The entire territory of Spain can be divided into three parts according to the peculiarities of its climate: the climate is Mediterranean in the south of the country, continental in its central parts and Atlantic in the north-west of the country. In addition, the alpine character of the climate in the region of the Pyrenees, the semi-arid climate of Murcia, and the subtropical climate of the Canary Islands should be specially highlighted. Accordingly, the temperature in Spain by month will depend on which territory is in question.
Atlantic climate: Galicia
The Atlantic climate is characteristic of the north and especially the northwest of Spain. This territory is often referred to as "Green Spain" and includes part of the Pyrenees and the territory of Galicia.
In this part of Spain the temperature is such that the winters are relatively mild and the summers are hot. Precipitation is evenly distributed throughout the year and falls in large quantities. The climate of the northwest of the country along the Atlantic coast is strongly influenced by the Gulf Stream. The weather here is warm, humid and cloudy.almost all year round. In autumn, this part of Spain receives the most precipitation, while summer is relatively sunny and characterized by low temperatures. Day and night temperature differences are small here.
The weather of Galicia is a prime example of the Atlantic climate in Spain. The average summer temperature here ranges from +20 °C to +25 °C. At the beginning of summer it is not so hot. So, in this part of Spain, the weather in June is warm, the average temperatures are +16 … +18 °C. In winter, these figures drop to +10 … +12 ° C, very rarely the thermometer in winter drops below 0 ° C.
The rainy season in Galicia covers autumn, spring and winter. When moving from the northwest to the southeast of the Atlantic climate zone, the number of days a year when it rains decreases from 150 to 110. Therefore, the best time to visit the northwest of Spain is summer, the weather from June to August is quite sunny and warm.
Continental climate: Madrid
This type of climate is typical for most of the central territory of Spain, which is located on the central plateau and in the valley of the Ebro River. The main features of the continental climate in this region are as follows:
- in this part of Spain, the temperatures vary greatly from month to month and also during the day and night;
- irregular precipitation averaging between 400 and 500 mm per year.
Northern central Spain is characterized by two periods of rain: from April toJune and October to November. In south-central Spain, in turn, heavy rains come in autumn, as well as in spring, in March. Here summers are always hot and dry, while winters are cold and windy. Frosts often occur in winter, and it snows in mountainous areas. In this part of Spain, the air temperature varies greatly from month to month, from +2 °C in January and February to +32 °C in July and August. It often experiences peak summer temperatures that reach +40 °C, while at night the temperature drops to +10 °C.
Mediterranean climate
The zone of Spain with a Mediterranean climate extends along the entire southern coast of the country, from the Pyrenees to the territory of Andalusia. A feature of this type of climate is mild winters, long and hot summers, pleasing landscapes in spring and rainy autumn.
This part of Spain is strongly influenced by the humid winds of the Mediterranean Sea and the dry and hot winds from northern Africa. All this leads to smaller annual temperature drops. So, on the Mediterranean coast, the average temperature in Spain in summer is +22 … +27 ° C. Moreover, in the interior of the country at this time the air warms up to +29 … +31 °C. In this part of Spain, the average temperature in winter is between +10 … +13 °C, and in the interior it is several degrees lower.
Andalusian climate
Andalusia is one of the hottest regions not only in Spain, but throughout Europe. Thus, the maximum temperatures here were recorded in the Guadalquivir river basin inCordoba and Seville, they amounted to +46.6 °C. In the mountainous regions of Andalusia, in turn, the lowest temperatures of the entire southern part of the Iberian Peninsula were recorded, in January 2005, for example, -21 ° C in the city of Santiago de Espada, in the province of Jaen.
Andalusia's climate is mild Mediterranean, with hot and dry summers and mild winters with irregular rainfall. If we talk about the temperature by months for Spain, then in this part of the country in July and August they are the highest and often reach +40 ° C. Strong annual temperature fluctuations are observed away from the sea, where summers are very hot and winters are cold. When moving from west to east through the territory of Andalusia, the climate becomes more arid. The best time to visit Andalusia is from March to June or mid-September to November.
Costa Brava
This name refers to the coastal zone, which begins in the city of Blanes and ends at the border with France in Portbou. The length of the Costa Brava is 214 kilometers. The coast is located in the regions of Upper Ampurdan, Lower Ampurdan and La Selva, which are located in the Catalan province of Girona.
Thanks to the mild Mediterranean climate, when winters are not cold and summers are characterized by relatively low temperatures, the Costa Brava is home to the famous resorts of Spain, such as Lloret de Mar, Tossa de Mar, Roses, Playa de Aro, Cadaqués and others. The average annual temperature here ranges from +14 °C to +20 °C. In Julyand August is the hottest weather, the average temperatures here are +25 … +28 ° C, it often rains in late autumn, and the winter months are quite cool.
If we talk about the water temperature by months in the resorts of Spain in the Costa Brava, it should be noted that from July to September it is above +24 °C, and in June and October the water warms up to +21 °C. The rest of the year, the sea water is colder.
Canary Islands
The climate here is subtropical, with minimal annual temperature fluctuations. Thus, the maximum average temperatures here are +20 … +30 °C, while the minimum average temperatures range between +15 °C and +21 °C. Therefore, the Canary Islands are called the islands of "Eternal Spring".
Many magnificent resorts in Spain are located on the Canary Islands, for example, the English beach, the port of Carmen, Adeje, Corralejo and others. On these Spanish islands, the weather by months and the water temperature allow you to come here for a holiday at any time of the year, because in January the water here has a temperature of +18 … +19 °C, and by July it warms up to +22 … +23 °C.
Balearic Islands
Unlike the Canary Islands, which are located near the African continent in the Atlantic Ocean, the Balearic Islands are located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea and enjoy a relatively mild climate throughout the year. It often rains here in October and November, and the rest of the time the weather isclear enough.
It is recommended to visit the Balearic Islands for tourism purposes from May-June to October, because on these islands of Spain the weather in June allows the sea to warm up above +19 ° C, and this temperature lasts until mid-autumn. The famous resorts in the Balearic Islands are the city of Ibiza, Playa de Palma, San Antonio, the port of Poyença.
When is the best time to visit Spain?
If we analyze all the information about the weather in Spain by months and about the temperature of the water on its beaches, we can say that spring and autumn are the most favorable times to visit the country. If you go to Spain in the summer, especially in the hottest months of July and August, then it is better to limit yourself to its northern part, where the weather is warm.
Spring is the perfect time to travel to the central part of the country, to Andalusia, the Mediterranean coast and the Balearic Islands. The first half of autumn is the most favorable time of the year to visit the entire country, as the weather in autumn in Spain is wonderful, with many warm sunny days and a warm sea.
If you visit Spain in winter, it is recommended to do so in order to practice winter sports in the mountainous regions in the north of the country.
