The best time to visit the Canary Islands for a beach holiday is from late-June to late-September. Although, anytime during May through September is good.
The Canary Islands are considered a year-round destination, with year-round sunshine and a mild climate.
The Canary Islands enjoy a mild climate, due to their location in the Atlantic Ocean, just north of the Tropic of Cancer, a short distance from the coasts of Morocco and Western Sahara.
In summer, hot, dry air blows from the Sahara desert bringing with it these warmer temperatures.
The weather in the Canary Islands varies from the north to the south: The northwest coasts of the islands are often cooler and wetter than the south coasts, which are exposed to hot, dry winds blowing across the Atlantic Ocean from the African continent.
As a result, the flora and fauna can also vary from north to south: the northern coasts are luscious while the southern coasts are typically dry and arid.
The Canary Islands comprise seven major islands: Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, La Palma, La Gomera, and El Hierro, plus some smaller islands and islets.
Here are the average temperatures in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, which is located on the northeast coast of Gran Canaria.
See also weather conditions in the islands of: Fuereventura – Lanzarote – La Palma – Tenerife.
What is the best month to visit the Canary Islands?
The summer months of July, August and September are the best months to visit the Canary Islands – the climate is perfect with hot, sunny weather and little to no rainfall.
To avoid the crowds, higher prices and extreme heat of summer, the months of May, June and October are also good for a range of outdoor activities.
Which is the hottest month in the Canary Islands?
The hottest month in the Canary Islands is usually August, with an average daily high temperature of 28°C (82°F), with moderate heat and humidity, and a low of 22°C (71°F)
The hot season lasts from early-July to mid-October, with an average daily high temperature above 26°C (78°F).
What is the humidity in the Canary Islands?
The Canary Islands experience little seasonal variation in perceived humidity, with approximate average relative humidity calculated at between 67% – 70% over the course of the year. Typically, it's mainly comfortable all year round.
What do the humidity conditions feel like in the Canary Islands?
We derive the humidity comfort level – what conditions feel like – from the dew point temperature, which measures moisture content in the atmosphere: a higher dew point feels more humid, while a lower dew point feels drier.
Meteorologists agree that dew point temperature is a more consistant indication of 'absolute humidity' than relative humidity, which fluctuates with temperature.
The average annual dew point in the Canary Islands is 15°C (59°F), and varies over the course of the year from dry at 11°C (52°F) to mainly comfortable at 18°C (64°F).
The more humid time of year in the Canary Islands lasts from mid-June through to mid-November, when you can expect the comfort level to be slightly humid on average 12% of the time.
The months with the highest humidity in the Canary Islands are August, September and October, with at least 10 days on average that may feel humid.
December through to May experiences little or no humidity.
Which is the coldest month in the Canary Islands?
The coldest month in the Canary Islands is January, with an average high-temperature of 21°C (69°F) and an average low-temperature of 15°C (59°F).
The cool season lasts from mid-December to early-April, with an average daily high temperature below 22°C (71°F).
Which is the sunniest month in the Canary Islands?
The sunniest month in the Canary Islands is usually August, with an average of 9.5 hours of bright sunshine per day – that's an average of 74% of daylight hours.
When is the sea warmest in the Canary Islands?
The sea is usually at its warmest in the Canary Islands in September when the water temperature reaches 24°C (75°F), which is warm enough for swimming.
Which month has the most rain in the Canary Islands?
December is usually the wettest month of the year in the Canary Islands, with 30mm (1in) of rainfall on average. There are usually four days with some rainfall.
The rainy season lasts from mid-October through to March.
The dry season lasts from April through to mid-October. The month with the least rain Canary Islands is July.
Which is the windiest month in the Canary Islands?
The windiest month of the year in the Canary Islands is July, with an average hourly wind speed of 30 kilometres per hour (16 knots; 18 mph).
The windy part of the year lasts from mid-June to early-September, with average wind speeds of more than 25 kilometres per hour (13 knots; 15 mph).
The less-windy time of year lasts from early-September to mid-June. The calmest month of the year in the Canary Islands is October, with an average hourly wind speed of 20 kilometres per hour (10 knots; 12 mph).
The predominant average hourly wind direction is from the north throughout the year in Canary Islands.
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
Average high temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
21 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 24 | 22 |
Average low temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 18 | 16 |
Average daily sunshine (hrs) | |||||||||||
6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 |
Average daily daylight (hrs) | |||||||||||
11 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 10 |
Comfort level – heat | |||||||||||
Comfort level – humidity (#muggy days) | |||||||||||
- | - | - | - | 1 | 3 | 7 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 4 | 1 |
Average dew point temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
11 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 13 |
Average relative humidity (%) | |||||||||||
67 | 67 | 67 | 67 | 67 | 67 | 67 | 68 | 70 | 70 | 68 | 68 |
UV Index (max) | |||||||||||
4 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 4 |
Average days of rainfall (≥1mm) | |||||||||||
3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
Average monthly rainfall (mm) | |||||||||||
25 | 20 | 10 | 5 | - | - | - | - | 5 | 20 | 15 | 30 |
Average wind speed (km/h) | |||||||||||
22 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 25 | 30 | 26 | 22 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
Average sea temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
17 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 22 | 23 | 25 | 24 | 22 | 20 | 18 |
Las Palmas, Gran Canaria |
Peak season: August is the major vacation month for most Europeans, with many hotels booked out. Traffic, restaurants and beaches are at their most congested.
High season: June and July; not quite as bad as August for crowds and general congestion.
Low season: Spring and autumn when prices are competitive, with minimal foreign visitors and Spanish tourists, while the temperature is still warm and pleasant.
Source: Meteorological data for the Canary Islands is based on weather statistics gathered for the 30-year period 1992 to 2021 by Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (AEMET) – Spain's meteorological agency – from the closest weather station: Gran Canaria Airport (LPA), located 25km (15mi) south of the capital, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
Advice on the best time to visit a particular destination is based on average local weather statistics, when the weather conditions are generally better than at other times of the year. We consider high and low temperatures, risk of rain (and thunderstorms, etc.), amount of sunshine and sea temperature. For general outdoor activities we favour clear, rainless days with a temperature range between 18°C (64°F) and 27°C (80°F); and for hot-weather activities we favour clear, rainless days with a temperature range between 24°C (75°F) and 32°C (89°F). Often, the best times to visit correspond to high season and therefore involve higher prices.
Latest update: Best time to visit Canary Islands: 6 June, 2024
Disclaimer: The information on this site is provided as is, without any assurances as to its accuracy or suitability for any purpose. Weather data and conditions at any given location and time are unpredictable and variable. We assume no responsibility and can not be held legally responsible for any decisions made on the basis of the information presented on this site.
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