Lanzarote Climate
Lanzarote boasts a clement year round climate. Making the island a twelve month of the year holiday destination. But there are still variations and climatic quirks that any visitor should be aware of. Not least as these can impact upon choice of resort or the time of year selected.
Desert Climate
Lanzarote is located just 70 miles off the coast of Africa, in close primoxity to the Western Sahara. So whilst this means that the island lies on the same line of latitude as part of Mexico and Florida it also means that warm days can often be followed by cool nights. Especially during the winter months or for anyone staying at any sort of altitude outside of the main resorts.
As a result anyone visiting the island between October and March would be well advised to bring a jacket or coat for warmth during the evenings.
Temperate Summers
Lanzarote is a popular holiday destination amongst visitors from Spain. Many of whom flock to the Canary Islands during the summer months to escape the stifling heat of the mainland. The King of Spain even maintains a palatial holiday villa in Costa Teguise, the island’s northern most resort.
Temperatures can still get intense – especially if the island is being subjected to a calima. But this heat is usually moderated by a cool breeze – which helps to make the heat bearable and which can lull holiday makers into a false sense of security. Often resulting in sunburn.
The Wind Factor
Lanzarote lies in the path of the North East trade winds which once helped to propel Spanish galleons across the Atlantic to the New World. And these winds blow across the island – sometimes quite fiercely – from March through until the end of August.
One could be forgiven for thinking that all of this wind would produce rain bearing clouds. But Lanzarote is a very arid island – and is also relatively flat in terms of its terrain – with most of the volcanoes lying at well below 300 metres. Which means that there are no tall mountains to encourage precipitation.
Temperature Table
Ave. Temp (C) Ave Sun Hrs.
Jan 17 7
Feb 17.5 8
March 18.5 8
April 19 8
May 20.2 9
June 21.9 11
July 23.8 10
August 24.7 11
September 24.4 8
October 22.5 7
November 20.3 6
December 18.1 7
