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The climate of the Canary Islands
TextAlthough the Canary Islands are officially a part of Spain, the
climate differs from that of the Spanish mainland. This is because the
islands geographically are part of Africa. During the winter it is
warmer than on the mainland. During the summer it is not as hot as
along the Spanish coasts. However, when an easterly wind blows warm
air is supplied from the Sahara and temperatures may rise above 40
degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). This type of wind is also
known as the Sirocco. When these winds also supply desert dust the
phenomenon is known as a Calima. When this happens visibility is
almost nil and in combination with the extreme heat things are very
unpleasant. However, these conditions are usually short lived. During
the winter the weather is often spring like on the Canary Islands.
However, during this period bad weather with fierce winds and
precipitation are not uncommon. Especially when there is a high
pressure area stationary over Western Europe fierce winds and heavy
rainfall are not uncommon from November till April.
Wind
In many places on the Canary Islands there is a constant wind. A large
part of the year a northeasterly wind blows on Lanzarote causing it to
feel colder than it actually is. In combination with high UV index
figures this may cause your skin to burn quite easily. Winds are also
fierce along the Teide volcano on Tenerife. The cable car that takes
you to the top of this volcano is often closed because the wind is too
strong which may cause dangerous situations.
Drought and forest fires
It is often very dry on the Canary Islands during the summer. This in
combination with fierce winds and heat causes a high risk of forest
fires. In the areas with vegetation the risk of a fire is quite high
during the summer.
Winter sun
The most popular seaside resorts on the islands are very suitable for
a winter sun holiday or to spend the entire winter. During the winter
the weather is pleasant in most places. Although the weather is not
always suitable to spend your day on the beach the islands are very
suitable for a winter sun holiday.
Inconvenience caused by precipitation
It does not rain that often on the Canary Islands. However, when
precipitation does fall it is often very heavy. Flooding may occur
caused by heavy rainfall. The risk of this happening is highest in the
northern part of the islands.
Climate information of the Canary Islands
The following climate information is available for the Canary Islands:
Disclaimer
The information at this site was carefully composed from climate data collected by meteorological services, meteorological offices, climate experts and other sources. “More climate info” is based on statistics, climate data and personal experience. No rights can be derived from this site. Weather has no memory and gives no guaranties. Nothing is as changeable and unpredictable as the weather. The authors of this site feel in no way responsible for any damages caused by misinterpretation or other circumstances that may influence your holiday or trip to a certain destination. We provide information, it’s up to the reader to use it to it’s benefit.
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