Spain's climates and seasons
You will know what weather to expect where you live, month by month, instead of relying on the sunny-Spain stereotype.
Spain is not one sunny climate. It has several, and the weather you can expect depends on where you settle: hot dry summers inland, mild winters on the coast, rain and cloud in the green north, and their own patterns on the islands. This Topic shows what each part of the country is really like…
Pick the article that fits your situation
Spain's climate zones: what to expect where
Spain has several distinct climate zones, not one sunny climate. This page gives newcomers a clear picture of the main zones, from the green north to the dry southeast, the mountains and the islands, so you can judge what weather to expect where.
Spain's year month by month: which weather risks come when
Spain's weather risks come in a pattern: pollen in spring, heat and wildfires in summer, DANA storms in autumn, frost inland in winter, and drought over several years. Read this to plan which months and regions need care before you choose where and when to live.
The Mediterranean coast's climate: mild winters, humid summers, autumn storms
What a year on Spain's Mediterranean and southeast coast feels like: mild winters, hot humid summers with warm nights, and autumn rain that arrives in short, violent bursts. For anyone choosing where to live on this coast.
Cold winters inland: Madrid, Castilla and the Meseta
Inland Spain has real winters: hard frost, occasional snow, valley fog and large day-night swings. This page helps you plan clothing, heating and travel if you are moving to Madrid, Castilla or the Meseta.
Rainy green Spain: Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and the Basque Country
Explains how much rain, cloud and humidity to expect in Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and the Basque Country, when it is wettest and driest, and how people cope. For anyone weighing a move to Spain's green north.
Canary and Balearic Islands climates compared with the mainland
How the Canary and Balearic Islands differ from the mainland and from each other: Canary trade winds, wet north and dry south, calima dust, mild winters, and Balearic autumn storms and coast-versus-interior contrasts. For anyone choosing where to live on the islands.
How to judge the climate of one specific town
A regional label such as "Mediterranean" or "inland" hides big differences between towns. This page shows how altitude, distance from the sea, valleys and local winds shape one town's climate, and where to check its official climate averages. It is for anyone choosing a town.
How Spain's climate is changing and what it means for settling
Spain is warming faster than the global average, with more heat, tropical nights, drought and rising seas. This page helps anyone planning to settle in Spain weigh those trends when choosing where to live and for how long.
Why it gets dark early or stays light late in Spain
Spain's clocks run on central European time, an hour or two ahead of the sun. This page explains why evenings stay light late and winter mornings start dark, and how that differs between Galicia, Madrid and the Mediterranean coast. It is for anyone planning daily life in Spain.
About this topic
It is written for anyone considering, planning or carrying out a move to Spain. When you finish, you will know what weather to expect where you live, month by month, instead of relying on the stereotype.
Start with "Spain's climate zones: what to expect where". It gives the overall picture and helps you decide which of the more detailed pages to read next.
Key rules
- Autumn storms: Heavy DANA storm rain hits Mediterranean regions most often from September to November, peaking in October and September.
- Heat wave season: Heat waves in Spain happen mainly from June to September, most often in July and August.
- Clock changes: Spain still changes its clocks twice a year: forward an hour on the last Sunday of March and back on the last Sunday of October.
- Several climates: Spain has several distinct climate zones, so the weather depends heavily on the region you choose.
- Sunshine: The south and east are the sunniest, while the Cantabrian coast and Galicia get far fewer sun hours.
- Winter: Expect mild days but cool nights, so a home needs real heating.
Spain's climates and seasons: questions that cross several articles
Are wildfire season and heat wave season the same months everywhere?
No, they overlap in summer but the north follows a different pattern for fires. Heat waves happen mainly from June to September, most often in July and August, and fire risk peaks in the same two months across most of Spain. Galicia, Asturias and Cantabria get a second fire peak from February to April. Read "Spain's year month by month: which weather risks come when" and "Rainy green Spain: Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and the Basque Country".
Which parts of the Mediterranean coast get heavy autumn storms?
Heavy DANA storm rain hits Valencia, Murcia, Alicante, Catalonia, the Balearics and Almería most often from September to November. The Valencia floods of 29 October 2024 show how serious they can be. Read "The Mediterranean coast's climate: mild winters, humid summers, autumn storms" and "Spain's year month by month: which weather risks come when".
Is the southeast really dry if it floods in autumn?
Yes, the southeast is among the driest parts of Europe, but its rain arrives in a few violent autumn and spring storms. See The Mediterranean coast's climate: mild winters, humid summers, autumn storms.
Which Spanish cities get the most sunshine each year?
Seville and Málaga get the most sun, at about 2,900 to 3,000 hours a year. Madrid gets about 2,700 to 2,800, Barcelona about 2,500, and Santiago de Compostela and Bilbao about 1,700 to 1,900. Read "Spain's climate zones: what to expect where" and "Rainy green Spain: Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and the Basque Country".
How cold do inland cities get in January compared with Madrid?
Burgos and Teruel are much colder than Madrid, with about 18 to 22 frost days in January against about 8 to 10 at Madrid Barajas. Typical January lows are about 2 °C in Madrid and just below 0 °C in Burgos and Teruel. Read "Cold winters inland: Madrid, Castilla and the Meseta" and "How to judge the climate of one specific town".
Places and figures
How weather differs by city, from long-run climate records.
Pleasant days a year, by city
| # | Place | Pleasant days (18–28 °C, dry) | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AdejeCanarias | 335 a year | 2015–2024 |
| 2 | AronaCanarias | 335 a year | 2015–2024 |
| 3 | Granadilla de AbonaCanarias | 335 a year | 2015–2024 |
| 4 | ArrecifeCanarias | 334 a year | 2015–2024 |
| 5 | Las Palmas de Gran CanariaCanarias | 319 a year | 2015–2024 |
| 6 | San Bartolomé de TirajanaCanarias | 319 a year | 2015–2024 |
| 7 | Santa Lucía de TirajanaCanarias | 319 a year | 2015–2024 |
| 8 | TeldeCanarias | 319 a year | 2015–2024 |
| 9 | San Cristóbal de La LagunaCanarias | 308 a year | 2015–2024 |
| 10 | Santa Cruz de TenerifeCanarias | 308 a year | 2015–2024 |
Data as of .
Rainfall, by city
| # | Place | Rainfall | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PontevedraGalicia | 1,392 mm a year | 2015–2024 |
| 2 | Santiago de CompostelaGalicia | 1,362 mm a year | 2015–2024 |
| 3 | VigoGalicia | 1,288 mm a year | 2015–2024 |
| 4 | IrunPaís Vasco | 1,241 mm a year | 2015–2024 |
| 5 | San SebastiánPaís Vasco | 1,241 mm a year | 2015–2024 |
| 6 | SantanderCantabria | 1,195 mm a year | 2015–2024 |
| 7 | TorrelavegaCantabria | 1,195 mm a year | 2015–2024 |
| 8 | BarakaldoPaís Vasco | 1,146 mm a year | 2015–2024 |
| 9 | BilbaoPaís Vasco | 1,146 mm a year | 2015–2024 |
| 10 | GetxoPaís Vasco | 1,146 mm a year | 2015–2024 |
Data as of .
What to read next
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