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 The Weather in the Canary Islands
The
Canary Islands weather, of course, has historically been one of the
main attractions which have made the archipelago such a popular
all-year round holiday destination. Sometimes advertised as ‘the
islands of eternal spring’, the warm, sunny weather that characterises
the climate has resulted in millions of northern Europeans being drawn
to these friendly, scenic islands just off the western coast of Africa.
The
comparatively small variation between the temperatures throughout the
year in the Canaries has meant that the larger of the islands now have
two distinct tourist seasons. In the summer, although temperatures can
sometimes rise to above 30° , it is far more common for the daily highs
to be a much more comfortable 27º.
For many people, though, it
is the prospect of winter sun which draws them here, with frequent days
of warm sunshine meaning that many visitors from, especially,
Scandinavia, Germany, Britain and Ireland choose to dedicate large
parts of
their winters to Canary
Islands holidays. The average daily temperature of 19 - 22º
and the generally prevalent mild breezes sum up the attractions of
Canary Islands weather.
Canary Islands weather is significantly
influenced by the trade winds which usually blow from the north east
and help moderate the temperatures. Generally stronger on the eastern
sides of all the islands, the winds tend to be stronger in the summer
than the winter and help encourage the surfing and wind surfing
activities which are so popular here. Just occasionally, the winds can
change direction and blow from the Sahara, which can result in what the
locals call a calima, a hot sand-carrying wind which can be quite
discomforting.
However, although the seven major Canary Islands
do share this beautiful climate, there are many significant differences
between them. Indeed, some of the individual islands have considerable
variations within a comparatively small geographical location. Broadly
speaking, the islands closest to the African coast are the hottest and
driest; the islands to the west of the Canarian archipelago are the
greenest, coolest and wettest.
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Canary
Islands weather,
therefore, is very different in the western Isla Bonita, La Palma, to
the desert-like conditions of Lanzarote, the island of fire just 60
miles from the African coast. Lanzarote and Fuerteventura both feature
largely dry, arid landscapes and can all but guarantee sunshine
throughout the year. La Palma and La Gomera are much wetter in the
winter and have an enormous range of flora and fauna.
Even the
weather conditions in the two most popular tourist destinations,
Tenerife and Gran Canaria change within the islands themselves. Gran
Canaria’s description, a continent in miniature, aptly symbolises this
split. Both of these two picturesque islands have significant mountain
ranges which divide the northern and southern regions. Consequently,
the northern parts of the islands are both wetter and cooler than the
southern areas, where the tourist areas tend to be found.
The
differences between the regions are greater in the winter, where it is
common to wear a jumper during the day in the north although there will
still be good ‘beach days’ in the south. Even in the summer, though,
the main motorways travelling back to the northern cities from the
southern beaches tend to be packed in the evenings with locals driving
home.
The mountains in Gran Canaria and Tenerife, with their
spectacular volcanic landscapes and breathtaking ocean views, can also
surprise visitors even in the summer with their lower temperatures -
after all, Mount Teide on Tenerife is Spain’s highest mountain.
Canary
Islands weather will continue to help attract holidaymakers to these
fascinating subtropical islands. If you visit in the summer, you’ll
enjoy glorious days of warm sunshine, cooling breezes and a perfect sea
temperature.
In the winter, although you might have the excitement of a
ferocious rain storm, especially in the western islands, you’ll still
have days when you can lounge comfortably in your shorts and t-shirts -
although it’s as well to pack a jumper for the evenings.
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