The time in Gran Canaria and in the Canary Islands in general it is known for being one of the best in the world. Because? Mainly because as a general rule the temperature throughout the year is mild. That is, in summer temperatures do not usually rise above 30 degrees and in winter they do not usually fall below 15. In the same way, It is not a destination where it is common to rain or be cloudy. In fact, The Canary Islands is the region of Europe that has the most hours of daylight throughout the year. Sunlight has been shown to provide numerous benefits and one of them is happiness. Hence, the millions of tourists who visit the Canary Islands each year positively value the hospitality of its residents.
Equally, The weather in Gran Canaria is quite stable, in the sense that it is not an area hit by earthquakes, tornadoes, torrential rains or volcanic eruptions. That is, it is a fairly safe destination in this sense.
The weather in Gran Canaria. A continent in miniature
You should know that Gran Canaria can have very different climates within the same island. For example, in winter in the interior and mountainous areas of the island there can be a temperature of 5 degrees and hail. And, at the same time, in the south of the island it can be 20 degrees and have spectacular sunshine. In the same way, in summer it can be cloudy in the north of the island with a pleasant temperature of 22 degrees and in the south a sun that cracks the stones and reaches up to 35 degrees. That is to say, Depending on which part of the island and time of year, the weather can be very different.
As a general rule, The sun and the highest temperatures in Gran Canaria tend to be concentrated in the south of the island. On the contrary, inland and mountainous areas tend to be cooler and rainier. In any case, due to the proximity of the Canary Islands to Africa, sometimes the famous “calima” or “African weather” occurs, with which the temperatures rise and the sky turns slightly earthy in color due to the suspended sand that it brings. wind. This is not common, but it can happen several times throughout the year. Mostly in summer.
Finally, you should know the weather or climate of the city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria It has been considered on numerous occasions and by different international media as one of the best in the world: hours of sunshine, pleasant temperatures and few days of rain.
Gran Canaria Temperatures
As we mentioned at the beginning, Temperatures in Gran Canaria are generally mild throughout the year.. That is, without suffering great contrasts between the different seasons. Thus, In summer you can have a 23 degree day and in winter too. But the normal thing is that in coastal areas the temperatures throughout the year are always pleasant and exceed 20 degrees during the day, especially in the south. On the contrary, In the interior of the island and higher areas, in the winter months temperatures hardly rise above 20 degrees, but even so, it is very rare to experience sub-zero temperatures in Gran Canaria.
Gran Canaria Precipitation
As a general rule, it does not rain in Gran Canaria in summer. That is to say, Between June and October, there is a very low chance of rain. On the other hand, throughout the rest of the months it can rain 3 or 4 times a month, but normally it does so only in the north or interior of the island, the south and, especially the southwest, is always an exception. This does not mean that it does not rain in the south of the island. In fact, when it rains in the south, it usually rains a lot. And that is when there is a “southern storm”. In the south it rains well or it never rains at all.
Wind in Gran Canaria
With the exception of occasional storms or storms (1, 2 or 3 throughout the year), the wind on the islands is usually soft and pleasant. The southeast and east of Gran Canaria is windier than the rest of the island. That's why It is a paradise for sports such as windsurfing. One of these areas is Pozo Izquierdo and world championships are even held here.
The trade winds make temperatures in Gran Canaria are pleasant throughout the year, as they replace warm air with colder air from higher latitudes. In addition, these winds cause the well-known donkey belly that we explain below.
What is donkey belly?
La donkey belly It is an expression that we Canarians use when, thanks to the trade winds accumulate clouds north of the most mountainous islands of the Canary Islands. As a general rule in Gran Canaria it is usually produced in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. And normally during the months of July and August. This makes The clouds act as a screen against the strong summer solar radiation and the climate is cooler than in other areas of the island.. It is true that the presence of the donkey belly makes the heat more humid than usual.
The good thing about Gran Canaria being a miniature continent is that in the face of this phenomenon, If you want sun you can travel 30 minutes by car to the south and you will have it.
Best time to travel to Gran Canaria
We can affirm that any month of the year is good to travel to Gran Canaria, since the weather is stable throughout the year as we said at the beginning. If you are looking for sun, you can always find it in the south. What is certain is that the months of September and October are when the sun is more guaranteed in the north and the donkey belly disappears, however, the peaks will be dry after spending the entire summer without rain. So the interior will be uglier.
Therefore, Perhaps the best months to travel to Gran Canaria and see it in its splendor are April, May and June, since the weather will be good throughout practically the entire island. Likewise, there will still be some greenery left after the spring rains in inland towns.
Gran Canaria Guides
You still have a lot to learn about Gran Canaria and we have prepared a series of local guides for you on the island. Are you going to stay only with the tourist sites? Discover the depths of the island with us by clicking on the following photo.
Are you organizing your trip to Gran Canaria? Don't forget your travel insurance! Besides, For being our reader you have a 5% discount anywhere in the world. You just have to book the insurance with a click on the following photo. The weather in Gran Canaria is not something you can guarantee. However, your long-awaited vacation is 🙂
Hello! I am Ruth, Canarian with a traveling soul. With training and experience in the tourism and digital marketing sector. In this blog I tell you all the tips you need to get to know the most authentic side of Gran Canaria on your own. I also share my travel guides to all the places in the world that I am visiting so that you can discover the destinations like a local and save time planning. In addition to traveling, I love gastronomy and sports. I run and hike in the mountains with my “dog-children” (Silver and Plata). In all these adventures my partner accompanies me, Jorge, which you will also see a lot on this blog.
