Climate Spain
When you think of Spain, the sun immediately comes to mind! The promise of a "sol y playa" stay remains one of the great assets of Spanish tourism. Spain has an enviable climate with no less than 3,000 hours of sunshine per year. Nevertheless, this climate is very variable from one region to another because of the relief of the Iberian Peninsula. Spain is the second highest country in Europe after Switzerland, with an average altitude of 650 meters. The proximity of the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea also plays a determining role. Thus, three main types of climate can be identified: Mediterranean in the east and south of the country, oceanic in the north and northwest, and continental in the central plateau of the Meseta. Focus on the different climatic zones that Spain offers, to know where to put your suitcases for your next vacation!
Various climates
The climatic diversity of Spain is directly linked to that of its relief. In summer and winter, the country is astonishing for its climatic variations, from the overwhelming heat of the south to the coolness of the Pyrenees in August, and from the mildness of the Mediterranean coast to the freezing temperatures of the interior regions in the middle of winter. The central part of the country - the famous Meseta - has a continental climate, with scorching summers and very cold winters. In the east of the country and in its southern part, the Mediterranean climate dominates, with notable differences from one region to another. Under the influence of the Gulf Stream, the Atlantic coast is characterized by a fairly mild but rainy climate. In the Pyrenees and the Sierras, the peaks are covered with snow during the winter season
Mediterranean Spain
The Mediterranean climate dominates much of the Iberian Peninsula, from the Andalusian plain along the southern coast and east to the pre-Pyrenees. It is characterized by hot and dry summers and temperate winters. Indeed, the Mediterranean coasts of Spain are exposed to the east and south, and therefore relatively sheltered from disturbances coming from the west. Nevertheless, the diversity of the relief gives rise to great disparities according to the regions and the proximity or not of the coastline
The "typical" Mediterranean climate is undoubtedly the most representative with mild winters and mild summers. It is found, for example, in cities like Barcelona and Valencia. Rainfall is low, between 400 and 700 mm per year, and is generally concentrated in autumn and spring. Nevertheless, thunderstorms are violent and cause floods regularly. Temperatures vary in winter between 10 and 12 °C on average, and up to 28 °C during the summer months
As you go south, temperatures rise and rainfall becomes increasingly rare. This "dry" Mediterranean climate concerns cities such as Alicante or Murcia. The Levant has more than 300 days of sunshine per year and less than 300 mm of rain. Thus, in the south of the region of Murcia and on the coast of Almería, the climate is extremely arid. In the hinterland, there is even the only real desert on the Old Continent, the Tabernas Desert, where barely 100 mm of rainfall per year is recorded! In the southern interior, the summer is also torrid, with temperatures reaching 40°C in cities such as Seville and Cordoba. The Guadalquivir Valley also experiences scorching summers. The best time to visit this part of Spain will depend on your tolerance to hot weather! Generally speaking, spring and fall are much more pleasant seasons to discover Andalusia and its hinterland. In the summer, it is better to prefer the coastline - the famous Costa de la Luz - where the sea breezes temper the summer heat
The north and northwest, under the influence of the Atlantic
In the north and northwest of Spain, the proximity of the Atlantic Ocean and the influence of the Gulf Stream give a mild and humid oceanic climate. It concerns the regions of the Basque Country, Navarre, Asturias, Cantabria and Galicia, the so-called "Green Spain". Rainfall is abundant, with an average of up to 1,200 mm in Galicia, and about 1,000 mm in the Basque Country. Autumn and winter are particularly wet, although the rainfall is fairly evenly distributed. In these regions, showers are heavy, but the wind quickly sweeps the clouds. As for temperatures, they are generally mild, especially near the coast. In San Sebastián, for example, the thermometer rarely falls below 8 °C in winter, while summer temperatures hover around 22 °C. Summer is therefore the best time to discover this part of Spain: temperatures are pleasant, not too hot, and rainfall is rare. The beginning of autumn is also to be preferred: until All Saints' Day, we can easily speak of an "Indian summer" in the Basque Country
In the Catalan and Aragonese Pyrenees, winters are harsh and summers are rather dry. In general, temperatures are cooler on the northern side of the massif, and snowfall occurs from November to April. Just like the Sierra Nevada, in the south of the country, the Spanish Pyrenees are popular with holidaymakers during the winter period: many ski slopes are then available to sportsmen!
Continental in the center of the peninsula
In the center of the peninsula, the Meseta is characterized by a continental climate, with often very cold winters and hot summers. In fact, the people of Madrid are used to saying that they live "nine months of winter and three months of hell". This proverb, although exaggerated, sums up the characteristics of the climate that dominates the regions of Castilla y León, Castilla-La Mancha and southern Aragon. Its inhabitants experience a harsh winter, with average temperatures of 4 °C in Valladolid (Castilla y León) and 5 °C for Ciudad Real (Castilla y La Mancha), where snow is not uncommon during the winter season. In summer, however, the days can be scorching in the Castilian plateau, where the burning winds dry out everything in their path. In Madrid, the thermometer easily reaches 35°C in July and August, while rainfall is rare during this period. Although rainfall is a little more frequent from October to April, it totals less than 450 mm per year. The scarcity of water is particularly noticeable in the Ebro basin: protected on all sides by mountain ranges, the center of the basin has a continental type of climate, very dry, with less than 350 mm of rain per year.
