There are three different climate zones in Spain, due to its large size. Visitors can generally expect a Mediterranean climate, characterized by hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters. The vast central plateau, or Meseta, has a more continental influenced climate with hot, dry summers and cold winters. Rain generally falls mostly in spring and autumn. The mountains surrounding the plateau have a higher rainfall and often experience heavy snowfalls in winter.
North of the Cantabrian mountains, the Basque Country, Cantabria, Asturias and Galicia have a maritime climate, with cool summers and mild winters. The weather is often cloudy with frequent rainfall. On the Mediterranean coast, the climate is moderate with rain in spring and autumn. The area around Murcia has an almost African climate; rainfall is low and the Calima, or heat haze, is common during summer. On the Atlantic coast, the summers are cooler and fairly heavy rainfall occurs during winter. Inland, the summers are hot and the rainfall decreases. The Balearic Islands have a maritime climate, with cool, wet winters and warm, dry summers.
Required clothing:
Light- to mediumweights and rainwear, according to the season.
Koeppen-Geiger classification:
There are three different climate zones in Spain. The southwestern and southern area has a Csa Climate; a warm temperated mediterranean climate with dry, warm summers and moderate, wet winters with the warmest month above 22°C over average. The western and northwestern coastal areas have a Csb Climate that is characterized as a warm temperate moist forest climate, with wet winters, dry summers and the warmest month above 22°C on average. The Basque Country, Cantabria, Asturias and Galicia have a Cfb Climate, which is similar to the Csa Climate, but with moist conditions all year round.
