Tenerife weather

Tenerife is the largest of Spain’s Canary Islands that lie off the western coast of Morocco. The weather is cooler than North Africa due to the northeasterly trade winds and the temperate Canary Current. This is cool water that swells up from deep in the Atlantic Ocean and affects the sea temperature and weather in Tenerife.

Tenerife weather averages and climate

Situated 1,500 miles south of the UK and lying at the same latitude as the Sahara Desert, Tenerife sees a climate that is warm all year round but with some remarkable regional variations.

Average daily maximum temperature (°C)

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
21.1	21.3	22.3	23.0	24.5	26.6	28.9	29.2	28.1	26.6	24.3	22.2	24.8

Average daily minimum temperature (°C)

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
15.4	15.3	15.9	16.5	17.8	19.5	21.2	21.9	21.7	20.3	18.4	16.6	18.4

Average relative humidity (%)

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
64	63	62	61	61	61	58	61	65	65	64	67	63

Average rainfall - monthly total (mm)

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
41	23	34	10	5	1	0	3	6	17	36	31	207

Average sunshine - (hours per day)

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
6	6	7	8	9	10	11	10	9	7	6	6	8

Average wind speed (mph)

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
4.7	4.8	5.0	5.2	5.2	5.2	5.0	4.8	4.7	4.3	4.1	4.5	4.8

Average sea surface temperature (°C)

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
20	19	19	20	20	21	22	23	24	24	22	21	21

When is the best time to go to Tenerife?

Tenerife offers attractive weather all year round, so it depends on what temperature and climate best suits you. Summer in the south of the island will be relatively cloudless, hot and dry with excellent sea temperatures for swimming and water sports. The north will be a little cooler during the same period but still pleasant. Rain is most likely between November and February, but the average six hours of daily sunshine and average peak temperatures above 21 °C. August is when most tourists visit.

At any time of year Tenerife can experience Calima – a hot and dusty wind with origins in the Sahara. Temperatures will rise and visibility will deteriorate, and a fine layer of dust will cover outdoor objects. These conditions usually last for a few days.

Tenerife weather in January

Despite January being the coldest and wettest month of the year in Tenerife, it is still a good month to visit the island if you are looking for winter sun. Temperatures reach highs of 21.1°C on average, but locations at altitude will tend to experience temperatures in the single figures in January and the sight of snow on Mount Teide is not uncommon. The southern side of Tenerife is nearly always warmer and so might be the best spot to visit during the coldest month of the year. Despite some cloudy spells there is usually 6 hours of sunshine per day - and with sea temperatures averaging 20 °C there is no reason you can't enjoy some time on the beach, even in winter.

January sees around 41 mm falling during the whole month, with most of it falling on the northwestern side of the island. This tends to fall very heavily in short bursts, so despite being the wettest month, there are still plenty of warm, dry days to enjoy.

Tenerife weather in February

Warm sunny days are the default even in February at Tenerife, with temperatures reaching 21.4°C. There are quite large regional variations - low lying and southern locations will see the best conditions, but areas at altitude such as Mount Teide will struggle to get into the double digits. It is one of the cloudiest months of the year, but there is still around 6 hours of sunshine a day and will average at around 19°C.

With 23mm of rain on average there will be a small chance you get wet, but it usually arrives in stormy bursts in the northwestern part of the island, and many days will still be warm and dry.

Tenerife weather in March

March sees temperatures beginning to rise as spring gets underway and temperatures average 22.3 °C, but there will be large variations depending on the location on the island. The warmest conditions are located on the south side of the island, but it can be much colder at altitude – with March being the most likely month to see snow fall on Mount Teide.

There is usually less cloud around than in February with 7 hours of sunshine on average, and with sea temperatures of 19°C a comfortable dip in the sea is quite possible in March. On average there is 34mm of rain during March, but this mostly falls in short bursts during the start of the month – so most days will be sunny and dry.

Tenerife weather in April

Spring is fully underway by April, with notably drier and warmer conditions compared to the winter months. Temperatures will average 23°C, with the warmest weather usually found on the south side of the Island. There is much less cloud around compared to March, with around 8 hours of sunshine a day. Sea temperatures will also be pleasant for swimming, with average temperatures of 20°C.

Rainfall totals average at only 10mm during April, usually in a form of a few showers. These mostly affect the northwestern parts of the island, so there is a good chance of staying dry overall.

Tenerife weather in May

May is an undoubtedly a warm, dry and sunny month with temperatures reaching into the mid-20s, with the warmest temperatures in the south of the island. The weather is generally very predictable, with usually 9 hours of warm sunshine a day.

May is a great time to go to Tenerife before the summer heat ratchets up. There is a very small chance of rain, but usually there is only 5mm over the entire month. Heading to the beach is a great option as sea temperatures will also be very pleasant for swimming, averaging at 20°C.

Tenerife weather in June

June is definitely the start of summer in Tenerife. Hot temperatures are pretty much guaranteed, reaching average highs of 26.6°C. At this time of year a dip in the ocean is a great option with average sea temperatures of 22°C.

The north of the island will tend to be a few degrees cooler than the south, but plenty of sunshine is almost certain with 10 hours a day on average, though a few spots valley can still hold onto cloud well into summer, such as the Orotava valley. June is also one of the driest months in the year with almost no rain.

Tenerife weather in July

July is the driest and one of the hottest months of the year, with usually no rain recorded and average highs of 28.9°C. Even overnight temperatures will usually stay above 20°C, so it may begin to get a bit too warm for some, and heatwaves will result in some daily highs in the mid-30s.

With 11 hours of sunshine a day there is little escape from the sun, though the northern side of the island is usually slightly cooler than the south. Sea temperatures will be a very pleasant 22°C.

Tenerife weather in August

August is the hottest month of the year, with average highs of 29.2°C and 10 hours of sunshine a day. In the south it will often be warmer than this, reaching into the 30s regularly, while in the north it is usually a little cooler, and a gentle breeze may offer some relief from the heat.

Rain will be of little concern, with the land dry enough to give a risk of forest fires. Sea temperatures will be warmer than in July, at an average of 23°C.

Tenerife weather in September

The summer extends well into September in Tenerife, with average daily highs of 28.1°C and 9 hours of warm sunshine. The risk of rain increases slightly towards the end of the month, but with only 6mm recorded on average it will generally stay dry with hardly a cloud in the sky.

Sea temperatures will be very warm at 24°C, making September an ideal time to spend at the beach.

Tenerife weather in October

October is a month of transition, with the start of autumn seeing a slight dip in temperatures, but it’s still warm compared to later in the year. With highs of 26.6°C October can be a much more comfortable month to visit compared to summer months. Sea temperatures will also be at their peak of the year at 24°C.

It’s still generally fairly dry in October, and while 17mm of rain is expected over the month it usually falls in short bursts of stormy days towards the end of the month. Most days are sunny, with 7 hours of sunshine a day.

Tenerife weather in November

Autumn is well underway in November, but conditions can still be ideal on most days despite the increased risk of rainy days. Temperatures will reach average highs of 24.3°C, but at higher altitudes it will be much cooler. Sea temperatures will still be a pleasant 22°C.

November is one of the wettest months through the year, with 36mm of rain on average. This is usually only spread over a few days. While the rain can be fairly unpredictable, the south of the island will usually be drier and see the most sunshine, and may be the best area to visit at this time of year.

Tenerife weather in December

Despite being the start of winter, December can still see pleasant temperatures and decent spells of sunshine. Average daily highs will reach 22.2°C, but this can vary regionally, with higher altitudes such as Vilaflor seeing much cooler temperatures, whilst the warmest regions are located on the south side of the island.

With 6 hours of sunshine a day and sea temperatures of 22°C you can still have a pleasant time at the beach, even in December. It is also one of the wettest month of the year with 31mm of rain, though this is usually restricted to a few days of the month to the north side of the island.

Regional variation

Like other Canary Islands, Tenerife’s weather is clearly defined between the north and south. Mount Teide is a dormant volcano in the middle of the island and divides the two halves. In the north, the climate is wetter and cooler, which means it attracts fewer tourists. The south has more sunshine and warmer temperatures. This southern half is also less windy with fewer clouds, which gives a hotter climate.

While Morocco can be subject to severe heat, Tenerife enjoys much more predictable and consistent weather due to the northeasterly trade winds which blow in from across the Atlantic to provide a pleasant temperature all year round. This wind also means the Canary Islands generally have cloud-free skies.

However, the weather in Tenerife can be affected by dust storms that sweep in from the Sahara when the prevailing wind direction changes. Called the ‘calima’, this brings fine sand particles that create a haze and can cause some people breathing difficulties. On these days, it’s best to stay indoors, but this weather is rare and quickly passes.

Tenerife tourist information

Tenerife alone is home to approximately two-fifths of the entire Canary population, and takes its name from an old native name for Mount Teide - White Mountain, from the snowy peaks of its dormant volcano whose emissions created the island itself millions of years ago.

The island was conquered in the late 15th century by Spanish forces and served as a major stopping point for ships on their way to the Americas. A mass emigration by Tenerife's residents to Latin America is what sealed its bond to the then-New World, as the island's grape production was by far the strongest facet of its economy.

British forces would try to take the island during the Revolutionary Wars; Nelson famously lost an arm while he battled in vain to capture Tenerife, while Sir Walter Raleigh was involved in another failed attempt.

Tenerife is served by two airports; one each on the north and south of the island. The northern airport is only a few miles away from Santa Cruz de Tenerife; the joint capital along with Las Palmas de Gran Canaria of the whole island group. Known as the Island of Eternal Spring, temperatures on the island are mild enough for agreeable weather all year round - however it is not unusual to see snow-covered hills off in the distance during t-shirt weather!

Santa Cruz is the administrative capital of the Canary Islands, and has a wide range of attractions, events and nightlife which bring tourists from all over the world; principally Germany and Britain are two of the biggest countries whose residents visit the island for holidaymaking. Each year the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife takes place on the capital's streets; such is its cultural importance as a seat of identity that it is currently seeking to be named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Parades, performances and shows take place in and around the city streets attracting many visitors.

While all this much-vaunted culture takes place up north, the south of the island is given over to resorts such as Playa de las Americas which are famous for their high-quality beaches and accommodation, though the island does afford travel between both areas enabling visitors to get the best of both worlds. The Tenerife Auditorium is a beautiful venue still used today for concerts of both classic and popular music, while the architecture and sculptures can be enjoyed all over the island.

Sports fans can take in a game of football at the Estadio Heliodoro Rodriguez Lopez located in Santa Cruz.