Climate in Spain: Types and Locations Discussed
In general, the climate in Spain consists of hot summers and mild winters near the south and centre of the country, and warm summers and cold winters near the north of the country. Millions from all over the world go to Spain every year on holiday and some even stay there to live or retire. The climate in Spain is often defined as perfect by tourists. People experienced with Spain will probably know, while famous for the hot summers, you can experience a wide range of weather throughout the year and the country. In this article, we discuss the climate in Spain and the opportunities those climates offer.
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Types of climates in Spain
In Spain, you can find 6 different climates. These are:
- Hot Summer Mediterranean Climate (South of Spain)
- Warm Summer Mediterranean Climate (Northwest of Spain)
- Oceanic climate (North of Spain)
- Humid subtropical (East of Spain)
- Cold Semi-arid steppe climate (Elevated areas)
- Hot Semi-arid
- Subarctic (mountain areas)
Some of these climates can be found very close to each other. Such as in Barcelona where you can find Hot Summer Mediterranean Climate, Oceanic Climate, and Humid Subtropical Climate.
Hot Summer Mediterranean Climate in Spain
The Hot Summer Mediterranean Climate is a hot, dry summer climate. The average temperature in the coldest month is above 0 °C (32 °F), at least one month’s average temperature is above 22 °C (71.6 °F), and at least four months have an average temperature of 10 °C (50 °F) or more
The temperature is perfect for people that love the summer and don’t mind high temperature or high humidity. If you can hang out at the beach, pool or on a boat all day you will love it. Sunshine in this climate is almost all year round.
This climate in Spain can be found in large parts of Andalucia, Extremadura, Canary islands, and the Balearic Islands. Next to this parts of the autonomous regions Catalonia, valencia and Murcia also have this climate. Cities that have this weather in Spain are Barcelona, Tarragona, Girona, Malaga, Marbella, Cadiz, Malaga, Valencia, Seville, Ibiza, Valencia.
Warm Summer Mediterranean Climate
This means that the temperatures are not too hot or too cold. The summers are warm and dry, and the coldest month is still above freezing. All months have average temperatures below 22 °C (71 degrees Fahrenheit), and four months average above 10 °C (50 degrees Fahrenheit).
This temperature is perfect for people that like the weather to be warm but not too hot. The winter is pretty short and has mild temperatures, perfect for people that don’t like long cold winters.
This climate in Spain can be found throughout Galicia, Castile, and Leon. Parts of Madrid and Asturias’ autonomous regions are included as well. Salamanca, Segovia, Ourense, Pontevedra, and Aveiro are some examples of cities in this area.
Oceanic climate
The oceanic climate doesn’t have a dry season. It’s warm in the summer and the coldest month averages above 0 °C (32 °F). All months have temperatures below 22 °C (71.6 °F) and there are at least four months when the temperature averages above 10 °C (50 °F).
This climate is great for people that enjoy cool summers and a mild winter. The summer is not so hot and perfect for going out during the day, but sometimes it will be too cold to wear a shirt outside in the evening.
Parts of Aragon, North parts of Castile and Leon, Valencia and Catalonia have this climate. It can be found in cities like Santandar, Burgosa, Soria, Teruel, Bilbao, Pamplona, San Sebastian, Huesca, Figurues.
Humid subtropical
The coldest month averages more than 0 degrees Celsius. The average temperature is above 22 degrees Celsius in at least one month, and above 10 degrees Celsius (50 °F) in at least four months.
This climate is perfect for people that like warm and humid weather. This climate has a lot of hot and humid days and only a few cold days in the winter. You will love it if you can stand high humidity and sunshine. Next to this, it creates a perfect environment for plants to flourish, so if you enjoy nature this climate is perfect for you.
Small parts of Catalonia have this climate. The climate can be found near the cities Barcelona, Lleida, and Navarra
Cold Semi-arid steppe climate
The steppe is a middle point between desert and humid climates in terms of ecological features and agricultural potential. In cold semi-arid climates, the average annual temperature is below 18°C. The temperature in the coldest month will not be above 0°C.
This climate can be found in elevated areas. You can enjoy this climate if you like sunny weather and colder temperature. You can still go out and about, but you will need to wear warmer clothes.
Parts of Andalucia, Murcia, Valencian Community, Aragon, Castile and Leon have this climate. Cities like Murcia, Zaragoza and Zamora have this climate.
Hot Semi-arid Climate
In hot semi-arid climates, the average annual temperature is at least 18°C or greater than 0°C in the coldest month. The summers can be extremely hot, and the winters can be cool with some precipitation. They are most commonly found near the edges of subtropical deserts.
In this climate, you can enjoy a nice warm day in winter, but it will be extremely hot during the summer. There is not much vegetation apart from cactuses and other types of desert plants.
A very small part of Spain has this climate, and it is located in Murcia near the city of Murcia.
Subarctic Climate
The subarctic climate (also called subpolar climate, or boreal climate) is a climate characterised by long, usually very cold winters, and short, cool summers. Mean temperatures in summer only rarely exceed 16 °C (61 °F).
This climate can create perfect conditions for skiing in Spain. The summers are short and the winters long and cold. You can go out in winter if you wear enough clothes, but it will be too cold to enjoy the sun for a longer period of time.
A very small part of the mountain area in the Pyrenees in Spain has a climate that is this good.
Explore the Spanish Climate
Spain has one of the most diverse climates in the world with over 7 types. From the Mediterranean coast and its warm and sunny weather to the cold and Siberian style snowy mountains of the Pyrenees to the cloudy Atlantic coast in Gijon.
The climatic variability has given Spain the perfect conditions for exploratory adventures in nature. Each climate brings its own benefits, from the great beaches of Valencia to the Ski resorts in Asturias. Moreover, you can explore places with frequent rainfall, cooler easterly wind, and wet winters. But also north Africa style desert climate with extremely sunny summers and scarce rainfall.
So the next time you are in Spain, not only go to the summer sides but also explore the other climates. It will for sure be an unforgettable experience.
