Weather Overview for San Sebastian

San Sebastian is on the coast in the very north of Spain, very close to the French border. The city lies at the northwest end of the Pyrenees mountain range. The climate is mild all year round, with steady rainfall throughout the seasons. San Sebastian’s weather isn’t as sought after as other Spanish coastal destinations; the days are often dull and dreary and rainy periods are just as likely as sunny interludes.

Geographically, however, San Sebastian is beautiful. Its stunning coastline makes it one of the most popular beach resorts in all of northern Spain, especially with the Spanish. San Sebastian is the favourite destination for wealthy Spaniards who want to escape the tourism masses in the south of Spain. In San Sebastian the weather takes a backseat as visitors enjoy the picturesque coastline. The city is sheltered by Isla de Santa Clara and bordered on one side by Mount Urgull and on the other side by Mount Igeldo.  It lies amongst these mountains peaks in the beautiful Bay de La Concha, which is a pleasant crescent shape beach in the Basque Country.

As you move further into the mountain area temperatures will be come significantly cooler and rainfall will increase.

The Bay of Biscay plays host to some of the Atlantic Ocean’s roughest weather. This occurs as a result of the Spanish continental shelf which extends in parts right into the Bay. Consequently, many areas are characterized by shallow waters which bring rough seas.  Large storms often rock the bay, particularly in the winter months.

SUMMER

Like many Spanish destinations, summer is the best time to visit - bearing in mind that peak season means beaches, pensions, bars and restaurants will all be packed full.

June, July and August see average temperatures of 19°C, 20°C and 21°C respectively, before reaching 19°C again in September. The average highs during this period only reach 22°C to 24°C, which is significantly cooler than the south of Spain. In the days the temperature will generally sit in the late 20’s, occasionally rising into the 30’s in the peak of summer. Humidity during this time is also relatively low so the heat is rarely uncomfortable. Keep in mind that it can get quite chilly at night (even in summer) so its best to pack a jacket if you plan to walk the coastal boulevards.

Rainfall is lower than in the rest of the year but regular, heavy showers are still common. This shouldn’t put you off as there are still seven hours of sunshine per day for most of the season. The water temperature peaks in August at 22°C but is warm enough for swimming throughout the season.

At the end of summer in September, San Sebastian play host to the famous The San Sebastian International Film Festival. This is a great time to visit, as while temperatures remain warm, the peak season has waned and you can take in the cultural aspects of the film festival.

 WINTER

The winter months from December to February see average temperatures of 9°C. Daytime highs are quite mild, around 12°C and average minimums at night reach 5°C to 6°C. Temperatures very rarely fall below 5°C and snow is highly unlikely. Rainfall is high. There are frequent showers and with the increasing strength of the wind huge storms can visit the area.

Keep in mind that San Sebastian can become a bit of a ghost town in the winter months. While it is still worthwhile a visit as you can take in the sights without fighting hoards of tourists, you may find many businesses will close their doors if traffic isn’t sufficient.

AUTUMN/SPRING

Autumn and spring each see frequent rain showers but have mild daytime highs around the mid to teens.

From March to May it heats up, climbing from an average high of 15°C to 19°C. From October to November it cools from 20°C to 14°C. Night time temperatures are generally cool. Late spring is preferable to early autumn in terms of sunshine but early autumn is preferable to late spring in terms of water temperature. Both seasons see highly changeable weather conditions that are hard to predict.