Southern Spain has a warm dry winter, although
the ski slopes high up in Andalucia are only a short drive away.
Daily average maximum temperatures vary from 9 °C (49 °F)
inland at Madrid to 17 °C (63 °F) along the Mediterranean
coast. Average dry days number about 23-24, and typically 6
hours of sunshine can be expected. Winters in Gibraltar are
considerably wetter than much of southern Spain due to exposure
from Atlantic storms. However, the winters do tend to be rather
warmer than the mainland.
By late spring, Spain is experiencing settled warm weather,
but beware of some rather cool nights. Daily average maximum
temperatures will have risen to about 21 °C (70 °F)
at Madrid, and 2 or 3 degrees higher on the coast. Average dry
days remain at about 23-24, but daily average sunshine hours
have increased to about 11 per day. Average maximum temperatures
at Gibraltar are broadly similar to the Spanish mainland, but
there are more dry days (about 27) on average.
In the summer, the Spanish coastline enjoys sea breezes, keeping
the temperatures bearable. Daytime maximum average temperatures
reach 30-31 °C (86-88 °F), a good 11-12 hours of sunshine
can be expected on average each day, and there are about 28
dry days on average. Gibraltar enjoys a typical Mediterranean
climate with a very dry summer, some months having no rain at
all on average. The daily average maximum temperatures are pegged
back somewhat on those of southern Spain, peaking at about 29
°C (83 °F).
The early part of autumn serves as an extension of summer,
daytime maxima still well up at about 28 °C (82 °F)
on the coast, and the sea is still very warm. By November, the
daytime maxima have fallen back to about 20 °C (68 °F).
Daily sunshine values will be at about 5-6 hours, coupled with
about 24 dry days. Autumn temperatures in Gibraltar are lower
than those on the mainland, topping at about 24-25 °C (76-78
°F). An all-year-round feature of Gibraltar's weather is
the gustiness of the winds, caused by the shape of the 300-metre
rocky peninsula which dominates the island.
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