Climate

Includes Portugal to the left, however we can immediately notice different climate zones

In Spain, people can experience three types of climate zones depending on where they live and/or decide to travel due to its large size. We can’t forget however those other areas of Spain, particularly the Balearic and Canary Islands, which have their own distinct micro-climates. But the three main types of climate zones are we will focus on are:

The Atlantic or the green zone (costa verde) , which consists of a mild and humid climate. The Atlantic zone is embraced by the northwestern region of Spain. Here,  Galicia, the Cantabrian coast of Asturias, Cantabria, the Basque Country and the Pyrenees, which divides Spain and France. Coast of the Pyrenees is the wettest part of Spain, but there is some sunshine throughout the year.

Beautiful snowy times in Northern Spain

The spring and fall here are mild, and the summer coastal temperature averages to about 25°C or 77°F. This region can experience from 900 to 2,000 mm (35 to 79 in) of rain throughout the year. Here and there there are some snowfalls experience, mainly in Teruel and Soria provinces. Snow falls at an elevation region of  1,200m (3,937ft), meaning that it is truly rare for snow to fall outside of Spain’s mountainous areas. (Just Landed). If I were to travel to the Atlantic zone, I would most definitely take an umbrella and some mosquito repellent. (:

Don’t forget your umbrella!

The Continental or tableland (meseta) is mainly in the central region of Spain and  the Ebro River valley. Here, summer and winter are very contrasted because in the summer, it is baking hot and on the winter it is freezing cold. The city of Madrid experiences the coldest winters in Spain, with temperatures ranging from a low of 1°C (34°F) to a high of 9°C (48°F) in January. In Madrid there is an annual rainfall of 300 to 600mm (12 to 16in).  Except for mountainous regions, the further you travel south of Madrid in the winter, the warmer the winter gets. As you head south, you will reach Seville, which has the hottest summers in Spain. In Seville, temperature averages around 34°C (93°F) in July and August and it often exceeds 40°C (104°F). Fun Fact of the Day:

Frying Pan of Andulasia

In Ecija, which is between Cordoba and Seville, has exceeded temperatures of 47°C (117°F), which is why it is appropriately known as the Frying Pan of Andalusia (la sartén de Andalucía). So if you ever want to travel and visit these cities, keep in mind the extremes hots and colds they have and be prepared by wearing the appropriate attire. (Just Landed).

The Mediterranean embraces the coastal regions of Spain which has relatively mild winters, but it is also humid. Rain in Catalonia varies from 500 to 800mm (20 to 31in). Summers are very pleasant here because the temperatures  are not very high.

Canary Islands

The central part of the Mediterranean coast, from Alicante to Tarragina, it is warmer here in winter than it is in Catalonia as well as having lower rainfall of 300mm to 425mm (12 to 17in). In Costa Blanca there are temperatures in the winter of about 20°C (59°F to 68°F), which humorously, it is when the Spanish habitually dress in overcoats and the foreigners dress in shorts or even bathing suits! So if you ever decide to travel to Spain, the Mediterranean  zone would be the best pick of all. Temperatures here are neither too cold or too hot. Even thinking of going to the Canary Islands would be great because it has the best year-round climate with warm winters and temperate summers with an annual average temperature of 20°C to 27°C (68°F to 81°F). (Just Landed)

SEASONALITY

Here are some graphs to compare the cities’ precipitation and temperature of Granda, Spain and Madrid, Spain to Denver, Colorado.

Temperature: 

Precipitation: 

The annual range of temperature for Madrid is 14.2 °C where Granada’s runs along the same lines with slightly higher annual range of temperature of 15.4 °C. The annual range precipitation of Madrid is 438.9 mm and Granada’s, in this case is lower with an annual range pf precipitation of 353.6 mm. This can most definitely have to do with the zone location they are in. These annual ranges of both temperature are not that much different than those of Denver. Denver’s annual range of temperature is 11°C, which is lower than both Madrid and Granada. The annual range of precipitation for Denver is 397 mm, which is smaller than the precipitation of Madrid but it is larger than the precipitation of Granada.

Based on the graphs above, all three cities demonstrate large seasonality. From hot summers to cold winters. The seasonality of the cities’ precipitation is also large, however, Madrid’s and Granada’s precipitation patterns are opposite of the precipitation patterns of Denver. Meaning that when there is high precipitation in Denver, in both Madrid and Granada, there is low precipitation and vice versa.