Climate in Vitoria Gasteiz (Basque Country)

The climate of Vitoria (Gasteiz in Basque) is suboceanic, with quite cold, rainy winters and pleasantly warm summers, but with cool nights and some hot days.

The city is the capital of the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country and is located 50 km (30 mi) south of Bilbao, at an altitude of 540 meters (1,770 ft), on a small plateau surrounded by mountains.

Compared to the north coast of Spain, the climate is more continental, colder at night and in winter, but also warmer during the day in summer. In fact, the daily temperature range is often considerable.

The average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of 5 °C (41 °F), that of the warmest month (August) is of 20 °C (68 °F).

Precipitation amounts to 750 millimeters (29.5 inches) per year.

The winter, from December to February, is quite cold. Average temperatures are not very low, but at night it gets cold, and in periods of good weather, fog can form.
Also, there may sometimes be periods characterized by snow and frost.
On the coldest nights of the year, the temperature generally drops to -7/-8 °C (18/19 °F), but during the coldest winters it can drop to very low values, among the lowest in Spanish cities. In fact, it dropped to -21 °C (-6 °F) in December 1962 and January 1971, and to -18 °C (-0.5 °F) in January 1985. From 2000 to 2020, it dropped to -11.5 °C (11.5 °F) in December 2001 and to -12.5 °C (9.5 °F) in January 2010.

The summer, from June to August, is pleasantly warm during the day, while nights are cool. The rains are quite rare, and the sun shines quite often.
At night it can get cold, in fact the temperature can drop below 5 °C (41 °F) even in summer. However, there may also be very hot periods, in which the temperature can reach or exceed 35 °C (95 °F). The heat record is 42 °C (107.5 °F) and was set in August 2012.



On average, there are around 1,875 sunshine hours per year. The sun shines less often than in much of Spain, but it shines more often than on the north coast, especially in summer.

Best Time

The best time to visit Vitoria-Gasteiz runs from June to September, since it is the warmest and sunniest period of the year. Sometimes it can be hot, while in other circumstances, nights can be cool or even cold, so it can be useful to bring a sweatshirt or sweater and a light jacket for the evening, and maybe gloves and a wool hat, which take up little space and can be useful on colder nights.
If you fear the heat, you can choose the periods from mid-May to mid-June and from mid-September to mid-October.

Vitoria Gasteiz - Climate data

In Vitoria Gasteiz, the average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of 5.3 °C (41.5 °F), that of the warmest month (August) is of 19.9 °C (67.9 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Precipitation amounts to 750 millimeters (29.5 inches) per year: so, it is at an intermediate level. It ranges from 40 mm (1.6 in) in the driest months (July, August, September) to 90 mm (3.5 in) in the wettest one (November). Here is the average precipitation.
There are on average around 1875 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.

Vitoria Gasteiz - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of 5.3 °C (41 °F), with a minimum of 1 °C (33.8 °F) and a maximum of 9.5 °C (49.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -6 °C (21 °F). However, it dropped to -12.5 °C (9.5 °F) in January 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 16 °C (61 °F). However, it reached 19 °C (66.2 °F) in January 2002.
Precipitation amounts to 75 mm (3 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 2.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 28% of the time.
The average humidity is 84%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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February is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of 5.9 °C (43 °F), with a minimum of 0.7 °C (33.2 °F) and a maximum of 11.1 °C (51.9 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -5.5 °C (22 °F). However, it dropped to -11 °C (12.2 °F) in February 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 19 °C (66 °F). However, it reached 24 °C (75.2 °F) in February 1998.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 36% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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March is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 8.6 °C (47 °F), with a minimum of 2.4 °C (36.4 °F) and a maximum of 14.7 °C (58.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -4 °C (25 °F). However, it dropped to -9.2 °C (15.4 °F) in March 2004.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 24 °C (75 °F). However, it reached 27.5 °C (81.5 °F) in March 2017.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 40% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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April is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 10.4 °C (51 °F), with a minimum of 4.1 °C (39.3 °F) and a maximum of 16.6 °C (62 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -2.5 °C (28 °F). However, it dropped to -5 °C (23 °F) in April 1991.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 26 °C (78.5 °F). However, it reached 31.4 °C (88.5 °F) in April 2011.
Precipitation amounts to 73 mm (2.9 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 40% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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May is generally a mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 13.8 °C (57 °F), with a minimum of 7 °C (44.7 °F) and a maximum of 20.6 °C (69 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 0.5 °C (33 °F). However, it dropped to -3.1 °C (26.4 °F) in May 2019.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 30 °C (86 °F). However, it reached 37 °C (98.6 °F) in May 2001.
Precipitation amounts to 70 mm (2.8 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 40 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 43% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (6 mph).

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June is generally a very mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 17.2 °C (63 °F), with a minimum of 10.2 °C (50.3 °F) and a maximum of 24.3 °C (75.7 °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 °C (32 °F) in June 1992.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34.5 °C (94 °F). However, it reached 40 °C (104 °F) in June 2001.
Precipitation amounts to 45 mm (1.8 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 20 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 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 47% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (6 mph).

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July is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 19.5 °C (67 °F), with a minimum of 12.3 °C (54.1 °F) and a maximum of 26.7 °C (80.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 6.5 °C (43.5 °F). However, it dropped to 2.9 °C (37.2 °F) in July 2012.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 36 °C (97 °F). However, it reached 39.2 °C (102.6 °F) in July 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 55 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 69%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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August, the warmest month of the year, is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 19.9 °C (68 °F), with a minimum of 12.4 °C (54.4 °F) and a maximum of 27.4 °C (81.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 6 °C (43 °F). However, it dropped to 2 °C (35.6 °F) in August 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 36.5 °C (98 °F). However, it reached 42.2 °C (108 °F) in August 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (6 mph).

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September is generally a very mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 16.9 °C (62 °F), with a minimum of 9.7 °C (49.5 °F) and a maximum of 24.1 °C (75.3 °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 0 °C (32 °F) in September 2002.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 32.5 °C (90.5 °F). However, it reached 38.4 °C (101.1 °F) in September 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 48% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).

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October is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 13.2 °C (56 °F), with a minimum of 7.2 °C (44.9 °F) and a maximum of 19.2 °C (66.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -0.5 °C (31 °F). However, it dropped to -4 °C (24.8 °F) in October 1991.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 27 °C (80.5 °F). However, it reached 31.2 °C (88.2 °F) in October 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 70 mm (2.8 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 42% of the time.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).

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November is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of 8.5 °C (47 °F), with a minimum of 3.9 °C (39.1 °F) and a maximum of 13.2 °C (55.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -3 °C (27 °F). However, it dropped to -8.4 °C (16.9 °F) in November 2007.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 20.5 °C (68.5 °F). However, it reached 23.7 °C (74.7 °F) in November 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 90 mm (3.5 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 3 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 32% of the time.
The average humidity is 83%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (6 mph).

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December is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of 5.7 °C (42 °F), with a minimum of 1.6 °C (34.8 °F) and a maximum of 9.9 °C (49.8 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -5 °C (23 °F). However, it dropped to -11.5 °C (11.3 °F) in December 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 16 °C (61 °F). However, it reached 20.3 °C (68.5 °F) in December 2000.
Precipitation amounts to 80 mm (3.1 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 5 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 2.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 27% of the time.
The average humidity is 85%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (6 mph).