Climate in Spain: features of the central, southern and northern regions
Spain is considered one of the warmest countries located in Europe. It is represented by the mainland of the Iberian Peninsula and several groups of small islands, the most famous of which are the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea and the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean.
The climate in Spain is generally defined as subtropical Mediterranean, although in Spain in winter it is only in the south and east of the country. In fact, the climate in Spain has roughly divided the country into 3 main climate zones. The north of the country is influenced by the Atlantic Ocean, due to which it has mild and humid winters and not too hot summers. The central part of the country is characterized by a sharply continental climate, with differences in day and night air temperatures. Summers on the central plateau are dry and hot, and winters are cold. The climate in the resorts of Spain - in the southern and eastern parts of the country - is typically Mediterranean with hot summers and exceptionally short and imperceptible winters. The best time to travel to Spanish resorts is from June to October.
Humidity in Spain has the same characteristic differences as the climate within the country. For example, in the southeastern part of Spain it is minimal, about 60%, but towards the northwest it increases significantly and reaches 80%.
Weather in Spain: seasonal description
Spain's southern Mediterranean coastal regions offer the best holiday weather throughout the year, with hot but humid summers (June, July and August) and mild, warm winters with sunny days even into December. January and February. when the rest of Europe copes with snow and frost.
The capital of Spain, Madrid, located in the heart of the Iberian Peninsula, enjoys a continental climate. Freezes from the cold in the winter months and roasts in the sun during the peak summer months of July and August with temperatures above 30°C. The southern city of Seville can also be extremely hot and dry during the summer, but quite warm in the winter. Barcelona and the Costa Brava on the Mediterranean coast boast more moderate temperatures, while the Atlantic coast tends to be cold and damp for much of the year.
The Great Divide
Overall, Spain can be relatively divided into two halves thanks to the Cantabrian mountain range, which separates the country into two climate zones: the cooler and rainier northern part and the warm and dry southern region.
Spain's narrow, rain-prone strip, north of the Cantabrian Mountains, runs through the Basque region, Cantabria, Asturias and Galicia. Features cool summers and mild winters with rainfall levels largely equivalent to those experienced by the UK.
+14.9°С
+16.9°С
Everyone wants to have a worthwhile vacation. But where can you have a good rest in December? Spain will give you a fantastic winter holiday experience!
The weather in Spain in winter is quite warm, especially in its southern part. In the central and northern parts the temperature is +15 C. At night it can be much cooler. The Atlantic Ocean rains down on the northern part, which causes high humidity. But even this does not spoil the beauty of this wonderful country.
The Canary Islands are colorful places. The air warms up from +17 to +20C. In January, on the east coast the temperature no longer drops below +20C, in the central part - on the contrary - there is no stability, constantly rising and falling, the temperature fluctuates between +5 and +10 C. At night it is quite cold, but the coldest time of the day is where - sometime in the morning. It is worth noting that even cold and rain do not frighten tourists, because the beauty of Madrid is visible even on the gloomiest and stormiest day.
Winter in northern Spain will seem very mild. Rain and snowfalls are not uncommon here, but even then the temperature does not drop below zero. Rainy Barcelona in January will give you the freshness and beauty of its places. The weather in Spain in winter is very suitable for a holiday.
The rains and snowfalls characteristic of February predominate in the northern part of Spain. But, in general, the air is warming up and becoming warmer than in December and January. It is unlikely that you will be able to swim at a temperature of +13C, but you can organize a more interesting and entertaining holiday for yourself. At night the temperature remains, as before, around +8C.
Here are the weather conditions you can expect in February. The rains never leave Spain in its northern part, but are much reduced in volume and duration. In general, precipitation can occur five or six days a month, and the rest of the time there are cloudless and clear days.
February in Spain remains cold in winter, not counting the fact that precipitation in the northern part occurs much less frequently. The air temperature reaches a little above +20C, and the water a little below. During the day you can already bask under the warm Spanish sky, but in the morning it is advisable to dress warmly, since at this time of day it is much colder. The Canary Islands will allow you to enjoy the sun and make your vacation unforgettable.
When intense rains begin, this is a sign of the onset of the beautiful Spanish spring. March will give you coolness, a feeling of freshness in the air, and the beauty of flowers and trees waking up after winter. Despite all the delights, it also rains in spring, but they only add freshness to the whole environment.

Sunny resorts, vibrant sights and memorable mountain tourism - all this is about Spain - a country where it is pleasant to relax at any time of the year. Tourists are interested in everything here, from the cultural values ​​of Barcelona, ​​shopping in Madrid and ending with a beach holiday on the Mediterranean or Atlantic coast.

What is the weather like in January in Spain?

Thanks to the unique Spanish climate, visiting this country in January can be a great time for a winter holiday. The weather is not warm, but this does not reduce the number of tourists.

Air and water temperature

Spain takes enough large territory, so in this country the temperature is not the same everywhere.

  • Tenerife;
  • Palm;
  • Fuerteventura;
  • Lanzarote;
  • Gran Canaria.

Their territory maintains very warm weather for Spain. During the day the air temperature warms up to +21 degrees, and at night the thermometer shows +18°C. In January, oceanic Atlantic water not suitable for swimming. This is partly due to low water temperatures (+16 degrees), and partly due to strong winds characteristic of the winter season.

  1. Ibiza;
  2. Mallorca;
  3. Menorca.

Here the air temperature warms up to +18 degrees during the day. It gets cool at night as the temperature drops to +12 degrees. Holiday season It is closed at this time, but the number of sunny days is pleasantly pleasing. Sea water warms up to +13°C.

Slightly cooler but still sunny January in southern Spain near the Strait of Gibraltar and also off the south Atlantic coast.

In the popular resorts of Andalusia, during the day the air warms up to +16°, and at night it cools down to +8 degrees. Such warm weather is typical in Costa del Sol, Costa del Almeria And Costa de la Luz. Swimming in the sea and beach holidays are excluded, since the water temperature is indecently cold - +13°C.

What clothes should I take with me?

When planning a holiday in Spain in January, you should carefully consider your wardrobe.

For those who want to relax on the coast, you should take with you swimsuit and light clothes.

Also, don’t forget about windproof clothing. In the evenings it is quite cool here, and the wind blows everywhere.

If you are planning a holiday in January in the central part of Spain, then you should definitely take with you warm clothes, or you can buy them right here, since in January the sales are in full swing in Madrid and other major cities.

Temperature conditions in major cities

Lack of favorable weather in January, it doesn’t stop tourists from walking all day long along the streets of major cities in Spain, taking photographs and trying the local cuisine.

Barcelona

January in is considered enough cool period. The air here usually warms up to +13 degrees during the day, and cools down to +6°C at night. There are about fifteen sunny days in this city per month, and the number of rainy days is no more than five.

It is worth noting low humidity, characteristic of January, and therefore a dry winter. However, strong winds cause discomfort.

Madrid

During the month the weather behaves unstable, but in any case it doesn’t get below zero in Madrid. On average, daytime temperatures reach +10 degrees, and at night the air cools down to +3-5°C.

This weather can hardly be called resort weather, but already on January 2 in the city open numerous museums, cafes, restaurants and shops, which completely compensate for the lack of sun.

The main disadvantage of the weather in January in Madrid is the constant rain. This month there are quite a lot of cloudy days, and only about 5-8 sunny days.

Valencia

The winter month in Valencia is quite warm. The average daytime air temperature in January is about +16 degrees, and at night – +6 degrees. It rains here very rarely, and sometimes it comes from the Mediterranean Sea or the Pyrenees storm winds.

If the weather in Valencia is too cool, you can go a little further south to Alicante, where the January climate is 3-4 degrees higher, and there are many more sunny days.

Rest

Regardless of the season, in Spain get along harmoniously beach and ski resorts, excursions and, as well as gastronomic tours and dynamic modern life.

Where is the best place to go?

Holidays in Spain are wonderful in any season, but it is in winter that it is better to spend your vacation skiing at the country’s ski resorts. During this period, the holiday season is already closed, but active recreation is in full swing.

You can enjoy the frosty freshness of the air in the Pyrenees, located on the border with Andorra and France.

It's in full swing here ski season, and the “trick” of these places is the opportunity to go down from the mountains straight to the sea.

There are five great skiing spots in Spain:

  1. Iberian mountain system;
  2. Central mountain system;
  3. Catalan Pyrenees;
  4. Aragonese Pyrenees;
  5. Cantabrian Cordillera.

Thanks to this choice, you can finally decide where to ski on the spot.

Read how long it takes to fly to Barcelona from Moscow, St. Petersburg and Yekaterinburg.

Benefits of resting during this time

Holidays in Spain in January are a great opportunity celebrate major holidays(and Christmas) abroad, surrounded by palm trees and exotics. Prices at this time are much lower than for summer tours, and the quality of service remains the same.

The weather is favorable for traveling around the country, sightseeing, as well as shopping and Christmas sales, which begin in Spain on January 2.

Things to do?

Spain can safely be considered as a holiday destination in January. In this country, every city is like a resort, so it will always be interesting here.

January weather is favorable to excursion holidays, and the choice of destinations is incredibly wide.

In Barcelona, ​​as usual, you will admire the architecture; in Madrid, you will find colorful royal castles and luxurious museums.

IN Toledo or Bilbao you can go to see UNESCO-listed cities and visit Seville or Girona to enjoy the views of Medieval Spain.

On the night of December 31 to January 1, Spain celebrates New Year, and they do it noisily and colorfully. An ancient holiday is held here on January 6 Day of the Magi, during which festivals and celebrations are held.

January is great for a holiday in Spain, as tourists have the opportunity to bask in the sun at famous resorts, as well as go on a skiing or sightseeing holiday around the country.

Watch a video about the weather in January in southern Spain:

For warmth lovers who dream of escaping the snowy winter, Spain can offer several interesting options. The most obvious of them is, of course, Andalusia.

Andalusia in winter

This region is attractive not only for its mild Mediterranean climate, but also for its rich culture, intricately combining Arab and European traditions.

It is in Andalusia that the sunniest city in Spain is located - Huelva, where the sun shines on average about 3,000 hours a year. Huelva is also one of the oldest cities on the Iberian Peninsula: already in the 10th century. BC e. there were settlements of the Phoenicians and Tartessians here. The rich history of the region has left behind many archaeological treasures from different eras: you will find the remains of Phoenician, Arab and Roman settlements, ancient Mudejar churches, as well as numerous Anglo-Saxon buildings reminiscent of British influence in the 19th century.

Of course, speaking about Andalusia, we must not forget about the most famous cities of this region, its real pearls - Seville, Cadiz, Malaga, Cordoba, Granada... And despite the not entirely winter weather (the temperature during the day here can reach 20-25 °C) , many local Christmas traditions will give you the feeling of magic that is inherent in the New Year's holidays. In December, houses are decorated with garlands, the streets are illuminated with colorful lights, and squares and shops are decorated with Christmas nativity scenes. And it is in Andalusia that you will find perhaps the most unusual nativity scene in Spain - chocolate! Every year in the town of Ruta in the province of Cordoba, a huge chocolate nativity scene is made especially for Christmas, inspired by one of the cities of Andalusia. This year, 1400 kg of chocolate, placed on 66 m2, are dedicated to the cities of Jaén, Úbeda and Baeza.

Canary and Balearic Islands in winter

However, in addition to Andalusia, there are places in Spain where you can escape the cold - for example, the Balearic and Canary Islands. The Balearic Islands, like Andalusia, have a mild Mediterranean climate - it is not for nothing that this autonomous region ranks second in Spain in terms of tourist attendance. At Christmas, you have the opportunity to try unique dishes: for example, in Menorca, no festive dinner is complete without couscous (cuscussó) - an ancient delicacy of Arab origin, a mixture of butter, almonds, bread and sugar. Couscousso can be served separately as a dessert, or as a filling for the traditional Christmas duck. And in Ibiza you can enjoy another dessert - “Christmas sauce” (la salsa de Nadal), prepared with almonds. There are many different recipes for this dish, and there is even a competition on the island to determine the best one.


As for the Canary Islands, there is already a tropical climate here, and the water temperature, even in winter, rarely drops below 20 °C. Here you can celebrate the New Year on board a sailboat or feel like the Magi by going on a camel excursion! However, if you visit the Canaries a little later, in early February, you will have the chance to visit the famous

With the arrival of the autumn or winter months, resort life in Spain does not freeze everywhere: in some regions it is quite warm at this time. If your vacation falls on such days, and you really want to visit this wonderful country, then go to the Canary or Balearic Islands, or join the wonderful culture of the wonderful Spanish region of Andalusia. The listed regions have the most pleasant weather in the country all year round. But we’ll tell you in more detail about cities and regions where you can have a great holiday in autumn, winter and spring.

1. Canary Islands. The capital of the Canaries, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, enjoys wonderful weather all year round, with an average temperature of a comfortable twenty-twenty-three degrees Celsius. The hottest month is August: the air temperature these days reaches twenty-eight degrees, a slight breeze blows and the sun shines, there is almost no rain. But sometimes there are tropical storms here in August, although this is rare. Of course, the most preferable months for relaxation are the months from May to September, when the water temperature in the ocean varies from twenty to twenty-three degrees. In November, the air and water temperatures begin to gradually decrease; with the arrival of winter, the water temperature in the ocean cools down to eighteen to nineteen degrees, until April, while the air at this time warms up from twenty-one to twenty-three degrees. If you come during this period, you can quite easily sunbathe on the beach and swim in heated pools at the hotel, although many of our compatriots feel quite comfortable in ocean water. The local population of the Canary Islands says that the winter months are the “Russian season.” At this time, everything becomes cheaper: tours, hotels, and water for “our people” is acceptable in temperature. But in winter, the islands experience precipitation and strong winds, although not for long. Therefore, you will definitely return from there with a wonderful tan. In addition, you will have an excellent opportunity to visit local attractions without crowds of people.

2. Costa del Sol. The resort city of Malaga is located on the southern Spanish coast, not far from the Strait of Gibraltar and hot Africa. There are beaches within the city limits, which are always overcrowded and dirty during the high season. In general, the official season here lasts from June to October, during which time the sea temperature varies from twenty-seven to thirty-three degrees, and the water temperature from twenty-four to twenty-seven. Frankly speaking, the water in early June can be uncomfortable, as it is often cooled by ocean currents. In the autumn and winter months, the water cools down, its temperature varies from sixteen to eighteen degrees, the air temperature ranges from seventeen to twenty degrees. That is, if you wish, you can get a good tan while lying on a sun lounger by the heated pool or on the seashore. By the way, if you decide to visit the Costa del Sol, to which Malaga belongs, being its main city, then it is better to pay attention to the small resort towns: Marbella (Marbella is correctly read in Spanish, but Russian people are familiar with this version of the name) , Torremolinos, Fuengirola - here the beaches are wider and cleaner.

3. Balearic Islands. - the capital of the main Balearic island of Mallorca. The archipelago is located southeast of mainland Spain and is washed by the waters of the Mediterranean Sea. There is simply a magnificent and very mild climate, as well as famous white beaches, first-class hotels, restaurants, casinos, bars. And Mallorca is also very beautiful: magnificent mountains, beautiful ancient cities with amazing architecture, which is why Palma de Mallorca is in the top fifty best cities to live. This research was carried out by specialists from the British publication “The Sunday Times”. Here, like in Malaga, there are three hundred sunny days a year. The unique local Balearic climate attracts crowds of tourists all year round. But the official tourist season here lasts from April to October, the low season is from November to March. Although the water warms up to twenty-one degrees only in June, in the summer months it warms up to twenty-five degrees, and in November it cools down to nineteen. The air temperature in late autumn, winter and early spring varies from fourteen to twenty-four degrees. In summer the air temperature ranges from twenty-five to thirty degrees. As mentioned above, there are a lot of people here even in cold weather: prices for tours, hotels and air tickets are reduced by three times. The off-season gives travelers the opportunity to get to know the real Mallorca: to get acquainted with the genuine flavor of small local villages, the authentic culture of the islanders, to find out what the spirit of the Balearic Islands is like, in its pristine state?!

4. Spanish province of Andalusia. Huelva is a slightly unusual resort for a holiday, where, unlike the nearby cities of Seville and Jaena, there is no architectural diversity, the whole point is that they were destroyed by the Lisbon earthquake that occurred in 1755. And yet, there is no vibrant nightlife of Malaga, but there are fantastic landscapes and an amazing atmosphere of serenity and peace. The coast of Huelva is considered the most “unspoiled” in Spain, where the beaches are very clean, wild and almost deserted. There is also a plus in the form of proximity to the Portuguese border, which gives tourists the opportunity to visit the south of Portugal. The province of Huelva has a continental Mediterranean climate with some Atlantic influences. In summer, thanks to the proximity of the ocean, it does not get very hot here, and in winter it does not get very cold. The water temperature never warms up above twenty-two and a half degrees, the air in the summer months is never hotter than thirty-one. In winter, the air temperature is around sixteen degrees, the water temperature is fourteen. Many tourists choose autumn and winter holidays in Huelva to enjoy peace and quiet, walk along the most beautiful places on the coast, travel to a neighboring country, and prices at this time are very low.

We told you about those places and regions where the Spaniards and travelers themselves relax in the winter. What suits you is a matter of taste. But you can be sure that any of the cities described is simply magnificent.

It was as if I had visited not Malaga, but Sochi. The weather in February is very similar, there is no rain anymore, the temperature rises to + 15, but at times at night it can be about +3-5 degrees. There are already rare days when there are clouds in the sky and cover the sun. Walking around the city is a pleasure, of course the sea is still cold and does not warm up above +15. But for walking around a warm city, February is ideal. As I told my wife, why fly so far when you can be in Sochi in 2 hours. Overall, a great option from winter Moscow to get to +15

I wasn’t looking for a beach holiday, I just wanted warmth and tranquility. Las Palmas gave me what I expected. The main thing is that there was no rain. Yes, there were often clouds in the sky and the sun was hidden, but the temperature for 10 days did not drop below +15, the water is of course cold and not the season for swimming, maybe +16 is normal for some, but definitely not for me. There was no wind, although they scared me. I consider the holiday successful, perhaps I’ll only write down the excessive cloudiness as a minus, otherwise I was lucky with the weather!

The trip to Valencia turned out to be unplanned, but I don’t regret it at all. I’ve been here for 8 days now and I don’t want to go back to Moscow. Yes, the weather is not very warm, only +13-14 degrees, but the sun shines all the time and there is no rain. It’s a blast, you can safely walk around the city and enjoy the sights, but I would take a leather jacket, the winds can be decent, especially if you are not far from the sea. And it’s cold at night, about +3, so you can’t do without warm clothes. Of course, you can’t swim in the sea (unless you’re a walrus), the water is only +12. If you need a beach holiday in February, then Valencia is clearly not the place, but walking around the city and the embankment in plus 13 is the best, the main thing is that there is no rain.

Spain is an attractive country in many respects. The people are friendly, probably because there is sunshine there three hundred and sixty days a year. So we managed to stay on the white coast and specifically in Calpe. We were there at the end of January and captured February. The weather is nice, the temperature is 18-25 degrees, everything is blooming. The sea is calm and warm, but at this time of year only Slavs swim; for others it is cold. During this period, maybe a couple of days were cloudy with a minute of rain.