Today's weather for San Sebastian, Spain27th Jul 2008 09:00

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Weather Overview for San Sebastian

San Sebastian is located on the coast in the very north of Spain, in very close proximity to the French border. The city lies at the North West end of the Pyrenees mountain range, so as a result 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 sunny interludes are just as likely as rainy periods.

 
Geographically, however, San Sebastian is beautiful. Its stunning coastline makes it one of the most popular beach resorts in all of northern Spain. In San Sebastian the weather takes a backseat as visitors enjoy the picturesque coastline. The city is sheltered in front 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 Oceans 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.  This is made all the more extreme but the large storms that often rock the bay, particularly in the winter months.

 

 

SUMMER

Like many Spanish destinations, summer is the best time to visit- bearing in mind of course that this is peak season so the beaches, pensions, bars and restaurants will all be packed full. San Sebastian has a vibrant culture, buzzing with tourists and is the favourite destination for wealthy Spaniards who want to escape the tourism masses in the south of Spain.

 
June, July and August see average temperatures of 19, 20 and 21 degrees respectively, before reaching 19 degrees again in September. The average highs during this period only reach 22 to 24 degrees, which is significantly cooler than the south of Spain. Temperatures will generally sit in the late 20’s, occasionally rising into the 30’s in the peak of summer.

 
Rainfall dies off in summer and the whole season is generally drier than the rest of the year. Humidity during this time is also relatively low, so summer in San Sebastian is definitely the most comfortable period to visit, 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 Spanish coastal boulevards.

 

WINTER

The winter months from December to February see average temperatures of 9 degrees and average minimums of 5 to 6 degrees. Temperatures very rarely fall below 5 degrees and snow is also an extreme rarity.

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

AUTUMN/SPRING

Autumn and Spring each see frequent rain showers throughout the season. Both seasons are characterized by mild temperatures of around 12°-16° Celsius

March sees an average temperature of 11°c, April averages 12°c before heating up in May to an average daily temperature of 16°c. Autumn is mildly warmer with September averaging 19°c, October sees an average of 17°c and November cools down to an average of 11°c.

 
September sees San Sebastian play host to the famous The San Sebastian International Film Festival. This makes September a great time to visit San Sebastian, as temperatures haven’t cooled down to winter lows, the height of the peak season has weaned and you can take in the cultural aspects of the film festival.

 

 

 

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