Spain's year month by month: which weather risks come when

Key rules

• Heat waves: Expect heat waves from June to September, most often in July and August.
• DANA storms: Heavy DANA storm rain hits Mediterranean regions most often from September to November.
• Inland frost: Burgos and Teruel have about 18-22 frost days in January, far more than Madrid.
• Drought: Drought builds over years, and water restrictions are often set by your town.
• Region matters: The north has a second fire season from February to April, unlike the rest of Spain.

The short version

Each season has its own main risk, and the region matters as much as the month. Summer brings heat and fire, autumn brings flood-risk storms on the Mediterranean side, winter brings hard frost inland, and spring brings pollen. Drought is different: it builds over several years, not in one month.

Winter (December to February): frost inland, fire in the north

The Meseta and Aragon get real cold. In January, typical lows are about 2-3 °C in Madrid, about -0.5 to 0 °C in Burgos and about -1 to -0.5 °C in Teruel. Count roughly 8-10 frost days in January at Madrid's airport, 18-20 in Burgos and 20-22 in Teruel. Soria, León, Ávila and Segovia are similar to Burgos or colder. City-centre readings are milder than airport readings.

Along the Andalusian and Mediterranean coasts, winters are mild. The checklist below covers what to wear.

In Galicia, Asturias and Cantabria, a second fire season runs from February to April. Farmers burn land and dry easterly winds blow.

Pollen starts early. Cypress and similar trees peak from January to March.

Spring (March to May): pollen

Plane trees peak in March and April. Grasses run from April to June and peak in May, later in the north and in the mountains. Olive pollen peaks from mid-May to June, strongest in Andalusia, Extremadura, Castilla-La Mancha and Madrid. On the Mediterranean coast, Parietaria also peaks in spring and again in autumn. If you have allergies, spring inland is the hardest time.

Summer (June to September): heat and wildfire

Heat waves happen mainly from June to September, most often in July and August. An ola de calor means at least three consecutive days of very high maximum temperatures across many weather stations. Episodes are getting longer and more frequent. 2025 had a record August wave of about 16 days.

Wildfire risk follows the same calendar. It peaks in July and August across most of Spain, and the season runs from June to September in the Mediterranean, the centre and the south. The Canaries stay at risk into early autumn. Large fires burned in August 2025. Late summer also brings Salsola and Artemisia pollen.

Autumn (September to November): DANA storms

Heavy DANA storm rain hits Mediterranean regions most often from September to November, with peaks in October and September. A DANA is a pocket of cold air cut off high up, which meets warm sea water and produces extreme rain. The most exposed areas are Valencia, Murcia, Alicante, Catalonia, the Balearics and Almería.

The damage can be severe. The Valencia floods of 29 October 2024 killed over 220 people. The Vega Baja floods of September 2019 hit the Orihuela area. If you live in these regions, follow official weather alerts in this season. Think about where you park and whether your home sits near a dry riverbed.

All year: drought

Drought is a multi-year pattern, not a seasonal one. The south, southeast and Mediterranean areas are most exposed. The north is wetter.

Catalonia imposed emergency water restrictions in 2023-2024 in the Ter-Llobregat basins, then eased them in 2025 after rain. Parts of Andalusia (including the Costa del Sol and Axarquía) and the Canaries have also had restrictions. Reservoirs fall in summer, and restrictions are often set town by town. Ask your town hall what level applies where you live.

How to use this

Pick the risk that matches your region, then plan around its months. The timeline below shows heat-wave months in detail, and the FAQ answers common questions on fire, frost, pollen and water restrictions.

Timeline and deadlines

• Heat wave season opens: From June, when the first heat waves can appear

• Peak heat wave months: July and August, when heat waves are most frequent

• Heat wave season tails off: In September, the last month heat waves usually occur

• Know what counts as a heat wave: At least three consecutive days with maximums above the 95th percentile at 10% or more of selected stations

• Expect longer and more frequent episodes: 2022 had about 5 episodes, and August 2025 had a record wave of about 16 days

What to wear and pack for each Spanish season

• Pack layers for spring and autumn, such as a fleece or light jacket over T-shirts, because days and nights differ a lot.

• Bring sun protection for summer: a sun hat, sunglasses and high-SPF sunscreen.

• Choose light, breathable cotton or linen clothes, shorts and sandals for summer on the Mediterranean coast and in the south, where inland Andalusia is often above 35°C.

• Take a waterproof jacket, an umbrella, waterproof shoes and quick-drying layers for Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and the Basque Country, which are wet all year.

• Add one warm layer for evenings in the north, where summers are mild.

• Buy a proper winter coat, scarf, gloves and thermal layers for Madrid, Castilla, Zaragoza, Granada and inland upland towns, where winters are cold with frost.

• Bring a medium jacket, a sweater and a compact rain layer for mild winters in Seville, Córdoba and on the coast.

• Get warm indoor clothes for winter, such as sweaters, slippers and extra layers, because many homes, especially older flats in the south, have no central heating and feel cold and damp.

• Pack insulated waterproof gear, thermal base layers, a hat, gloves and boots for the mountains in winter, and a windproof layer and sturdy boots for summer hiking.

• Bring light clothes, a light jacket for evenings and strong sun protection for the Canary Islands, plus the jacket for high areas such as Teide.

• Pack comfortable walking shoes for cobbled old towns.

Frequently asked questions

Is wildfire risk only a summer problem in Spain?

No, wildfire risk peaks in July and August, but Galicia, Asturias and Cantabria have a second peak from February to April. That spring peak comes from agricultural burning and dry easterly winds. The Canaries stay risky from summer into early autumn.

How cold does it get in January in inland cities like Burgos or Teruel?

Inland cities such as Burgos and Teruel have January minimums around -1 to 0 °C, with roughly 18 to 22 frost days that month.

When is pollen worst for people with allergies in Spain?

Pollen is worst from April to June, when grasses peak in May and olive peaks mainly from mid-May to June in Andalusia, Extremadura, Castilla-La Mancha and Madrid. Cypress peaks earlier, from January to March, and plane trees in March and April. The north and mountains peak later, and Mediterranean coasts get a second round in autumn.

Does drought mean water restrictions where I live?

Drought can bring water restrictions, mostly in the south, southeast and Mediterranean areas, and they are often set town by town. Catalonia had emergency cuts in 2023-2024 that eased in 2025, and parts of Andalusia and the Canaries have also had limits. Ask your town hall which level applies, especially in summer when reservoirs fall.