 30 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 57% of the time.
The average humidity is 62%.
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 Tortosa is usually warm to hot. The average temperature is of 24.0 °C (75 °F), with a minimum of 17.8 °C (64 °F) and a maximum of 30.2 °C (86.3 °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). However, it dropped to 11 °C (51.8 °F) in June 1992.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 36 °C (96.5 °F). However, it reached 42.4 °C (108.3 °F) in June 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 25 mm (1 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 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 65% of the time.
The average humidity is 61%.
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 Tortosa is usually warm to hot. The average temperature is of 26.7 °C (80 °F), with a minimum of 20.6 °C (69 °F) and a maximum of 32.8 °C (91 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 17 °C (62 °F). However, it dropped to 13.4 °C (56.1 °F) in July 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 37 °C (99 °F). However, it reached 40 °C (104 °F) in July 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 15 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 40 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 10.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 72% of the time.
The average humidity is 59%.
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 hottest month of the year, the weather in Tortosa is usually warm to hot. The average temperature is of 27.0 °C (81 °F), with a minimum of 20.9 °C (69.7 °F) and a maximum of 33 °C (91.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 17 °C (62.5 °F). However, it dropped to 13.6 °C (56.5 °F) in August 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 37.5 °C (99.5 °F). However, it reached 42.3 °C (108.1 °F) in August 2018.
Precipitation amounts to 35 mm (1.4 in), distributed over 3 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 63%.
The average wind speed is 11 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 Tortosa is usually warm to hot. The average temperature is of 23.4 °C (74 °F), with a minimum of 17.6 °C (63.7 °F) and a maximum of 29.2 °C (84.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 12.5 °C (54.5 °F). However, it dropped to 9.8 °C (49.6 °F) in September 1993.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34.5 °C (94 °F). However, it reached 41.4 °C (106.5 °F) in September 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), 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 67%.
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 Tortosa is usually warm. The average temperature is of 19.2 °C (67 °F), with a minimum of 13.9 °C (57 °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 8.5 °C (47.5 °F). However, it dropped to 4.5 °C (40.1 °F) in October 2012.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 30 °C (86.5 °F). However, it reached 34.5 °C (94.1 °F) in October 2013.
Precipitation amounts to 80 mm (3.1 in), distributed over 6 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 56% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 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 Tortosa is usually mild. The average temperature is of 14 °C (57 °F), with a minimum of 9.4 °C (48.9 °F) and a maximum of 18.6 °C (65.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 3.5 °C (38.5 °F). However, it dropped to -1.8 °C (28.8 °F) in November 2007.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 25 °C (76.5 °F). However, it reached 28.3 °C (82.9 °F) in November 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 54% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
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 Tortosa is usually mild. The average temperature is of 10.8 °C (51 °F), with a minimum of 6.4 °C (43.4 °F) and a maximum of 15.2 °C (59.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 1 °C (33.5 °F). However, it dropped to -2.6 °C (27.3 °F) in December 2005.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 21.5 °C (70.5 °F). However, it reached 24.8 °C (76.6 °F) in December 1995.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 4 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 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
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.