Tenerife guide: The mild climate occurs largely because of the islands’ location in the path of the Canary current. The Canary current is a cool ocean current that flows toward the southwest. The islands lie blocking this current so they are directly affected by these cooler waters. Temperatures on the islands are usually a couple of degrees cooler than expected at their latitude.
This great video shows some of the best things to do on the island.
Brief Tenerife guide and overview
The archipelago generally experiences mild winters and warm summers. Year-round the Canary Islands receive warm, sunny weather with an average temperature that ranges from 17°C in the winter to 24°C in the summer. There are rarely major temperature extremes, though it is not uncommon for the mercury to rise above 30°C in the peak of summer, especially in eastern areas. The islands closer to Africa are hotter and drier than those to the west.
Tenerife has one of the best climates in the world
The Canary Islands are often associated with having the best climate in the world due to its spring-like weather all year round, with an annual average temperature of 21°C (71.6°F). The Canaries also boast over 3000 hours of sunlight a year and even 4800 hours of daylight, making the islands the sunniest part of Europe, with the largest amount of daylight hours. This is largely down to the island’s position next to Western Sahara and southern Morocco. Read more detailed information on typical Tenerife weather broken down season by season. NASA once produced a report suggesting the island has one of the best climates in the world.
The Canary Islands offer some of the clearest skies in the world due to the trade winds and the thermal inversion which prevents cloud formation. Furthermore, the Canaries are protected by the Law for the Protection of the Astronomical Quality for the Conservatives of the Canary Islands Astrophysics Institute, which controls atmospheric light pollution and even regulates flight routes so the skies are crystal clear throughout the year. This also means that the Canary Islands are regarded as one of the best places on earth to observe space and even features a number of Astrophysics observatories.
Across each island, it is generally safe to say that the weather varies from the north to the south. The northwest coasts of the islands are often significantly cooler and wetter than the south coasts as the northeast is exposed to the predominant northeast trade winds but the west is exposed to hot, dry winds from the African continent.
The difference in weather conditions from north to south is most pronounced in the winter when true beach weather can develop in the middle of winter in the south while it is rarely warm enough to be without a light sweater in the north. As a result, the flora and fauna can also vary from north to south. The north coasts are luscious while the southern slopes are usually sunny deserts.
For hundreds of years the Canary Islands have been known for the beneficial health properties of their super year-round climate. Travellers from around the world continue to visit the islands for this very reason, to relax and revitalize. Due to the Canaries’ extraordinary climate, long hours of sunshine, fresh sea breeze, warm waters and a natural volcanic landscape, they are one of the best holiday destinations for the whole family. Not only is the weather in the Canary Islands unbeatable – they also offer a number of super activities for the whole family such as water sports, whale watching, spas, hiking, golf, water parks and much more. Each island is also unique in character from the dramatic coastline of El Hierro Island to the spectacular volcanic landscape of Tenerife, where you will find Mount Teide, the highest mountain in Spain.
Source: www.holiday-weather.com
