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Weather Overview for Costa Caleta

Costa Caleta is a tourist town located on the east side of the island of Fuerteventura. It is 10 km south of the airport, and 30 minutes south of the town of Corralejo. Fuerteventura is the second largest of the Canary Islands after Tenerife. The Canary Islands are part of the country of Spain, and are a top holiday destination for Europeans in search of sun, sand and…sangria.

The horseshoe shaped beach at Costa Caleta is shielded from the currents, providing safe swimming for bathers of all ages. Other activities available include diving, jet skiing, and windsurfing. Boats of all types are available in the harbour for day cruises.

CLIMATE

In Spanish, 'fuerteventura' means 'strong fortune' or 'strong wind'. The name is quite apt because the climate of the island is highly influenced by the prevailing winds of the area. Most of the time, an offshore flow from the sea moderates the temperature by causing the hot winds coming in from the Sahara Desert to blow away from the island.

Additionally, the North East Trade Winds travel through the region, which also influences the temperatures and the amount of rainfall the island receives. Because the island doesn't have any high mountains, the North East Trade Winds flow through it without bringing any rain. For this reason, rainfall is scarce, even in the winter, when more rain falls than at other times. The highest peak on Fuerteventura is Pico de Jandìa, on the south western portion of the island. It rises to a height of 807m.

Spring

Spring is a very pleasant time to visit Costa Caleta. Daytime temperatures average 23C, and the nights drop to an average of about 16C. With blooming seasonal flowers and the desert landscape showing hints of verdant vegetation, spring is very beautiful on Fuerteventura. The highest recorded temperature is 34C and the lowest recorded temperature is 7C, but these are aberrations that don't often occur. It doesn't rain much in the spring, averaging 7mm, with an average of about three days of rain throughout the season. The seawater at this time of year is a comfortable 20C.

Summer

Summer is the hottest season in Costa Caleta. While the temperatures may at times verge upon hot, the climate remains, on the whole, comfortable. The average daytime temperature in the summer is 27C, and at night, the temperature falls to a still balmy 21C. The highest temperature recorded is 37C, while the lowest recorded temperature is 11C. The sea remains refreshingly  cool 22C. Good news is: rain is fairly non-existent in the summer.

Autumn

Autumn temperatures remain warm with daytime highs of around 26C and lows of 20C. Rarely do temperatures get above 30C. Likewise, the temperatures do not often go below 8C. The sea stays pleasant at 23C. Although predominantly dry, there is more rain in the autumn. About 7mm may fall at this time, with perhaps three days of precipitation.

During the autumn, a phenomenon known as the calima can occur. High-pressure building over the Sahara Desert causes the arid winds to blow in a south-westward direction. The wind brings with it dust from the desert, and causes the air to fill up with grit and a brown haze to cover the sky. Temperatures can increase by 10C during calimas, and the air dries out considerably.

Calimas may last from between three days and one week. At this time, the calima may cause another phenomenon known as 'blood rain'. 'Blood rain' occurs when the red desert dust tints the raindrops a rusty colour. This reddish rain may cause staining on the pavement, the walls of buildings, and outdoor furniture. People with breathing problems may have difficulties during this event due to all the dust in the air.

The calima winds may also bring in locusts from Africa. On 30 November 2004, Fuerteventura experienced the largest swarm of locusts it had seen since 1950. One million of the creatures landed on the island, causing the ground to turn pink where they fell as a consequence of being at the end of their lifecycle. It was fortunate for the island that this was the case, since locusts can cause millions of dollars in damage to farm crops. While locust swarms of this magnitude are rare, smaller swarms may occur.

Every now and again, a depression southwest of the islands forms during a calima event. When this occurs, the amount of dust and the speed of the wind can intensify. The hot wind may blanket the region with a dusty fog and a cloying drizzle, reducing visibility markedly. On 8 January 2002, the poor visibility caused by the thick pall in the air forced the closure of the Santa Cruz International Airport on the nearby island of Tenerife.

Winter

Winter is cooler, although rarely cold. Daytime highs are about 21C, while night time lows reach around 15C. On rare occasions, temperatures may reach a high of 28C and it may cool to 15C. The sea is slightly chilly at about 18-20C. Winter is the wettest time of year in Costa Caleta. You may expect about 6 days per month with rain, with as much as 39 mm falling. Relatively speaking, the amount of rain that falls there during the winter is but a drop in the bucket compared to elsewhere on the globe. It is on par with what one might expect of an arid locale such as Fuerteventura.

With cool azure waters and white sands, Costa Caleta makes the perfect desert island getaway. It boasts an incredible 300 days out of the year with sunshine, mild autumns and winters, warm springs, and hot summers. Particularly in the winter, the warm weather of Fuerteventura beckons tourists from colder European climes to bask on its sun drenched beaches. 

Whether you enjoy nothing more strenuous than a walk on the beach at sunset, or whether you like an action packed day filled with activities such as diving or windsurfing, Costa Caleta is a top holiday destination with something to offer everybody.