ST Augustin Gran Canaria Weather
The Gran Canaria Weather is simply the best in the whole world. Here you see a 5 day weather forecast for Playa del Inglés, Maspalomas in the South. And below we have put together a month by month overview.
Gran Canaria belongs to the Canary Islands, which are considered the fortunate islands with the mildest weather of the whole planet. Within that archipelago of 7 islands, Gran Canaria is considered to be the one with the best weather; on the island itself the area between Arguineguin and Mogán is the zone with the smallest temperature variation throughout the whole year.
As you can see on the chart below, the average high temperature in Puerto Rico for example only varies 6ºC (11ºF) from the “coldest” months, which are January & February to the hottest months, August & September.
Gran Canaria not only has a great climate, but is also one of the least air-polluted areas in the world. The island’s capital city Las Palmas was declared the city with the cleanest air of Spain in 2014.
There can be big temperature differences between the north, centre and south of the island. The wind conditions also vary tremendously. Gran Canaria is called the miniature continent because it has 5, yes five, different climatic zones!
Gran Canaria Weather – Month by Month Overview
The Atlantic Ocean around Gran Canaria is always rather warm due to the southern currents. Therefore the sea is always warm enough for a swim. How much time you want to spend in the water though depends greatly on the air temperature and the general weather conditions of the beach you are on.
Here is a monthly weather overview, but mostly for the southern parts of the island, where the main tourist destinations are located.
January – Average 18º – Warm in the Sun – Almost Cold in the Shade
The weather in Gran Canaria in January can be quite warm still at the beginning of the month. Then it gets colder towards its end. We go for a swim nearly every New Year’s day. You can’t stay in the water for hours and hours, but 10-20 minutes will do. Once you get used to the water temperature its is extremely refreshing – especially if you have been partying too much.
When you come out of the water, you will not feel the cold air on your body. If you have a wind secluded spot, the sun will heat you up slowly and you will feel like a new person afterwards. In the evenings it recommendable to bring a sweatshirt or cardigan along.
The north and centre of the island can get quite cold with rain and even snow. The evenings are quite cold in the north, a cosy log fire is now required to heat up the rooms.
February – Average 18º – Warm in the Sun – Almost Cold in the Shade
In February we usually experience the coldest Gran Canaria weather. But, we have also had really warm days in February if the Calima winds hit the island. As much as I hate the Calima in the summer, I absolutely love it in the winter. All of a sudden it becomes warm enough to spend the entire day on the beach like on a summer day. The same applies as in January – bring a sweatshirt in the evening.
March – Average 19º – Warm in the Sun – Cool in the Shade
March is already warmer. Excellent walking weather and not cold in the shade. The favourite tourist time, still rather expensive compared to the following months. Your holiday can be disturbed by a few showers here and there, but if so, it usually only lasts a few hours or one day at the most.
April – Average 19º – Warm in the Sun – Cool in the Shade
The nicest time of the year begins. The days are longer, because of the time change. The air warmer, but still crisp and fresh. The colours of the sea, sky and nature are stunning – everyone can take great pictures this time of year. The evenings can still be cool, and in the shade it can feel chilly. It is nice to be on the beach in the middle of the day.
May – Average 20º – Warm in the Sun – Cool in the Shade
May is simply my favourite month. There are not so many tourists. The season’s hustle and bustle is over, shops close down for a holiday – beaches are empty, but the temperatures perfect. Many residents go on holiday now, and many seasonal workers leave the island. The evenings are now mild, you can bring a sweater, but you might not need it.
June – Average 22º – Warm in the Sun – Cool in the Shade
The beginning of June is an extension of the climate described of May, but towards the end the weather in Gran Canaria is getting warmer. Shops and businesses now start preparing for the summer season. More tourists arrive throughout the month. The days are longer, you can stay on the beach all day, but please bring an umbrella. The sun is burning now during the mid-day hours.
July – Average 23º – The hot summer months are starting
The hot summer months begin. Children are off school, the beaches are full on the weekends. It is great to spend all day on the beach, even until 8:00 in the evening. Bring umbrellas and high sun protectors. It is not a good idea to explore the island walking now. The weather in Gran Canaria in July is simply too hot. The driest and hottest period of the year begins and lasts for about 3 months.
Although it is hot, it no way near as hot as it can get in the Mediterranean countries like Italy, Croatia, Turkey or Greece. We only hit about 26º in the middle of the day, some of the days.
August & September – Average 24º – The hottest period
August and September are just simply hot. Again – not as unbearable as some areas in Europe – but definitely more hot than the other months of the year. The beaches are more full as August is the main holiday month of the Spanish and Canarians tourists. In mid September the Gran Canaria weather starts to cool down a bit. This is probably down to the bare fact that the days become noticeably shorter.
October – Average 23º – Cooling Down a Little
With October the temperature cools down slowly and the walking season begins. It is still warm, but not unbearable. In the evenings it can be a little chilly, especially around 7 pm – so take a wrap or cardigan along if you are going to eat dinner on a terrace. The winter season begins and the number of tourists on the island rises considerably – all businesses are getting ready to offer their best possible service.
November – Average 21º – Cooling Down
At the end of October, we turn our clocks back to winter time – so the evenings in November become abruptly shorter. The Gran Canaria weather is simply wonderful now – never too hot. The first few rainy hours in the south of the island occur now. The air is crisp and sea is warm.
More tourist are pouring in and the winter residents begin arriving to escape the cold winter months in Europe.
