Hot Summers, Very Mild Winters, Little Rain
The Southeast of Spain receives the least rainfall and includes Almería Province, Murcia, and the Southern Costa Blanca (from Alicante city to Murcia).
Protected by the mountain ranges of Sierra de Alcaraz, Nevada, Morena, Cazorla, Segura, and Aitana which block Atlantic rain systems, South eastern Spain is one of the driest and sunniest areas in Europe, and usually receives more than 3,000 hours of sunshine annually. Europe’s only desert, the Tabernas Desert, and where many Spaghetti Westerns were filmed, is found here.
Summers bring long days of intense heat and little to no rainfall. The air feels hot and dry, with daytime temperatures ranging from 30°C to 40°C.
Winters offer a cooler respite, but are still relatively warm compared to the rest of Spain.
Most of the area receives very low rainfall, around 200 mm per year, usually falling in Spring and Autumn, while Murcia receives marginally more. In autumn the Mediterranean influence can provoke flash floods, usually due to the “Gota Fría” phenomenon, a high-altitude low-pressure system from Northern Europe that collides with warm moist air from the Mediterranean leading to rapid condensation.
Spring and Autumn here are still warmer than most summers in Northern Europe, with daytime highs around 25-30°C. Southeastern Spain including Alicante City is arguably the warmest place to live in Spain and sunny all year-round.
Warm most of the year with abundant sunshine.
The areas of Southern Spain with a similar climate are Western Almeria Province (Costa de Almería), Coastal Granada Province (Costa Tropical), and Malaga Province (Costa del Sol).
The Costa de Almería, Costa Tropical, and Costa del Sol are Spain’s sunniest regions, and one of Europe’s warmest winter coastal climates. The coastal areas are warm most of the year and offer abundant sunshine.
Subtropical agriculture like avocados, mangos, and bananas thrive due to warm temperatures, and many coastal towns like Motril, Salobreña, Nerja, and Almuñécar enjoy sheltered microclimates offering pleasant winter temperatures.
Summers tend to have many hot and humid days with little to no rainfall. Winters are usually very mild with little to moderate rainfall.
During January and February some cold weather fronts can reach from Northern Europe, but these usually clear up in a week or two, and are quickly replaced by milder pleasant weather. It’s very rare that the minimum temperature will fall below 10°C in winter, especially on the Costa Tropical.
There is less annual rainfall closer to Almeria Province with perhaps 350-450 mm per year, while slightly more rain falls in Malaga Province with 450-600 mm per year.
Hot summers, cold winters, little rain.
Spain’s central regions are known for their large temperature variations between summer heat and winter cold. These temperature variations are exacerbated in many inland areas due to their high altitudes and lack of verdant areas or large bodies of water.
Summers are usually very hot, winters cold, and precipitation low. Strong sunshine, with over 12–14 hours of daylight in midsummer and heatwaves are common.
Unlike coastal Spain, central Spain has low humidity, making both hot summers and cold winters feel drier. This dryness also contributes to the large temperature differences between day and night.
Rainfall occurs mostly in spring and autumn. There can be infrequent but intense thunderstorms in summer, and very sporadic rainfall in winter.
When considering average winter temperatures in central Spain (Madrid, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y León, Extremadura, Zaragoza) it’s important to consider the altitude of the towns and cities. Seville in the South west, with an altitude of only 10 m above sea level, and Zaragoza (243 m) in the North East, experience milder winters and a more Mediterranean climate than Leon (837 m), Burgos (865 m), Valladolid (700 m), Granada (740 m), Salamanca (800 m) and Madrid (650 m) which are a lot higher above sea level and therefore experience colder winters.
Pleasant All Year (due to the Atlantic influence.)
The Costa de la Luz (Cadiz and Huelva Province) and the Canary Islands offer what is arguably considered the best climates in Spain and Europe. These regions are known for their very mild winters, and warm, pleasant summers.
Due to the moderating influence of the colder waters of the Atlantic Ocean (on average 7-8°C less than the Mediterranean waters during summer) these areas experience less summer heat and humidity than the Mediterranean coastal areas of Southern and Eastern Spain.
On the Costa de la Luz, the Levante & Poniente winds blow over the cooler ocean waters to help to reduce evaporation, lower humidity and keep the coastal areas cooler. This effect is very notable especially when comparing these coastal areas with Spain’s Southern and Eastern Mediterranean coast during Summer where the air feels heavier, and the heat lingers longer, especially at night.
The Canary Islands are often referred to as having the best climate in Europe, offering mild year round temperatures and low seasonal variations with no extreme heat or cold – the opposite of central Spain. The southern parts of the larger islands are generally drier, warmer, and sunnier.
Some drawbacks:
Swimming in the Atlantic water can feel rather refreshing or even chilly compared with the Mediterranean water, which is much warmer and more comfortable in Summer.
Warm summers, mild/cool winters, verdant vegetation.
The Eastern Mediterranean Coastline of Spain, namely Costa Brava, Costa Dorada, Costa Blanca North, and the Balearic Islands of Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca, and Formentera are known for their warm summers and cool wet winters.
Winter rain and cold increases further north towards the border of France, while summer humidity and heat increases further south towards the Costa Blanca.
In summer, the Balearic Islands and the coastal areas of Valencia Province have many days with high humidity and heat. Due to its more southern location, winters are a lot milder in the Costa Blanca North than the Costa Dorada or Costa Brava.
In general, Spain’s East and North East coast offer little summer rainfall, but fewer sunny days in winter when compared with Southern and South eastern Spain.
These areas can be effected by cold weather patterns from Northern Europe, with a few winter cold spells that can last a week or two, and then clear up quickly to offer milder weather.
Spain’s Mediterranean East Coast offers an enticing climate for Northern Europeans who may not appreciate the extreme summer temperatures of Southern Spain, and prefer more verdant surroundings, with a greater offering of services and amenities.
Pleasant summers, mild/cool winters, rain year round.
Northern Spain (Green Spain) borders the Atlantic Ocean and includes Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, Basque Country, and northern Navarra.
Summers here are more pleasant than most areas of Spain and as with Cadiz, Huelva, and the Canary Islands the heat is moderated by the Atlantic Ocean. Humidity can be high, but the coastal winds prevent it from feeling too sticky.
Winters can be mild to fresh, but freezing temperatures are rare. Rainy and overcast days tend to dominate the season.
Unlike other parts of Spain, rainfall is consistent throughout the year, with many days of drizzle, moderate rain, and occasional heavy showers. There is no distinct dry season, however rainfall is less frequent in late summer and early autumn.
Northern Spain does not experience the hot humid summers of the Mediterranean or the heatwaves and cold winters of central Spain. The area can be appealing to those who prefer milder seasons, proximity to Central Europe, beautiful nature, and delicious food.
