Expat tips: The climate in Spain

If you are thinking about residing in Spain for a mid-to-long period, the climate is one of the factors you need to consider. What are the first words that come to your mind when thinking about Spain? Sunshine, heat, and Mediterranean climate, right? However, the climate of Spain varies a lot across the continent and the islands. In some Spanish regions, the temperature is a lot cooler so it would be wise to look into the climate of the city you plan to move to.

The continental part of Spain can be roughly divided into three climate zones: Oceanic, Mediterranean, and Continental Mediterranean.

 

1. Oceanic climate

2. Mediterranean climate

3. Continental Mediterranean climate

4. Other climates

5. We will cover you whatever the weather!

 

 

1. Oceanic climate

 

 

The oceanic climate starts from the northwest region of Galicia and expands until Aragón. Oceanic climate. This part is always referred to as “Green Spain” because rain is the dominant weather in this region. In all Spanish oceanic regions, both the landscape and climate are strongly influenced by the winds of the Atlantic coast. Even in the driest month, this part still has 1.2 inches of rain.

 

Besides, the oceanic characteristic can be shown by the balanced temperature among different seasons. For example, in the most affected region Galicia,

 

• The coldest month can have an average of 8 degrees Celsius.
• The warmest month can have an average of 20 degrees Celsius.

 

Be well-prepared for plenty of rainfall and little temperature variance, if you want to settle down in cities such as Santander, Bilbao, Santiago de Compostela, among others.

 

2. Mediterranean climate

 

The Mediterranean climate is the dominant climate in the regions located by the Mediterranean coast.

 

• In summer, the weather is usually hot but with little rainfall. In coastal cities like Barcelona or Valencia, you might strongly feel the heat since the air is humid. But due to the direction of the airflow, it’s hard for the humid air to form rain.
• In winter, the weather is usually cold but with more rainfall than in summer because the relative position change of the sun changes the airflow, leading to mild and humid weather.
• In Spring and Autumn, there might be more rain than in other seasons.

 

If you come from a place where rainfall goes hand in hand with the heat (that’s to say, it rains a lot in summer), you might find the Mediterranean climate pleasant because you can enjoy endless sunshine and long summer days on the beautiful beaches.

 

However, for those that don’t like hot weather, residing in a Mediterranean coastal city might not be a perfect choice because, with the humid air, the heat seems hotter than the number on the thermometer.

 

3. Continental Mediterranean climate

 

The continental Mediterranean climate is usually found in cities located in the inner part of the Iberian Peninsula such as Madrid and Zaragoza. The continental Mediterranean climate is like a normal Mediterranean climate but more extreme.

 

• In summer, the temperature is higher than in coastal cities situated in the Mediterranean Sea. The rain barely falls in the summer.
• While in winter, the temperature is lower than in the coastal region. It rains more in winter than in the summer. In some years, it even snows in the winter.
• Like the normal Mediterranean climate, it rains a lot in spring or autumn.

 

 

4. Other climates

 

Except for the climates mentioned above, there are other climates in Spain. In mountainous regions, the mountain climate is usually common, where the climate changes according to the altitude of the hillside direction.

 

While subtropical climate is easy to find in the Canary Islands, with averagely hotter weather than other parts of Spain.

 

 

5. We will cover you whatever the weather!

 

Although there are different holidays in different regions. SegurCaixa Adeslas will always be there to help you whenever you need us. With our medical insurance, you can have easy access to emergency consultation calls, free ambulances, and urgent treatments. This medical insurance is also a perfect fit for a Spanish visa/NIE/TIE application as it fulfills all the requirements. Come and talk to us!

 

If you like to know more about living in Spain, click one of these blogs below: 

• The best places to live in Spain for Expats with different needs
• Curious facts you need to know before moving to Spain
• Cost of living: Is it cheap to live in Spain?
• Reside in Spain: live a unique Mediterranean life

 

 

Our content will be updated according to the most recent legislation. Last update: 04/08/2023