Climate and Weather of Spain
Because Spain has a varied landscape and consists of many mountain areas, a lot of different climates can be found in this country. We can divide the country in three climate zones. The islands and coastal areas in the south and east have a sunny Mediterranean climate. The more central inland areas have a continental climate and the north and north-west feature a maritime climate.Most people think of Spain as an always sunny and warm country, however this does not always apply. In summer the weather is indeed sunny and warm and even hot in the interior. However this does not apply everywhere during winter months. In large parts of Spain winter months are cold and it can even snow.
Spain is still a popular winter sun destination and that is also not surprising with the wonderful climate at the coast. Mainly the Costa Blanca is extremely popular during winter. The Canaries are also a perfect winter sun destination. In winter, temperatures are around 18°C on the coast and in the Canary Islands around 23°C. It is still very sunny in Lanzarote with an average of 197 monthly sun hours in December.
The north and north west of Spain has to do with relatively mild temperatures both in winter and summer months compared to the rest of the country. Also these regions experience more rainfall throughout the year.
In Central Spain summers are extremely hot, in Córdoba the average maximum daytime temperature lies around 37°C in July. Winter is cold, the average minimum nighttime temperature is around 3°C in Madrid in January with moderate precipitation.
Can you ski in winter in Spain?
In the Pyrenees and on the Sierra Nevada you can ski in winter and in early spring. Temperature differences in this area can be as high as 25°C, from the coast to the Sierra Nevada in that period.
What is the best time to visit Spain?
In general spring (April-June) and early autumn (September-October) is the best time to visit Spain with pleasant temperatures and not to much rain. July and August can be very warm and crowded because of the high season.
Are you interested in more detailed information for various cities in Spain?
Please select the city you plan to visit, or one closest to your destination. For each selected city, you will see the following graphs:
1. Yearly average minimum and maximum temperatures
2. Monthly averages of precipitation throughout the year (rainfall, snow etc)
3. Monthly average hours of sunshine throughout the year
Additionally, some pages provide historical weather data such as humidity, wind speed, and water temperature.