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Weather Overview for Benidorm

Benidorm has an exceptionally sunny Mediterranean climate with long, hot summers and mild winters. The resort enjoys a microclimate of slightly higher temperatures and much clearer skies due to its surrounding mountains. Benidorm receives 325 days of sunshine per year; this has contributed immeasurably to the outstanding popularity of Benidorm as a tourist destination.

Summer, from May till October, sees average high temperature moving through the 20s to a peak of 30°C in August. Night time temperatures are cool in the fringes of the season but in July and August the average low temperature can stay up around 20°C. This level of heat might be found uncomfortable but throughout the summer humidity levels are low and constant sea breezes help to keep conditions bearable. The sea is too cool, around 17°C, in May for prolonged swimming but quickly hurdles the 20°C mark, getting up to a peak of 25°C in August and staying warm for the rest of the season. July is the sunniest month with an average of eleven hours of sunshine per day. Rainfall is minimal for most of the season thought the odd shower might occur. It increases towards the end and October is actually the wettest month in the year, though it still is not particularly rainy by UK standards.

Autumn, a brief and rapidly changing affair in November, is hot at first but mild later on. The average high temperature of 19°C and average low of 10°C means it is regularly warm, in the low 20s, at the beginning of the month and mild, around 18°C at the end of the month during the daytime, but night times are generally quite chilly. The sea is cool but warm enough for water sports and quick dips. Rain falls in light showers on around ten days in the month. Sunshine levels are good for the season at six hours per day. The Mediterranean climate can be unpredictable at this time of the year. It is not uncommon for sudden changes in the weather that bring on unseasonably warm, summer like temperatures, or drops in the heat, bringing cold fronts and winter like weather. To be best prepared for the tempermental climate, it is wise to pack layers of clothes with a warmer jacket or coat for the evenings, when the temperatures tend to drop further still.

Winter, from December till February, is mild to cool and quite unpredictable. The average high temperature gets down to 15°C in January while the average low temperature is around 6°C for the whole season. While day time temperatures are vastly preferable to those in the UK, blustery weather can make it feel quite cold and visitors should not expect to stretch out on the beach in their swimwear. Night times can be very chilly and it can even get down to freezing. Sunshine levels remain the same and water temperatures drop to 14°C in January.

Spring, in March and April, is mild with nippy nights. The average high temperature creeps back up to 18°C in March and 19°C in April. From the beginning of the season temperatures in the low 20s can be seen on calm days with clear skies. Seven hours of sunshine per day in March climbs to eight in April but the sea remains cool. The climate in the spring is similar to that of the autumn; it can be temperamental, with anything from summer warmth to much colder fronts to be expected at this time of the year. For the most part, the Mediterranean climate ensures the weather remains pleasant throughout the season. However, as with in autumn, if you're planning on visiting Benidorm in the spring, it is advisable to pack layers of clothes, so you're prepared for the unpredictable weather. A warmer coat or jacket will likely be necessary in the evenings, when the temperatures can drop lower.

Benidorm is protected from the cold, northerly Levante winds by the mountains that rise behind it. These keep the south-facing resort warmer, drier and sunnier than unprotected areas. The Mediterranean Sea helps to moderate temperatures throughout the season, preventing extreme temperatures.

Locals are accustomed to the Gota Fria, a phenomenon whereby the temperature suddenly drops, the wind reaches gale force and torrential rain starts to fall. These spells of bad weather are unpredictable but usually quite brief.

Benidorm sits on the east coast of Spain on the Costa Brava (White Coast). Once a small fishing village, Benidorm became Spain’s most popular tourist resort in the 1960s after heavy development in the 1950s. While the resident population is around 67,500 (as of 2005), the influx of tourists swells this number to around 500,000 in the summer months. The building of major hotel complexes and attractions has always been regulated to leave ‘leisure areas’, green spaces, a measure not adhered to anywhere else in Spain. However, the coastline is so clustered with highrises that it is often likened to New York.

Weather Hazards

Given Benidorm’s proximity to North Africa, it’s no wonder that it is subject to dust storms, as a result of the winds that blow across the Sahara. These tend to occur most frequently in the winter and early spring months and can seriously reduce visibility.

 If you are in the area when a dust storm hits, you’ll likely want to beat a swift retreat inside, as it can be hard to see or breathe outside during a storm. They tend to have a severe effect on anyone that suffers from asthma or other respiratory problems, so it’s important to keep your medication on you at all times if you choose this time of the year to visit the area.

With the exception of Portugal, Spain experiences the worst forest fires of all the Mediterranean countries. These tend to occur between the months of July and September and have been exacerbated recently with the dry weather in Spain.

 Around 40% of these fires are started deliberately, 20% by mistake or accident and 2-3% by lightning. Once started, the fire can spread rapidly across the mountainous regions, due to the dry weather in Spain in the summer causing the vegetation to be extremely dry. If you can travel to the mountains at a different time of the year, it may be wise to do so. If you do visit in the summer, be aware that this may be an issue for the location you are staying in and you may well need to travel elsewhere should a fire hit.