Today's weather for Gran Canaria, Canary Islands6th Jan 2009 05:30

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Weather Overview for Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria is the third largest island of the Canary Islands, an archipelago of the coast of North Africa often referred to as the ‘Islands of Eternal Spring’ for their enviable climate.

Temperature is pleasant throughout the year; winters are mild and summer temperatures are kept below stifling due to the north-east trade winds that prevail in the region. The island has one of the lowest cross-season temperature variations of anywhere in the world. Average highs range from 21 ºC in winter to 26 ºC in summer, while average lows are between 14 ºC and 21 ºC.

There are two main reasons for the absence of the stifling summer temperatures which are experienced on the North African mainland, just 200km to the east: the North-East Trade Wind and the Canary Current.

The North-East Trade Winds are frequent in summer and bring with them cooler air to give pleasant summer temperatures. In July these winds are nearly constant. The winds are caused by hot air rising to high altitudes over the equator. This air travels north, then sinks and cools before turning back and hitting the Canaries.

The Canary Current is the other phenomenon to have a cooling effect on the islands. Cooler water is brought up from the depths as the current flows south past the Canary Islands. Water temperature around Gran Canaria varies between 18ºC in winter and 22ºC in late summer.

There is low annual rainfall in Gran Canaria. Summer months see virtually no rain, while the wettest period between December and January sees on average about 8 rainy days per month.

The north of the island does receive more rainfall than the south, as well as being slightly cooler on average. This is mainly due to it bearing the brunt of the moist and cooling trade winds.

The mountains of Gran Canaria are another cause of these different micro-climates across the island, as they often act as a weather block. These higher regions also receive much more rainfall themselves, as the mountains are a place for moist air of the ocean to form into rain clouds. Temperatures are cooler at the higher elevations and it is not uncommon to see snow on the highest peaks in winter. Indeed on occasions in winter, one can be sunbathing on the beach, and just an hour’s drive later be walking through snow in the mountains! The weather barrier caused by mountains mean that one part of the island can be experiencing clear blue skies, while it is raining in another.

The evidence of these micro-climates and the dubbing of the island as a ‘continent in miniature’ can perhaps best be seen when you contrast the alpine climate of the mountains with the famous Maspalomas dunes. These sand dunes are found in the much more desert like climate of the south.

Records show southern Gran Canaria, especially the area around Puerto Rico as the hottest and sunniest of anywhere in the Canary Islands. The south receives over 2700hours of sunshine a year on average. The climate in the south can be described as subtropical.

Occasionally Gran Canaria can experience very hot summer days when the hot sirocco wind is prevailing. Locals refer to this phenomenon as ‘Calima’ or ‘Tiempo Africano’ (African weather). This wind brings with it hot, dry air and sand from the Sahara desert. Sometimes the sirocco wind can bring temperatures of up to 40C and the sand can reduce visibility to 100 metres and may last anything between a few hours up to a week.

The summer of 2007 saw large forest fires sweep across much of Gran Canaria. Much of the forests were burnt and some local residents even evacuated. Although probably started on purpose by a disgruntled forestry worker, the high temperatures and wind at the time meant the fires spread at high speed. This is a common theme for places with a hot and dry climate, and Gran Canaria is no exception.

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