The Islands of Eternal Spring? Complete Weather Guide for the Canary Islands

«What will the weather be like in November», «Should I bring my swimming costume in January? - these are the questions most frequently asked by a traveller preparing their getaway to the Canary Islands. And the answer is both simple and infinitely complex: it will be good weather, but in a completely different way to how you imagine it.

Many know the Canaries as the «islands of eternal spring», and to a large extent this is true. But the reality is much more exciting. This place is a miniature continent where the weather in the Canary Islands It can change not only from one island to another, but from one valley to the next - forget one-dimensional forecasts! Join us and discover the true and diverse climate of the islands.

The Big Picture: Why the Weather in the Canary Islands is So Special?

Before we dive into the details, let's understand the three protagonists that shape the islands' pleasant climate:

• Trade winds: This constant northeast wind brings cool, moist air, preventing the islands from unbearable desert heat.
• The Canary Current: This cold ocean current cools the coastal waters and the air, acting as a natural air conditioner.
• The Azores anticyclone: This high-pressure atmospheric formation is responsible for most of the sunny days without precipitation.

The Golden Rule for your Suitcase: Be Prepared for Everything!

This is the most important piece of advice we can give you. If you rent a car, your boot should have a «survival kit»:

• Swimwear and sunscreen: On the southern coasts, you will need it most of the time - the sun's radiation is extremely strong even on cloudy days!
• A thin jumper and a windbreaker: For the evenings or for the shadier areas in the north.
• A thick jumper or jacket: If you climb above 2000 metres (eg. Teide National Park), is mandatory in both winter and summer. The temperature drops dramatically with altitude.
• Hiking boots (highly recommended): Due to the volcanic and uneven terrain of the islands, closed-toe shoes that support the ankle are essential for hiking.

The Islands, One by One: Choose Your Own Climate!

Although there are common features, each island has its own climatic character.

• Tenerife: The island of contrasts
  It is the island with the most varied climate. Mount Teide, at its centre, acts like a shield: it stops the clouds coming from the north, making the south dry and sunny, while the north is lush, green and often more humid.
• Gran Canaria: The miniature continent
  True to its nickname, you will also find almost all climates here. The north is greener and cooler, the interior has a mountain climate, while the south, with the dunes of Maspalomas, is reminiscent of a small desert.
• Lanzarote and Fuerteventura: The kingdom of the wind and the sun
  These two islands, the closest to the Sahara, are the driest and windiest. The landscape is desert-like but fascinating, ideal for the beach and water sports (surfing, kitesurfing).
• La Palma: The green wonder
  «La Isla Bonita» is the greenest and rainiest of all, especially on its north-eastern side. The weather here is more variable, but in return it offers incomparable scenery for hikers.
• La Gomera and El Hierro: A hiker's paradise
  These two smaller western islands are wild and unspoilt. Their climate is defined by humidity and green nature, especially in their famous laurel forests.

Special Meteorological Phenomena

• Calima: When the Sahara greets you
  Occasionally, a hot, dry air mass arrives from the Sahara desert, bringing with it fine airborne dust. The air turns yellowish, visibility is reduced and the temperature rises suddenly.
• Donkey belly: «The belly of the donkey».»
  On the northern slopes, it is common to see a dense sea of clouds at low altitude. It is a phenomenon created by the trade winds that generally does not bring rain, just a cool, damp feeling.

Temperature vs. Wind Chill: Why You Shouldn't Trust the Numbers.

This is the other key point. If the forecast says 24°C, it can mean pleasant summer heat or cool spring weather. It all depends on where you are, how strong the wind is and whether the sun is shining. In a wind-sheltered area in the south, that 24°C can feel like 30°C.

In Lieu of a Conclusion: Freedom to Choose

Many consider the weather in the Canary Islands to be unpredictable, but the reality is much better. Here, the weather doesn't force you to make concessions; it is you who chooses your own climate.

Is it cloudy in the north? Jump in the car and in half an hour you'll be sipping coffee in the southern sun. Is it too hot on the coast? Head for the silence and coolness of the pine forests in the mountains.

That's the real magic of the Canaries: it's not unpredictability, it's freedom of choice. The freedom of being able to live several springs and summers in a single day, exactly as you want. It is this freedom that makes the islands unique, and offers a new adventure every day!