What’s the weather like in Tenerife during the months? When to go on holiday to Tenerife? The Canary Islands boast a subtropical climate, making it an attractive holiday destination at all times. It’s warm all year round, with low rainfall and plenty of sunshine, even in winter.
Tenerife is the largest of Spain’s Canary Islands, lying off the west coast of Morocco. Tenerife’s weather is cooler than North Africa due to north-eastern trade winds and the moderate Canary Current, which pulls in cooler water from deep within the Atlantic Ocean. This has an impact on Tenerife’s water temperature and weather.
Weather in Tenerife by month
Here’s an overview of the weather in Tenerife during each month. The average daily temperatures are as follows:
- January 21.1°C
- February 21.3°C
- March 22.3°C
- April 23.0°C
- May 24.5°C
- June 26.6°C
- July 28.9°C
- August 29.2°C
- September 28.1°C
- October 26.6°C
- November 24.3°C
- December 22.2°C
Average monthly rainfall:
- January 41 mm
- February 21 mm
- March 34 mm
- April 10 mm
- May 5 mm
- June 1 mm
- July 0 mm
- August 3 mm
- September 6 mm
- October 17 mm
- November 36 mm
- December 31 mm
When to visit Tenerife
The best time to visit Tenerife is from June until October. The most visited month for Tenerife is August. But once again, the weather in Tenerife is mild all year round.
Summers in the south of the island are relatively cloudless, hot and dry and the water temperature is comfortable for swimming. The north of Tenerife is a little cooler, but still pleasant. The rainiest months are from November to February, but even then, with around 6 hours of sunshine.
Tenerife climate
While neighboring Morocco experiences intense heat, Tenerife has a more predictable and stable weather due to the north-eastern trade winds that blow in from the Atlantic. This winds mean that there are usually cloudless skies over the Canary Islands.
Dust storms from the Sahara can influence the weather in Tenerife, as the prevailing wind direction changes. Tenerife is characterised by what’s known as calima – fine particles of sand in the air. These can make it difficult to breathe, so it’s best not to leave the hotel during this time. Such weather conditions are rare in Tenerife and disappear quickly.
Regional differences
As with the other Canary Islands, Tenerife weather is distinctly north-south. Mount Teide is a dormant volcano in the middle of the island and divides it into two halves.
The north has a wetter and cooler climate, so fewer tourists come here. The south enjoys more sunshine, higher temperatures, less wind and lower cloud cover. As a consequence, Tenerife has a hotter climate in the south.
Summer weather in Tenerife
Tenerife enjoys an average daytime temperature of +25°C during the 6 months between May and October. During this time, there is little rainfall and a pleasant heat that is easily bearable. This is helped by the low humidity that remains constant throughout the year. A light breeze blows from the sea, which helps to cope with the heat of summer.
When calima begins, temperatures can rise. The sun shines for nine hours a day in summer in Tenerife.
Winter weather in Tenerife
Tenerife winter temperatures range from +21 degrees in mid-winter to +24 degrees in late spring and autumn. Visitors are attracted by the constant and pleasantly warm weather, but it’s cold to swim during this time.
The average length of a sunny day is 6 hours. Tenerife enjoys a comfortable winter compared to many other European destinations.
Tenerife facts of interest
1. Tenerife is home to around two fifths of the entire Canary Island population.
2. Its name comes from the old name of Mount Teide (meaning ‘white mountain‘).
3. Tenerife is served by two airports, one in the north and one in the south of the island. The northern airport is a few km away from Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
4. Most tourists to Tenerife come from Germany and the UK.
5. The most popular resort in southern Tenerife is Playa de las Americas, offering great beaches and modern hotels.
Know when to go to Tenerife and what the weather can be like during the months of Tenerife. Tenerife is located at the same latitude as the Sahara Desert. Tenerife enjoys a warm climate all year round, but with varying temperatures. Spring and autumn are considered the best time to visit Tenerife.
From March to October, the weather gets really hot, perfect for a beach holiday. The milder winter months are perfect for exploring the island and sightseeing. February in Tenerife is famous for the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival, the second-largest carnival in the world after Rio de Janeiro.
