Spain’s Diverse Climates: A Regional Breakdown
Mountain Weather: Includes territories located more than 1000 meters high. This climate has specific characteristics because as altitude increases, precipitation increases and temperatures decrease. In this climate, rainfall often exceeds 1000 mm per year. Temperatures are characterized by an annual low, cool summers, and cold winters.
Oceanic Climate
Oceanic Climate: Is found in the north of the Iberian Peninsula. Spain is unique in that it is the only area with this climate that is not a typical Mediterranean climate with arid summers. It is characterized by abundant and regular rainfall throughout the year. The total annual rainfall exceeds 800 mm, with rainy days occurring more than 150 days a year. Temperatures are mild: the thermal amplitude is low but with differences between coastal and inland areas. It provides mild winters along the coast, while the interior experiences colder winters.
Subtropical Climate
Subtropics: This climate is characteristic of the Canary Islands, which is characterized by warm temperatures throughout the year and little precipitation, most abundant in winter and minimum in summer. However, we can discuss variations in the Canary Islands climate because there are differences between the islands due to three factors: latitude, the influence of the cold Canary Current, and the altitude and direction of the terrain. We can distinguish three varieties based on altitude:
Coastal Variety
Variety-Coast: Has a desert climate with warm annual average temperatures and gentle rains that never exceed 350 mm. Characteristic of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura.
Mid-Mountain Variety
Variety-Mid-Mountains: Found in the mountainous islands with rainfall between 500 and 1000 mm, cool temperatures between 13 and 16 °C, and little sunshine.
High Peak Variety
Variety of High-Tops: Features average temperatures at or below 12 °C. In winter, they experience heavy frost and sunshine.
Mediterranean Climate
Mediterranean Climate: Is the most extensive in Spain, comprising the mainland just south of the oceanic climate zone, the Balearic Islands, Ceuta, and Melilla. Precipitation in this area is scarce and irregular, with a total annual amount less than 800 mm. It presents a severe drought in summer. In the Mediterranean area, the rains can be torrential in autumn. Temperatures are warm in summers and mild in winters, although temperatures vary between coastal and inland areas, and from north to south. We can distinguish three types of Mediterranean climate:
Maritime Mediterranean
C-Mediterranean Sea: The Mediterranean coast comprises the Peninsular sub-Atlantic coast, the Balearic Islands, Ceuta, and Melilla. It is characterized by scarce rainfall, which is less than that of the Mediterranean to the Atlantic. Summers are not too hot due to the influence of the sea, and the winters are mild.
Continental Mediterranean
CM-Continental: Covers the peninsular region with the exception of the middle zone of the Ebro valley. Rainfall usually ranges between 300 and 800 mm, and temperatures have higher amplitudes, exceeding 16 °C.
Dry or Steppe Mediterranean
CM-Dry or Subtropical Steppe: Comprises the central valley of the Ebro and the southeast peninsula. Rainfall is less than 300 mm, and temperatures are higher in the southeast in the area of the Ebro. The most remarkable feature is its high index of aridity.
Continental Climate
Continental Climate: Is characteristic of the interior of the Iberian Peninsula, which translates into cold winters and high heat in summer, resulting in a strong thermal oscillation between the two seasons. The continental climate is due to two factors: the high average altitude of the continental plateau and the limited maritime influences due to the peripheral mountain ranges that surround the plateau.
Urban Climate
Urban Climate: Is a type of weather that occurs inside large urban centers where a range of factors introduce modifications to the climatic zone in which they are located. These factors include: construction materials of buildings that absorb heat by day and release it at night; heat generation by human activities such as heating, traffic, etc.; and pollutant particles in suspension, which favor the greenhouse effect. All these factors cause an increase in temperature, an increase in acidic precipitation, and reduced humidity.