Climate of Spain

The Iberian Peninsula has Mediterranean Climate and is also affected by the Climate of the West Coast by the Atlantic Ocean due to its location between 36° and 46°N. We can find the Dry Subtropical Climate in Almeria and Murcia, and the humid and dry tropical, in the Canary Islands.

The dominant Mediterranean Climate has a tendency to the continentalization due to the Spanish relief, as much for its average elevation, high, as for the mountains by the coast. These mountains prevent the passing of the humid western winds. The continentalization is getting worse due to the deforestation and human activities

The dominant pressure areas in the Peninsula are: the Azores high or anticyclone, with tropical air from the sea and the Icelandic Low that canalizes all the low pressure areas from the polar front and brings polar air from the sea. Other minor centers are: the Ligurian Low formed in autumn; the Siberian high in winter that make possible the appearance of local anticyclons in the center of the Iberian Peninsula, and the Sub-Saharan low pressure area in summer sending tropical air to the Peninsula.

Spain is affected by the Polar Front low pressure area. It brings soft and cold rain. Towards the middle of winter the atmosphere is stabilized by the appearance of thermal anticyclones in the center of the territory. The prevailing weather in winter is cold and dry.

In spring, the polar front moves northward and allow the smooth arrival of rainfall. The polar front weaks and then it allows the alternation of low pressures and anticyclones. But this is the Azores high and the weather gets warmer.

Spain is fully affected by the Azores high in summer, therefore weather is dry, sunny and warm, with the arrival of sub-Saharan heatwaves. High temperatures cause thunderstorms, mainly in late summer.

The polar front goes to the south arriving in autumn. It causes storms and the cold air forms cold drops. This cold air meets warm air generating heavy rains. The Ligurian low strengthens this phenomenon.

The Canary Islands have a dry and humid tropical climate of high thermal stability and rainfall. The areas affecting the islands are the intertropical convergence zone and the Azores high.

Precipitations in the Iberian Peninsula

We can distinguish five types of climate in terms of precipitations: the humid maritime climate of the western area, transition climate, dry climate, arid climate and the humid tropical climate.

The humid maritime climate of the western area is located in the area facing the Atlantic Ocean. It is a rainy climate, with rainfall over 800 mm. We found it from Galicia to the Pyrenees and the north area of the Catalan Mediterranean System. Sierra de Grazalema has for long been regarded the rainiest place in the Iberian Peninsula.

The transition climate is semidry. Rainfall between 500 and 800 mm. This climate is arid and cool in summer, but short, it is similar to the Mediterranean climate. It occurs in mountainous areas between the maritime climate of the west coast and the Mediterranean climate, in other words, the southern sector of the Cantabrian Mountains, the Pyrenees and the Galician-Leonese forests.

Dry climate is characterized by rainfall between 400 and 600 mm. There is an arid period, from 3 to 5 months. The Mediterranean climate is dominant in the peninsula, mostly because of the relief.

The semi-arid climate with rainfall less than 400 mm. It occurs in low areas far from the westerly winds, as the center of the basins of River Duero and Ebro, the center of La Mancha, Murcia and Almeria.

The climate of the Canary Islands is under the constant influence of the trade winds. It is a tropical climate. According to its position it had to be arid, but the ocean currents of the Canary Islands, cold, warm surface temperatures and produces a very stable inversion and it causes a sea of clouds.

Climatic regions

Maritime climate of the west coast
The maritime climate of the west coast is characterized by constant rainfall throughout the year and mild temperatures. In Spain, rainfall is around 800 mm and about 1000mm in some mountainous regions. However, there is a marked rainfall gradient from the coast to the mountains.

We can find this climate in Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, Basque Country, Pyrenees and northern Catalan Mediterranean System.

Continental mediterranean climate
The Mediterranean climate has, in some regions of Spain, a high degree of continentalization. Rainfall is around 600 mm. It has all the characteristics of Mediterranean climate, but drier and cooler.

It is characterized by erratic rainfall and temperature. There are two kinds of anticyclones: the Azores High in summer and the thermal one in winter. Most of the precipitations fall when the polar front goes from north to south of the Iberian Peninsula. In general, it rains a few days, and often it is a torrential rain. Although not impossible, floods are rare.

Cool temperatures even in summer. The minimum was reached in January, and maximum in August. The absolute minimum and maximum can be significant. The temperature range is moderate, about 15°C.

Coastal Mediterranean climate
The Mediterranean climate of the coast is milder, rainier (around 700 mm) and warmer than the Continental mediterranean climate. However, the rainfall is also more irregular. The characteristic weather is dry in summer and winter and heavy rains in spring and autumn. Cold drops are frequent in autumn and has great violence.

Temperatures are mild and constant, with a small temperature range. Frost in this zone is anecdotal.

This is the climate of the east coast, from Girona to Alicante, including the Balearic Islands.

Mediterranean climate of the Southwest
The humid air comes from the Atlantic Ocean to Western Andalusia.

Rainier weather with almost 800 mm and mild temperatures, especially in winter. Hot summer caused by the Azores High.

Rainfall is very irregular and Summer very dry. The rainiest months are those at the middle of the year. Air masses reaching the region are more humid thus precipitations are more frequent. Floods are not uncommon, although not as violent as on the east coast.

Dry subtropical climate
This is the typical climate of desertic areas. The climate is dry, less than 300 mm and hot. Rainfall is very irregular. The daily temperature range is moderate, but the yearly one is very small.

We find this climate in the zone of the Baetic Cordillera facing south-southeast (Almeria and Murcia), and in the Canary Islands in areas facing west and eastern islands.

Dry and humid tropical climate
This climate is humid tropical with a dry season, regular rainfall and mild and constant temperatures. We find it in the Canary Islands, zones oriented towards the trade winds and mountains. However, humidity in the Canary Islands is not only due to rainfall but also the constant presence of mist on the mountains. For their position should have a dry tropical climate. In fact, we should talk about multiple topoclimates.

Alpine climate
The mountain relief adjust locally the weather conditions. Rainfall is most abundant and frequent, and temperatures are lower. The gradient is more pronounced in the mountains with more difference in altitude between the baseline and the summit.

Depending on where the mountains are situated, the terrain changes the conditions of a particular region.

The effect of these differences in temperature and humidity is very important in the distribution of vegetation. There are five levels on the altitudinal zonation: lowland, montane, alpine, sub-nival and nival, located at different heights.