Weather Overview for Ibiza

Ibiza has a Mediterranean climate, enjoying long hot and dry summers and mild winters. The island is famous for its perfect beach weather with hot summers of plentiful sunshine.

Summer:

Ibiza’s long glorious summers are what made the island famous (together with its all night parties!). From June to September the sun shines every day, peaking at an average of eleven hours of sunshine per day in July. Temperatures get into the high 20s to low 30s during the day, sitting at an average of 26°C in June and September but reaching 29°C in July and August. Basically, the weather is glorious. The nights are warm too, with temperatures barely falling below 20°C. Although high summer temperatures can see the mercury soaring into the mid-30s on occasions, a cooling sea breeze prevails to bring welcome respite from the hottest temperatures. Rainfall is low in summer and in June and July you are unlikely to see any at all. July has the lowest rainfall on average – just 10mm. In September the chance of rain begins to increase. The sea temperature is warm in summer, climbing from around 21°C in June and peaking at 26°C in August. It is comfortable to swim in the sea from May right through until October and often longer.

As this is Ibiza, the chances are that you'll be looking to spend your nights partying and enjoying Ibiza's famous nightlife and your days sleeping it off on the beach. The weather is perfect for such a holiday, but be aware that the sun's rays can be strong and it is easy to get sun burn, heat or sun stroke- all of which can put a serious damper on your holiday! Make sure you protect yourself from the sun with a decent sun cream that has a high SPF. All that dancing, partying and time spent under the hot sun can be seriously dehydrating too. Keep healthy by drinking plenty of water; it's always advisable to carry a bottle of water on you at all times too.

Autumn:

Autumn remains warm, making it a great time to visit Ibiza, although your chances of encountering rain are increased. Even in October, daytime temperatures are often in the mid 20s, with an average high of 23°C. In November things begin to cool down, but with an average high of 19°C you can still expect pleasant heat on many days at the start of the month.You may need some warmer clothes for the evenings as the temperature can drop down to around 10°C. September and October average around 55 and 77mm of rain respectively, which is not that high although there will be some rainy days. October is the wettest month in the year so while it is warm and the sea is swimmable, you should be prepared to experience a few storms. These rarely last for too long – the month still only sees an average of nine wet days per – and the sunshine levels in October are still fantastic at an average of seven hours per day. November is drier but cooler. The rainfall is higher in the inland areas than on the coast as the clouds have more opportunity to form over the hilly inland regions.

The autumnal climate can be unpredictable though. It is equally possible to experience days that bring with them summer like heat, as it is to feel a sudden winter chill in the air, especially in the evenings. As this is Ibiza, the nightlife is likely to be one of your top priorities and a cooler evening may not register too highly with you if you're dancing all night in a packed club. However, for a quieter evening stroll about town, you may be glad of a light jakcet on colder nights.

The best way to pack for the unpredictable weather is with layers of clothes and a warm jacket or coat for those unseasonably cold days.

Winter:

Winter in Ibiza is generally mild. Cold temperatures are rare. From December to February the average temperature is around 11°C; a pleasant sunny day may reach the mid to high teens, but nights can be cold without central heating as the average low is in single figures around 8 or 9°C. December is a fairly wet month with around 90mm on average, and then rainfall drops away again to around 50mm for January and February. Storms can occur during this period, where heavy rain and high winds will hit the island for 2-3 days. Sunshine levels are pretty good for anyone used to British weather, seeing an average of five hours of sunshine per day in the darkest months of January and February. To put things in perspective: London gets down to an average of one hour per day in December. The sea is a little chilly with an average temperature of 14°C, though this is not much colder than the sea around the UK in the summer. Occasionally snow is experienced on Ibiza â€“ in in 2007 snow even settled on the beaches and a temperature of -5°C was recorded. This is unusually cold and, although the sight of snow flakes is not completely alien, for them to settle is a very rare event.

Spring:

In early spring evenings can still be a little chilly, though daytime temperatures climb rapidly from an average high of 17°C in March to 21°C in May. A sunny spring day can see temperatures around 20°C whichever the month, though more frequently towards May. Late May is when you really begin to feel summer has begun. You should still bring extra layers for the nights and to shrug on when the cool wind blows. Rainfall is moderate throughout spring – you will get some rainy days but there is a healthy amount of sunshine to be enjoyed, quickly getting up to an average of eight hours per day in April and nine in May. The sea heats up quickly from an average temperature of 15°C in March to 18°C in April. Though some will still find this a bit bracing, 18°C is better than you’ll get in the UK in July.

Weather Hazards

Ibiza can still be subject to extreme weather conditions that you should be aware of when travelling to the island.

 In the late winter/early spring time (usually between February and March) dust storms can hit the island. These are caused by hot winds blowing across from the Sahara, due to the island’s close proximity to North Africa.

These can reduce visibility and irritate asthma and other respiratory problems, so make sure you have any medication you need with you if you’re on holiday on the island at this time of the year if you suffer from such problems. You’ll most likely want to shelter inside if one hits the area when you’re here.

Spain’s droughts, which have been lasting for much longer in recent years, can lead to other problems, such as heavy rainfall, thunderstorms and hail storms. Around 10 hail storms and 10-20 thunderstorms can hit the island a year. The heavy rainfall can also lead to flash flooding. This usually happens in the autumn, so travel in the summer if you want to be guaranteed dry weather.

The droughts also exacerbate the problem of bush fires, an issue in the summer. The dry vegetation means that the fires can last for longer and be far more intense.

Tornadoes and water spouts are also a problem on the Balearic Islands, hitting them harder than any other part of Spain. These can occur at any time between July and December, but most commonly hit the island in September and October.