The Spanish climate..?
 

Hello all..

Just making some early speculative noise about a potential move to mainland Spain in the coming months. I'm hoping there are some Span experts here who can direct me when it comes to climate.

I've been looking at properties from as far as the Valencia region to Cadiz. I'd even contemplate Portugal. At this stage I'm completely open in terms of location, though due to my fears over sticking my quite highly strung husky in the cargo hold of a plane, it would probably have to be mainland. Moreover, I'd need to travel back to the UK periodically for work reasons, so shorter flights home the better!

Ideally, I'm looking for the "promised land" that is the following:

- pleasant winters, although I'm not asking for Canary Islands warmth, just not anything approaching freezing conditions (I'm truly fed up with British winter..). I know many areas in Spain face colder conditions than anyone would ever believe, with poorly insulated homes built for heat etc so somewhere that hopefully avoids this more often than not

- somewhere that also avoids truly baking heat in peak summer

From what I've understood so far.. Inland areas can get hotter AND colder than coastal areas?

My instincts (subject to visiting particular areas) are that I'd actually prefer inland areas, away from tourist hotpots and closer to nature (which is what I want)

Areas that have piqued interest so far are (in no order):

- inland Valencia, Olocau etc

- inland Almeria, Huércal-Overa, Albox etc

- Malaga coastal region, Torrox, Competa. Too British / touristy?

- Malaga inland area around Jaen, or between Malaga and Jaen

- Cadiz region, Chiclana etc is it safe to buy in this area yet?

It's really some of the many national parks that I'd like to be near as I'm a keen hiker. However, I'd be driving a lot so distance shouldn't be an enormous factor.

I do feel that climate is going to be pivotal in my enjoyment of a place. Ideally, I'd like family to visit all year round..

So from personal experience of different locations, which areas should I be focusing on?

Cheers! :)

Re: The Spanish climate..?
 

Hi and a warm welcome to the Spanish forum on BE. Myself and Fred James are the moderators for the Spanish forums whilst myself and BEVS moderate Europe. Please read the Site Rules Site Rules | British Expatriate Community to them so that the site runs smoothly. Moderators are there to ensure that the rules of BE are maintained. This is so that members gain the information that they are looking for and find their experiences on the forums to be friendly and worthwhile.

Problems and complaints should always be addressed to a moderator who will look into the matter and deal with it efficiently and fairly. Our members who post in the Spain Forums are usually friendly and helpful with a wealth of knowledge about the issues of living in Spain. I hope that you enjoy your time participating in the forums.

Please let me know if you need any further help.

Rosemary

Re: The Spanish climate..?
 

You are dreaming if you think you will find anywhere on mainland Spain with perfect weather 365 days. The Canary Islands would be a batter choice, for consistent year round weather.

The climate in Spain is more temperate nearer the med coast. Inland will be very hot in summer and bitterly cold when the sun goes down in winter. Older Spanish properties are not well insulated and are difficult to heat. We had snow storms and some roads were impassable last week. See here

Re: The Spanish climate..?
 

Thanks for the reply.

Not asking for perfect..

I find it hard to believe there can't be a certain section of Andalucia that is nicer in winter than Manchester, England??

As well as that, I'm looking for somewhere that isn't 35+ each day for two months. Must be some part of the Iberian Peninsula that affords this more than most???

Re: The Spanish climate..?
 

You are going to have to 'fine tune' what you want from life here. Inland will give you the spaces and lifestyle, but not the climate you want. The top of Malaga province, Granada and Jaen fit the bill for your lifestyle, but its hot summers and cold winters. Bonus is low humidity and rainfall, but I have just walked my dogs three miles in 6 degrees and glorious winter sunshine, which I personally love, the wood burner will be going tonight, again we love it. Its up to you to find your place, but guaranteed you will sacrifice one or two items of your wishlist. Huercal Overa is still hanging onto its Spanishness, but Albox is definitely little UK. Get out here on a few visits in different areas that you fancy!

Re: The Spanish climate..?
 

As you shall be travelling back to the UK ensure you have good proximity to at least two airports in Spain that serve your UK destination. The last thing you need is for a route to be withdrawn leaving you no easy alternative.

Re: The Spanish climate..?
 

Hi, thanks for that!

Absolutely, I really do have to visit. But for now, it's about me ascertaining how realistic my ideas actually are! :)

Oh, and I'm pretty damn good at research, or at least I absorb a lot of info over a short time..! And yes, the Jaen province did really seem to get my juices flowing in terms of what it offered.

What put me off was the temperature extremes.. My instincts are that moving further toward the coast might not suit me as much culturally.

As you say it's a tuning process, but quite a fun one! I have a feeling there'll be a specific location that especially weather wise will tick the right boxes...

Re: The Spanish climate..?
 

Great point re airports. A lot of my first considerations are based around Ryanair availability! I'm also already starting to check out decent kennels availability. I know the area around Malaga offers lots of choice in that regard

Re: The Spanish climate..?
 

You can check weather record here:-

https://www.wunderground.com/history...ocalwx_history

Re: The Spanish climate..?
 

I think your instincts may serve you well in that case. The important thing is the decision that you will do it, just where to do it. May be repetitive, but rent first so your options are always open until you find the place. Good luck, you won't regret it.

Re: The Spanish climate..?
 

I'd be particularly interested to hear from any residents in both southern provincial corners of Spain, either Cadiz / Huelva or Almeria..

Thanks!

Re: The Spanish climate..?
 

Anywhere in Andalucia is better than Manchester. There are many hill top villages in Sierra Nevada and little villages on the coast which are not little England tourist traps.

Re: The Spanish climate..?
 

Absolutely right. I would never swap my little Spanish corner on the alti plano for anywhere in the UK. Nor would my arthritis for sure!! Happy days.

Re: The Spanish climate..?
 

Alti plano? Google says that's Granada?

If that's right, please can you elaborate more on the Granada climate?

I read that it's the quite cold + very hot mix of weather?

Re: The Spanish climate..?
 

Correct, and on the climate! With a Spanish population, Olives, Mountains, Lakes and breathtaking scenery. For us, heaven but not everyones Cafe con leche! Borders Murcia, Almeria,Jaen and Malaga Provinces. Different to say the least.

Re: The Spanish climate..?
 

Hola

I live in Chiclana and have done so for 15 years; what does "safe" mean? If you are talking about illegal houses, then half of the houses are illegal but will not be pulled down as they have been standing for more than the required 6 (soon to be 8) years without any authority demanding their demolition. Therefore half the houses are legal - but that doesn't mean to say they have all the paperwork.

The weather here can be checked on my weather station
chiclana weather station meteo tiempo forcast - we usually get down to somewhere around zero in winter(but often min is 5c), top temp is around 20C but can be as cold at 10C.

Top temp in summer can be in the 40's and guaranteed 35C for many weeks of the summer.

Any other questions - just ask

Davexf

Re: The Spanish climate..?
 

Therein lies the problem. Haven't you looked above Valencia where you would also find a decent climate (whatever that is)? Even people on the Côte d'Azur manage to live, so nothing wrong with locations just below France all the way down to Valencia;).

Re: The Spanish climate..?
 

Have a look at the Ayamonte thread for information about part of the Huelva region.

Re: The Spanish climate..?
 

Today it's COLD . Bright and sunny but a vicious wind. Problem is over time one gets used to warm weather and when the thermometer drops to 10ºC or lower it feels artic. Am so used to seeing visitors walking round in shorts and polo shirts while "locals" wander around in two/three layers, anoraks and heavy coats and scarves everything is relative.

Re: The Spanish climate..?
 

Thanks for all the replies!

Being from Manchester (and having lived in a freezing old house for years..), I feel I'd cope rather well with Spanish winters, but the idea would still be to raise the temps just a little and obviously curtail the actual length of winters a little :))

My research so far has found a perfect looking space in the south east. Fairly coastal but close enough to the mountains to keep me happy.

As I'd be driving the dog there for the first initial trip, I feel the east coast is just advisable purely from a distance to travel pov

And a decent expat presence is obviously preferable. I'd be looking to help out / get paid work helping out as I should have flexible time available for that

Also, renting for six months ish to get a taste before any plunge. Can't wait!

If people have any general tips and advice re Almeria province, please feel free to share!

Re: The Spanish climate..?
 

We live outside Peniscola, Valencian community. Although the town gets very touristy (mainly Spanish tourists) in the height of summer, it's lovely out of season, you can have the cobbled streets of the old town, and the castle, all to yourself.


Peniscola is on the very edge of the Serra d'Irta national park which runs for (roughty) 5-10 km inland and 15/20 km south, right down to the completely undeveloped coast. Our house is JUST inside the national park boundary, inland from the town. It's truly beautiful, no traffic, no noise, just woodland for miles and birdsong all day.


Being further north, we don't get the extremes of temperature in the summer, but it does vary from year to year anyway. Last year the spring and summer were ideal, I was sunbathing on the beach in early May and even in August it wasn't too hot. The year before, the summer was very late and I was still in jeans and jumpers in May, the summer was hotter, and it "turned" in September. The winters are cold, and damp, but the "default" winter weather is clear blue skies and no wind.


A point about airports and Ryanair. Castellon airport is 35 minutes from us and Ryanair has flights from Stansted 3 times a week. They used to fly from Bristol as well but they have stopped. No announcements, nothing. However, Barcelona is 2.5 hours away (car or train) and Valencia about 3 hours. Reus is closer but again Ryanair have stopped flying there.

Re: The Spanish climate..?
 

We live just outside Totana in the region of Murcia. 35 minutes to the coast of Puerto Mazarron and just under the Sierra Espuña with great mountain walking. A very Spanish town but with a scattering of expats around, mainly in the campo. Winters are normally excellent but summers can get hot.

Re: The Spanish climate..?
 

Hi and a warm welcome to the Spanish forum on BE. Myself and Fred James are the moderators for the Spanish forums whilst myself and BEVS moderate Europe. Please read the Site Rules Site Rules | British Expatriate Community adhere to them so that the site runs smoothly. Moderators are there to ensure that the rules of BE are maintained. This is so that members gain the information that they are looking for and find their experiences on the forums to be friendly and worthwhile.

Problems and complaints should always be addressed to a moderator who will look into the matter and deal with it efficiently and fairly. Our members who post in the Spain Forums are usually friendly and helpful with a wealth of knowledge about the issues of living in Spain. I hope that you enjoy your time participating in the forums.

Please let me know if you need any further help.

Rosemary

Re: The Spanish climate..?
 

Have a look and perhaps post on the Ayamonte Club sub-forum.

Ayamonte in Huelva province is on the border with Portugal and is served by two international airports: Faro (40 mins) and Sevilla (75 mins). You can get the benefits of both Spanish and Portuguese cultures with a few minutes drive over a bridge across the Guadiana river. Whilst the climate is not perfect is certainly not extreme. Warm to Hot in the summer is ameliorated by a cooling Atlantic breeze - but it is not as windy as the coast around Cadiz and Tarifa. Cool and a bit wetter in the winter - which leads to green surroundings and a source of much of the early season soft fruit and oranges we get in the UK. You can need a heater in the winter but it's never really cold.
There are a few ex-pats living there and a few tourists in the know visit in the summer but it is certainly never overrun with boozed up Brit stag parties.

Re: The Spanish climate..?
 

Thanks for the Huelva update!

Any Javeans around? Is it really as wet the stats seem to suggest?

Re: The Spanish climate..?
 

Javea? Wet? Not the one i live in.

Re: The Spanish climate..?
 

What stats? If you mean the one I'm thinking of it's a hot semi arid climate and you receive half the rainfall Gibraltar would get.

Re: The Spanish climate..?
 

The Costa Blanca is slightly wetter than the Costa del Sol, mainly because of the frequency of the Gota Fría which occurs in Autumn and can result in very heavy rainfall. Apart from that there really isn’t much difference.

Re: The Spanish climate..?
 

quite right, we came over to Seville in Feb for the Leicester champions league game, loads of us in t shirts and shorts while the locals were covered up in big coats etc lol

Re: The Spanish climate..?
 

http://www.holiday-weather.com/javea/averages/

Check out the rain figures. Not quite Manchester but certainly way more than Andalucia in general

Re: The Spanish climate..?
 

http://agenda21-xabia.wikidot.com/javea-s-inescapable-floods

More on javea

Re: The Spanish climate..?
 

The figures you link to are related to the occasional Gota Fría rainfall in Autumn which I previously posted. This can distort the annual figures. The “normal” rainfall, as I said, it not that much higher than the CDS.

We also get freak rain storms here in the south. I have seen our pool level go up 5 inches in one hour! They are less common than on the CB but it does happen.

Just make sure you choose an area that is not affected when it inevitably happens!

Re: The Spanish climate..?
 

If the OP is determined to find the warmest/driest climate in mainland Spain then surely the Almeria province is the place to head.

Re: The Spanish climate..?
 

Looking that way.. But the post has already shed light on differences between inland and coastal..

Re: The Spanish climate..?
 

Or go off piste in Galicia close to the Portugese border. The mountains are full of bear, wolves, wild horses, cattle and boar. as you mentioned you like life on the wildside. rivers are home to salmon, sea trout and brown trout

Could be too remote for airports unless you do not mind a drive to the airports

Re: The Spanish climate..?
 

I think you might be overplaying the rainfall Op. Yes, we get some, but not much. Javea installed a desalination plant as there isn't enough to drink.

That said, if you want hot and dry all the time then get to Almeria or Murcia.