Climate - Gibraltar (United Kingdom)

The climate of Gibraltar, a small British territory in southern Spain, is Mediterranean, with mild, rainy winters and warm, sunny summers.
However, it has a peculiar microclimate, wet and windy, and it's protected both from the freezing cold and from the intense heat because of its location on the strait of the same name, but also because of the presence of the Rock, a promontory overlooking the city, 426 meters (1,398 feet) high.
The average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of 13.6 °C (56 °F), that of the warmest month (August) is of 24.6 °C (76 °F). Here are the average temperatures.

Precipitation amounts to nearly 800 millimeters (31.5 inches) per year, and follows the Mediterranean pattern, so it's more abundant from November to February, when it's equal to or higher than 100 mm (4 in) per month (and it can be abundant during some years), while it is very rare in summer. Here is the average precipitation.

The wind blows frequently: in the cold half of the year, it blows from the west, together with Atlantic depressions, while in spring and summer, in periods of good weather, the levant (easterly wind) blows, a moderate or strong wind that increases its speed when channeled into the strait. Sometimes, the wind creates a peculiar cloud on the Rock of Gibraltar, which insists especially in the central part of the city, and can also partially descend towards the plain, generating some fogs.



Winter, from December to February, is mild, and characterized by sunny periods, but also periods of bad weather, with wind and rain. During some years, the rains can be particularly heavy or frequent.
On the other hand, for its southern location, and also in a peninsula surrounded by the sea, the city is quite sheltered from the cold. On the coldest nights of the year, the temperature typically drops to 5/6 °C (41/43 °F). However, in January 1978, it reached 0 °C (32 °F). Later, it reached 1.5 °C (34.5 °F) in January 1985, and 1 °C (34 °F) in January 2005.

Spring, from March to mid-June, is mild, and gradually receives less rain and more sunshine over the weeks. In March, and sometimes in the first half of April, there may still be heavy rains. In May and June, with the arrival of good weather, the cloud above the rock often forms, so the weather remains cool and moist.

Summer, from mid-June to mid-September, is warm and sunny, but less so than in southern Spain. Typically, the temperatures are not very high, and remain below 30 °C (86 °F); the air is moist and sea breezes blow, sometimes lively. Even in July, and more rarely in August, there may be some quite cool and cloudy days, with highs around 25/27 °C (77/81 °F).
Sometimes, however, the wind from Africa brings some hot days, with highs about 35 °C (95 °F). In July 1994, the temperature even reached 40.5 °C (105 °F), while in July 2015, it reached 38 °C (100.5 °F).

Autumn, from mid-September to November, is mild; rainy periods gradually increase. In September, there are still many warm and sunny days. By November, but sometimes also by October, we are now well into autumn, in fact, the weather is mild, but it's also often cloudy and rainy.



The amount of sunshine in Gibraltar is good in late spring and summer, from May to September, when clear skies prevail (but sometimes, as previously mentioned, the local cloud and mist can form), while it's moderate in autumn and winter, when, in addition to sunny periods, cloudy and rainy periods are possible.
In total, there are 2,675 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.

Given the infiltration of water from the Atlantic Ocean, the Alboran Sea near Gibraltar is not warm to swim in, and it is still very cool in June, when the water temperature is about 20 °C (68 °F), then it rises to 22/23 °C (72/73 °F) from July to September. Here are the average sea temperatures.

Best Time

If you want to go hiking in Gibraltar, the best time is late spring, from mid-April to mid-June. However, since it's usually not too hot in summer, you can also choose this season, bearing in mind that, if you want to combine the trip with an excursion to Andalusia, you will find intense heat, especially in inland areas (therefore, in this case, you can choose April, May and October, as we recommended for Seville). Autumn is mild, but it can be very rainy, as well as winter.
The best time for a beach holiday is summer, from June to mid-September. It's 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.
Beware of monkeys, which reign supreme in the rock and steal bags from tourists.