Spanish Climates and Associated Regions

Climate Types in Spain

• Coastal Mediterranean Climate

  Extends along the Mediterranean coast and the Balearic Islands. Average annual rainfall is between 400 and 700 mm, higher in the north than in the south. Rainfall is highly irregular, with a maximum in autumn (due to the 'cold drop' phenomenon) and a minimum in summer. This situation is caused by the low humidity of arriving air masses. Temperatures are mild in winter (8-12°C) and high in summer (23-26°C), with a thermal amplitude between 12 and 18°C.

• Inland Mediterranean Climate

  Located in the interior of the peninsula, characterized by strong continentality due to the relief and distance from the sea. Rainfall peaks in spring, with minimums in summer and winter (between 350 and 600 mm per year). Winter temperatures are cold (below 5°C), summers are hot and dry (20-27°C), and the thermal amplitude is remarkable (around 20°C).

• Arid Climate

  A degradation of the Mediterranean climate towards sub-desert conditions, stretching along the coast of Murcia and Almería, the driest regions of the peninsula (between 120 and 300 mm per year). Temperatures are high (11-20°C), with annual averages above 18°C. The influence of Saharan winds is notable. There are nuances of arid areas in Zamora, Zaragoza, and La Mancha.

• Canary Islands Climate

  The Canary Islands are under the influence of the Azores High (anticyclone) and Saharan winds. The average annual temperature is 20°C, with a low range (17-25°C). Precipitation is very irregular, often concentrating scarce rains during the winter months. The annual average is around 250 mm, though it can reach 1000 mm in western areas.

• Mountain Climate

  Found at altitudes above 1000m. Due to the thermal gradient, weather is cold, with temperatures below 0°C in some winter months and relatively high temperatures in summer (16-19°C). Rainfall is abundant, exceeding 1000 mm per year in windward areas.

Geographic Regions and Associated Provinces

• Baetic System

  Cádiz, Málaga, Granada, Seville, Córdoba, Jaén, Murcia, Albacete, Cuenca, Ciudad Real

• Southern Sub-Plateau

  Badajoz, Cáceres, Toledo, Ciudad Real, Cuenca, Madrid

• Montes de Toledo

  Badajoz, Cáceres, Toledo, Cuenca

• Catalan Coastal Range

  Girona, Barcelona, Tarragona, Castellón

• Ebro Depression

  Lleida, Zaragoza, Huesca, Pamplona

• Northern Sub-Plateau

  Zamora, León, Burgos, Valladolid, Salamanca, Ávila, Segovia

• Cantabrian Mountains

  Santander, Basque Country, Pamplona, Oviedo, León, Lugo

• Iberian System

  Pamplona, Zaragoza, Teruel, Castellón, Valencia, Alicante, Albacete, Logroño

• Sierra Morena

  Huelva, Seville, Córdoba, Jaén

• Pyrenees

  Girona, Lleida, Barcelona, Huesca, Pamplona, Guipúzcoa

• Guadalquivir Depression

  Huelva, Seville, Córdoba, Cádiz

• Central System

  Salamanca, Cáceres, Ávila, Madrid, Segovia, Guadalajara, Soria