We have a hot, tropical climate here, sun beating
down for about 50 weeks of the year. March - June expect sunny weather
with temperatures around 25-30 C/ 77-86 F, the hotter days around
35C / 95F. July & August is the hottest time of the year averaging
35C / 95F by day, occasionally peaking nearer 40C / 104F on some days.
January & February temperatures average nearer
25C / 77F with high humidity, often windy and this is when it's most
likely to rain here in the south though November 2001 and December
2002 saw heavy rains. Parts of the island (usually the north or central
areas) flood & dry beds become rivers as reservoirs overflow.
Fortunately, a rainy spell rarely lasts more than a day and is usually
followed perfect, holiday weather the day after!
As well as the rain we have the occasional sandstorm
caused by the "calima" - a cloud of sand blown in from the
Sahara. They're not as bad as they sound. It's something to be seen
rather than avoid and there's no problem spending the day on the beach
enjoying the sun that shines through them. Imagine them as kind of
a fog that doesn't spoil your sunbathing. The hot wind that blows
from the Sahara is known as the "siroco" and also arrives
this time of year.
Here's the average maximum temperatures on the beach
from personal experience over the last several years!
|
J A N U A R Y |
23C / 71F |
J U L Y |
35C / 95F |
|
F E B R U A R Y |
24C / 74F |
A U G U S T |
35C / 95F |
|
M A R C H |
25C / 77F |
S E P T E M B E R |
32C / 90F |
|
A P R I L |
27C / 81F |
O C T O B E R |
30C / 86F |
|
M A Y |
30C / 86F |
N O V E M B E R |
27C / 81F |
|
J U N E |
32C / 90F |
D E C E M B E R |
26C / 79F |
Thanks to the rains around January, the island becomes
very fertile and green for the early part of the year. The north of
the island has a different climate, so if you're getting weather information
relating to the capital, Las Palmas, you'll find it's always 5C or
10C (approximately) cooler up there. It also receives more rain and
clouds than the south, as do the rest of the Canary Islands. Puerto
Rico and the immediate area on the south west of Gran Canaria gets
the sunniest and hottest weather throughout the Canaries.
The mountains in the centre of the island have a
different climate altogether. Often it's quite cool with fresh winds,
most of the island's rain falls here and during winter it's not that
unusual to find snow whilst the south of the island still has hot,
sunny weather.
By night the temperature stays around 15C / 59F or
a little more all year round other than July and August where it can
vary quite a bit from around 15C / 59F up to 25C / 77F some nights.
