Today's weather for Barcelona, Spain14th May 2008 14:30

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Weather Overview for Barcelona

Barcelona enjoys a very agreeable climate that is mainly influenced by its proximity to the sea. This means it gets slightly cooler summers and slightly milder winters than nearby inland areas of Spain.

SUMMER

Barcelona enjoys great summers, which are full of revelers wanting to make the most of the famous Barcelona party vibe.

Between June and September one will experience frequent hot and sunny days, which are all the more noticeable when dancing away in one of Barcelona’s many bars and clubs or walking the cobbled streets of Plaza Real.

July and August, however can get very hot. In August especially, temperatures can rise above 35ºC with humidity at around 70%. This is the month where many businesses shut down and most of the city’s inhabitants escape for cooler regions. Luckily one of the best places to spend your time in Barcelona is down by the city’s port. The harbor promenades are lined with various bars, restaurants and night clubs so you are never far away for the ocean if you need to take a refreshing dip!

For those wanting to be active or do a lot of sightseeing the blistering summer temperatures can be quite draining. Since the city is on the coast, however, a cooling breeze can often be enjoyed. This means that while it gets hot in Barcelona, you don’t quite experience the intense heat that you can get inland. Rainfall in June, July and August is low. You can experience showers in these months, but they are generally infrequent and light. They are also fairly easy to predict as you will generally see the clouds forming quite slowly, the sky becomes overcast and the short showers soon follow. The showers often come as a cooling relief and cool down the city streets and partygoers.

AUTUMN/SPRING

Autumn and spring are very good times to visit Barcelona. Temperatures are more comfortable and the crowds are smaller. May and October, either side of the summer months, have average temperatures of around 17 ºC. This means daytime temperatures will often be in the low 20s, yet a light jacket may be required in the evening and early morning. Spring still has fairly low rainfall, though if you visit in autumn you are more than likely to get some showers. September through to December is the wettest time of the year in Barcelona and heavy downpours occur.

WINTER

Winters are mild in the city. From December to January average temperatures are 10 ºC. Compare this with 5 ºC winter average in London. Temperatures very rarely drop to freezing in the winter, though a rare snowfall is not completely unheard of. In February 2004 a light fluttering of snowflakes fell for about a half hour. This was, however, the first time in 10 years that Barcelona city centre had experienced snow. Because the air temperature was still at a comfortable 8 degrees the snow melted on impact and did not settle.

On the flipside, a sunny winter’s day can feel quite pleasant with temperatures in the low teens. Although you don’t on average get many more rainy days in winter than at other times, the showers that do occur are normally heavier and last longer.

These are the general trends of weather in Barcelona. As with anywhere, weather will vary year to year and freak conditions can happen. August 2002, for example, saw hailstones fall in Barcelona! Meanwhile, you could a winter’s day warm enough to be on the beach. As it’s a coastal region, storms can also hit the area bringing heavy rainfall. These are more likely in autumn and winter, hence the higher average rainfall of these months.

While Barcelona’s weather is often affected by winds off the Mediterranean, it is sheltered by a semicircle of mountains that protect the city from much of the harsh cold winds that blow in from the north and the west, aiding the relatively mild winters.

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