What's The Weather Like In Menorca in the Ballearic Islands ?
Menorca enjoys a typical Meditteranean climate with long hot summers and short mild winters. The island has an average of 300 days of sunshine a year.
Late spring and early summer are the best times to visit, when temperatures are high, the chance of rainfall is low and sunshine hours are at their highest.
July and August are the busiest months of the year in Menorca, so if you are able to travel outside of the summer school holidays, it's definitely worth it.
Balearic Islands
Menorca (or Minorca in Spanish and Catalan) is one of the three Balearic Islands which lie off the coast of Spain in the Mediterranean Sea. The other Balearics to the southwest are Majorca, Formentera and the infamous party island, Ibiza.
Menorca is the most northern of the Balearics, so it is slightly cooler and wetter than its southern counterparts.
It is also in the path of no less than eight prevailing winds, leading to its nickname: The Windy Island.
Summer Weather in Menorca: June - September
Summers in Menorca fall between early June and late September, when average temperatures range between 22°C and 25°C. Daily lows fluctuate between 18°C and 21°C, with daily highs between 26°C and 29°C.
The hottest day ever recorded in Menorca was July 26, 1983, when 39.6°C was registered.
The highest maximum average temperature recorded in Menorca was 33°C in August 2003.
Menorca is very windy throughout the year, especially during summer. But these blustery conditions create the perfect environment for watersports, as well as providing some much-needed relief from the summer heat.
How Much Sunshine Does Menorca Get?
Up to 13 hours of sunshine a day can be expected at the peak summer season, with clear skies an everyday thing for most of the months.
How Warm Is the Sea In Menorca?
In summer, average sea-water temperatures range between 21°C and 26°C in Menorca, so there's absolutely no reason not to hit the beach and take a dip.
The lowest sea temperature in Menorca is around February to March, where the average is close to 14°C, still OK for a brisk swim!
By April the average temperature has gone up to 15°C, with a nice jump to 18°C by May.
When Is The Wettest Time In Menorca?
The peak summer months see rainfall at minimum, but the start and end of the season sees heavy showers.
In June, Menorca experiences an average of 16mm of rain spread over five days. This drops to 7mm over three days in July, before rising up to 12mm across four days in August.
The summer season closes with an average of 70mm spread between 10 rainy days in September.
The lowest monthly rainfall recorded in Menorca falls within the summer period. In September 1970 not a single drop of rain fell anywhere on the island!
Autumn Weather in Menorca: October - November
Autumn in Menorca is wet and mild. It is the rainiest time of year and sees heavy showers on an average of 12/13 wet days per month.
November is usually the wettest month of the year, with an average of 88mm of precipitation falling on 13 wet days.
In autumn, the average daily temperature drops to 19.5°C in October and down once again to 15°C in November.
Daily highs and lows change in a similar fashion, falling from 23°C down to 18°C and from 16°C down to 12°C, respectively, as the autumn season progresses.
Nighttimes can feel particularly cool and the sky is often overcast in Menorca in Autumn.
Sea Temperature And Sunshine Hours In Menorca
November usually has an average of seven hours of sunshine a day twice the average of London at the same time of year!
The sea is still warm enough for swimming, with average sea-water temperatures ranging between 20°C and 23°C across October and November.
Winter Weather in Menorca: December - February
Winter in Menorca sees temperatures drop and rainfall increase. Between December, January and February, the average daily temperature ranges between 11°C and 12°C.
This figure is made up of average highs of 14°C-15°C and average lows of 8°C-9°C. Menorca is warmer than the UK in winter, but it's not that warm in comparison to the other Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands.
The coldest day ever recorded in Menorca is January 9, 1985, when temperatures as low as -2.4°C were registered.
Autumn Rain In Menorca
Being one of the wettest seasons of the year, average rainfall in winter is fairly high.
The average precipitation starts off at 59mm across 13 rainy days in December, before falling down to 46mm between 13 rainy days in January, rising up to 61mm across 13 rainy days in February.
Does It Snow In Menorca?
Although frost and snow are rare in Menorca, they do occur every now and then.The highest number of snowy days ever experienced in Menorca is four, in February 2012.
The Tramontana Wind In Majorca
The Tramontana wind that sweeps across the island from the north is prominent during the winter months. This brings changeable weather, so a rainy day could well be followed by a day of uninterrupted sunshine.
Spring Weather in Menorca: March - May
Spring is considerably sunnier and drier than autumn in Menorca.
How Warm Is Spring In Menorca?
Between March and May, average temperatures range between 12°C and 18°C. Daily highs fluctuate between 15°C and 22°C, and daily lows range from 9°C to 14°C.
Spring rain in Menorca
Rainfall decreases as the season progresses, falling from 45mm across nine rainy days in March, down to 44mm between 11 rainy days in April. It drops again to 34mm between eight rainy days in May. There are frequent showers but the sun still comes out.
How Warm Is The Sea In Spring In Menorca?
Sea temperatures rise from 15°C to 18°C as the season develops. Although the sea is probably a bit fresh for swimming in March or April, most visitors will find it more than warm enough to take a dip by May.
Sunshine levels increase rapidly throughout the season, already pleasant at nine hours per day in March and climbing to 12 hours a day by May.
Unusual Weather In Menorca
Dust Storms In Majorca
Due to its close proximity to North Africa, the Balearic Islands suffer from dust storms, caused by hot winds that blow across the Sahara. These tend to land in late winter/early spring, usually around February and March.
Although they're not usually severe, these dust storms can restrict visibility and irritate asthma and other such respiratory problems. Make sure you have medication with you if required.
Droughts
Spain's droughts are unlikely to have a direct affect on your holiday but they can exacerbate other weather conditions. Bush fires in the summer are made worse by the vegetation being much drier throughout the island.
Droughts can also bring on subsequent periods of heavy rainfall, thunderstorms and hailstorms. There can be around 10 hailstorms a year in Menorca and between 10-20 thunderstorms. The heavy rain can sometimes lead to flash flooding.