Canary Islands
18 to 24°C
temperature
3161 hours
sunshine per day
114 mm
rain
298 days
dry
67 days
rain
0 days
snow

Climate of the Canary Islands

The Canary Islands have a subtropical climate, meaning they are generally warm and sunny year-round. However, there can be significant variations depending on which island you visit. For example, the islands of Tenerife, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura are generally warmer and drier than other islands, such as Gran Canaria or La Palma.

Climate averages for the whole year

  • Day: the average daily temperature during the day is between 18°C and 24°C
  • Night:the average nighttime temperature is between 16°C and 21°C
  • Sea temperature: the sea temperature is between 20°C and 25°C
  • Rain: it rains 67 days and there is a total of approximately 114 mm rainfall
  • Sun hours: throughout the year there are 3161 sun hours
Maximum temperature: between 18°C and 24°C
Warmest month: 24°C in August
Coldest month: 18°C in February
Night temperature: between 16°C and 21°C
Sea temperature: between 20°C and 25°C
Dry days: 298 days
Days with rain: 67 days
Days with snow: 0 days
Total rain sum: 114 mm
Hours of sunshine: 3161 hours

The average temperature on the Canary Islands ranges from 21-23 degrees Celsius. In the winter months, the average temperature drops to 18 degrees Celsius. However, it is still relatively warm compared to other countries in Europe.

There is also very little rain in the Canary Islands. The island of Fuerteventura is the driest of all the islands, with an average annual rainfall of only 150 mm. By comparison, the wettest island is La Gomera, which has an average annual rainfall of 1,200 mm.

Various factors influence the climate of the Canary Islands

The climate of the Canary Islands is influenced by a number of factors, including the Gulf Stream and trade winds. The Gulf Stream is a warm ocean current that flows from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean. This current helps keep the Canary Islands warm in the winter and cool in the summer. The trade winds are another important factor in the climate of the Canary Islands. These winds blow from east to west and help bring clouds and rain to the islands.

Another factor that affects an island's climate is its topography. An island with mountains will have a cooler climate than an island that is completely flat. This is because mountains block sunlight and prevent heat from reaching the surface of the island. Lanzarote, for example, has an average temperature of 20 degrees Celsius because it is flat. La Gomera, on the other hand, has an average temperature of 16 degrees Celsius because it is mountainous.

What is the warmest island in the Canary Islands?

The warmest island in the Canary Islands is Fuerteventura, but it is not much different from the other islands in the top 3 warmest Canary Islands. Fuerteventura has an average annual temperature of 22.7 degrees Celsius. The second warmest island is Lanzarote, with an average annual temperature of 22.4 degrees Celsius. Rounding out the top three is Tenerife, with an average annual temperature of 21.8 degrees Celsius.

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Temperature graph

This graph shows the average maximum temperature (red) and minimum temperature (blue) for the Canary Islands.

Precipitation graph

This graph shows the average amount of rainfall per month for the Canary Islands.

Climate table of the Canary Islands

In this climate table you can see at a glance what the average weather per month is for the Canary Islands. The data has been collected over a 30-year period, from which an average per month has been derived. From year to year the differences may be larger or smaller, but with this climate table you have a good idea of what the weather for the Canary Islands might be like in a given month.

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Day temp. (°C) 19 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 24 24 22 20
Night temp. (°C) 16 16 16 17 18 19 20 21 21 21 19 18
Water temp. (°C) 22 21 20 21 21 23 23 24 25 25 24 22
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Precipitation (mm) 8 9 16 5 4 2 2 12 11 20 18 7
Days with rain 6 7 7 5 3 2 2 4 6 8 10 7
Dry days 25 21 24 25 28 28 29 27 24 23 20 24
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Sun hours per day 8 8 8 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 8 9
Wind force (Bft) 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 4
UV-index 5 5 5 5 5 6 6 6 6 6 5 5

Best time to visit Canary Islands

If you want to visit any of Canary Islands, generally the best time to visit is January through December. In this period you have a pleasant temperature and almost no precipitation. The highest average temperature in Canary Islands is 24°C in August and the lowest is 18°C in February. The highest water temperature is 25°C and at its coldest the water is 20°C.

Climate of the Canary Islands by month

What is the average climate in a given month for the Canary Islands? Click on a month to see all monthly averages for sunshine, maximum and minimum temperatures, percent chance of rain per day, snowfall and number of rainy days.

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