Spain’s Climate Zones: Atlantic, Mediterranean, Interior & More
1. Coastal Atlantic Climate
Location
It is on the coastal Atlantic coast, including Spain.
Features
- Abundant rainfall, exceeding 1000mm per year, spread throughout the year, with maximum rainfall registered in winter and minimum in summer.
- Low temperature variation, with mild winters and slightly warmer summers.
Types
Oceanic Climate
It is typical of the north coast and the coast of Galicia. It is the rainiest, and temperatures are more gentle towards the west.
South Atlantic Climate
It is typical of the Andalusian Atlantic coast, where average temperatures are higher and annual rainfall is lower.
Transition Climate
It is in the area that borders the two regions above. As the maritime influence is less, the thermal amplitudes are higher and rainfall is lower (below 800mm per annum).
2. Mediterranean Coastal Climate
Location
It is typical of the Mediterranean coast.
Characteristics
- Mild temperatures in winter and hot in summer.
- Low rainfall, with a minimum in summer and a maximum in autumn.
- Towards the south of the Mediterranean coast, rainfall is lower, and aridity increases.
Types
Northeast Climate (Catalan)
In this area, rainfall is higher under the influence of humid maritime air masses.
Levante Climate (Valencia – Balearic)
This area extends from the coast of Tarragona to the Alicante coast. Rainfall is lower, and temperatures are higher further south.
Southeast Climate
This peninsular area records minimum rainfall, below 700mm per year. There is extreme aridity and severe droughts.
Southern Mediterranean Coast Climate
In this sector, temperatures are higher, and rainfall is scarce.
3. Interior Climate
Location
Plateau, away from coastal areas, in both the depression of the Ebro and the Guadalquivir.
Features
- Withdrawal of marine influence due to the arrangement of the ridges.
- High annual temperature range.
- Strong continentalization.
- Prevalence of dry and semi-arid conditions.
Types
Interior Region of Softened Continental Climate
Includes the region that describes an arc close to what is called “rainy Spain.” In this region, the Atlantic maritime influence softens the climate somewhat.
East Central Area with Accented Indoor Climate
It encompasses almost the entire plateau, plus the interior of the Ebro depression. Continentalization in these regions is very strong, with hot summers, very low winter temperatures, and maximum precipitation occurring in spring and autumn.
4. Mountain Climate
This occurs in all mountain regions above 1000m altitude. In this climate, annual precipitation exceeds 1000 mm, and in winter, it usually falls as snow. There are even areas with perpetual snow above 3000m. In summer, there are frequent storms.
5. Canary Islands Climate
The climate has subtropical characteristics, where the influence of the Azores anticyclone is very important. Likewise, as a result of proximity to the African continent, heat waves are frequent. Temperatures are mild throughout the year, the temperature range is very low, and the number of months of the dry season is eight. Rainfall is always lower in the southern half of each of the islands and also on the islands closest to Africa, such as Fuerteventura, where only 60mm per year is recorded. In the north of each of the islands and in mountainous areas, precipitation increases.