Climate Andalusia
From the long sandy beaches of the provinces of Cadiz and Huelva to the semi-arid desert of Tabernas in the province of Almeria, from the snow-capped slopes of the Sierra Nevada to the gentle hills of the Sevillian campina, Andalusia covers a multitude of microclimates, in contrast to an image that sometimes confines it to a vision of a dry land, enduring a blazing sun. Despite this, the sun will be very present for most of the year. But three elements will be decisive in modifying the climate: the mountains; the frequency of rainfall, which moves from west to east, diminishing as it circulates; and finally, the proximity of the sea, with different effects if it's the Atlantic or the Mediterranean. But on this paradise, the spectre of an endless summer could loom if nothing is done to limit the changes already recorded in climate change.
A Mediterranean climate
The climate of Andalusia is often associated with the idea of intense heat, or even a heatwave, which you'll have to face with a hat and a fan. It can happen, but not all the time and not everywhere. And sometimes it's enough to see Andalusians hurtling down the slopes of the Sierra Nevada in just the right ski suit and moon boots for the cliché to crumble slightly. One thing's for sure, though: on the whole, Andalusia is part of the Mediterranean climate system, which generally translates into temperate winters, strong summers and mild springs and autumns.
Many microclimates
But different elements will interfere with this general framework and produce a wide diversity of microclimates, contributing to the variety of landscapes encountered. As they mark the geographical structure of the region, the mountains will be the first vector of climatic differentiation. In the case of the Sierra Morena, they prevent the passage of cold winds from the central Spanish Meseta, while in the case of the Betic ranges, they shelter particularly high peaks. The second determining factor is the rate and frequency of rainfall, which decreases from west to east. As a result, the Sierra de Grazalema, in the province of Cadiz, records the highest rainfall in the whole of Spain, beating the records set by Galicia and Asturias. As for the province of Almeria, at the other end of this west-east line, it has a semi-desert climate with very low rainfall. Apart from this rain line, "humid" Andalusia also coincides with the region's highest points, such as the Sierra de Grazalema, but also the Serrania de Ronda. On average, Andalusia has 75 days of rain a year, with this figure dropping to 50 in the driest areas. The climate is also influenced by proximity to the sea, with a difference between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. The Atlantic will soften temperatures throughout the year, while the Mediterranean, warmer and more "enclosed" by often steep coasts, will be more unstable, even generating summer storms such as the "gotas frias", which are somewhat similar to the Cevennes episodes in the south of France.
Record sunshine
In short, the climate in the coastal provinces is less contrasted than in the inland provinces, both throughout the year and on any given day. With the exception of the province of Granada, which boasts both a continental climate and a Mediterranean coastal climate that means that, in winter, you can go from the -10°C of the Sierra Nevada to the 20°C of the Costa Tropical in just 40 km. Even with these microclimates, the sun is almost always shining, whatever the date of your stay. And while Andalusia boasts 300 days of sunshine a year, it's the Mediterranean coastline that sets the record in this respect, with Malaga and Almeria averaging 9h/day as Spain's sunniest cities, according to an INE study published in 2017. As for temperatures, the annual average is over 16°C, but reaches 18°C in the cities, on the Mediterranean coast and in most of the Guadalquivir valley. And it's in this valley that the highest temperatures in Spain are recorded. As in Cordoba and Seville, where summers can be torrid, reaching historic highs of almost 47°C. In winter, the lowest temperatures are found in the provinces of Jaén and Granada, with historical records of -21 and -18°C respectively.
Towards an endless summer?
Every 10 years, the Spanish summer increases by 9 days, an increase of five weeks since the 1980s. What might seem like good news is in fact one of the most striking elements of the study published by Aemet (Agencia Estatal de Meteología) in March 2019. Conducted over the last 30 years, the study reveals other elements of climate change in Spain: an increase in the number of hot years; a rise in the frequency of tropical nights (with temperatures remaining above 20°C); and an increase of more than 30,000 m² in semi-arid zones (6% of the territory). In the future, almost 70% of Spaniards are likely to be affected by this climate change, which is expected to have the greatest impact on south-eastern Spain (Castilla-La Mancha and the Ebro valley, in particular).
Over the past thirty years, Andalusia has recorded an average temperature rise of 1°C, and it is estimated that this trend will persist and increase, particularly in provincial capitals, which have become "heat islands" through their growing production ofCO2. Unless thisCO2 is reduced, projections are particularly worrying for Granada, Malaga and Cordoba, which could see temperature rises of up to 3°C. Although the risks posed by climate change are gradually being identified by institutions, "green" awareness is still far from having entered people's heads. Thousands of young Andalusians marched in support of the March 2019 demonstrations, but behavior is changing very slowly, as evidenced by the still-intact taste for car travel and the still-frequent use of plastic bags for shopping.
