Climate of Valencia

Valencia and its metropolitan area have a Subtropical Mediterranean climate (Köppen climate classification: Csa)^[2] with very mild winters and long warm to hot summers. According to Troll-Paffen climate classification, Valencia has a warm-temperate subtropical climate (Warmgemäßigt-subtropisches Zonenklima)^[3] and according to Siegmund/Frankenberg climate classification, Valencia has subtropical climate.^[4]

Temperature

General

Its average annual temperature is 22.3 °C (72.1 °F) during the day and 13.4 °C (56.1 °F) at night. In the coldest month – January, typically the temperature ranges from 10 to 20 °C (50 to 68 °F) during the day and 2 to 12 °C (36 to 54 °F) at night. In the warmest month – August, the typically temperature ranges from 27 to 34 °C (81 to 93 °F) during the day and about 22 °C (72 °F) at night. Large fluctuations in temperature are rare.^[5]

Seasonal climate

Winter in Valencia: very mild temperatures and mostly green flora.

Winter

Winters in Valencia are very mild. December, January and February are the coldest months, with average temperatures around 16.7 °C (62.1 °F) during the day and 7.7 °C (45.9 °F) at night. From a few to a dozen days in the winter, the temperature exceeds 20 °C (68 °F). Because of the very mild temperatures in winter, most of the vegetation remains green throughout the year.

March is a transitional month, the temperature often exceeding 20 °C (68 °F), with average temperature of around 19 °C (66 °F) during the day and 9 °C (48 °F) at night.^[5]

Summer

Summers in Valencia area are long and warm to hot (in the middle of summer). Generally the summer season lasts about eight months, from April to November. Regular temperatures above 20 °C (68 °F) begin as early as April, although in this month the sea temperature is still cool: about 15–16 °C (59–61 °F). The summer season ends in November, in this month sometimes occurring days with temperatures below 20 °C (68 °F). The sea temperature in November remains mild - about 18 °C (64 °F).

July and August are the warmest months, with average temperatures around 29 °C (84 °F) during the day and 22 °C (72 °F) at night. In June and September the average temperature is around 26–27 °C (79–81 °F) during the day and 18–19 °C (64–66 °F) at night. In May and October the average temperature is around 23 °C (73 °F) during the day and 15 °C (59 °F) at night and in April and November the average temperature is around 20 °C (68 °F) during the day and 11 °C (52 °F) at night.^[5]

Sunshine

Sunshine duration is 2,660 hours per year, from 150 - average about 5 hours of sunshine at day in December to 314 - average above 10 hours of sunshine at day in July.^[5] This is a bit above average for the southern half of Europe because in this part of the continent, sunshine duration varies from about 2,000 to about 3,000 hours per year. However, this is a 70% larger value than in the northern half of Europe, where sunshine duration is around 1500 hours per year. In winter Valencia has about three times more sun duration than in the northern half of Europe.

Precipitation

Valencia has on average only 44 precipitation days a year, averaging several rainy days per month (≥ 1 mm), ranging from 1 in July to 6 in October. The average annual precipitation is less than 454 mm (17.87 inches), ranging from 9 mm (0.35 inch) in July to 74 mm (2.91 inch) in October.^[5]

Humidity

Average relative humidity is 65%, ranging from 60% in April to 68% in August.^[5]

Daylight

Valencia enjoys one of the most optimal number of hours of daylight in Europe. Days in winter are not as short as in the northern part of the continent. The average hours of daylight in December, January and February is 10 hours^[7] (for comparison: London^[8] or Moscow^[9] or Warsaw^[10] - about 8 hours).

Temperature extremes

The highest temperature ever recorded during the day in the city centre is 43 °C (109 °F) on 27 August 2010. On May 14th, 2015 an all-time high of 43º C was again recorded. In the month of August 2003, the average reported daytime maximum temperature was a record 33.1 °C (91.6 °F) (similar to a typical temperature in August of tropical Miami). The coldest temperature ever recorded was −7.2 °C (19.0 °F) on the night of 11 February 1956. Generally, February 1956 was the coldest month in the history of the city (since temperature recording).^[11]

Sea temperature

The average annual temperature of the sea is about 18.5 °C (65.3 °F). In February, the average sea temperature is 13 °C (55 °F). In August, the average sea temperature is 26 °C (79 °F). From June to October, average temperature of sea exceed 21 °C (70 °F).^[7][15]

Climatic data for Valencia area

Curio

Valencia has a similar latitude to Madrid. However, the climate of these Spanish cities is different. Valencia is located at the seaside; Madrid is located in the approximate middle of the inland plateau. Valencia has much warmer winters (data from January, the coldest month):

• Valencia: 16 °C (61 °F) during the day and 7 °C (45 °F) at night
• Madrid: 10 °C (50 °F) during the day and 2 °C (36 °F) at night^[21]

and also Valencia has longer summers and milder temperatures in the middle of summer during the day.

See also

• Climate of Barcelona
• Climate of Bilbao
• Climate of Madrid
• Climate of Gibraltar
• Climate of Spain

References

1. 1 2 "Weather Information for Valencia". 
2. ↑ M. Kottek; J. Grieser; C. Beck; B. Rudolf; F. Rubel (2006). "World Map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification updated". Meteorol. Z. 15: 259–263. Bibcode:2006MetZe..15..259K. doi:10.1127/0941-2948/2006/0130. Retrieved 22 April 2009. 
3. ↑ Climatic map by Istituto Geografico De Agostini, according to Troll-Paffen climate classification Archived October 4, 2012, at the Wayback Machine.
4. ↑ Die Klimatypen der Erde - Pädagogische Hochschule in Heidelberg
5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Standard Climate Values. Valencia". 
6. ↑ Sunshine & Daylight Hours in Valencia, Spain - climatemps.com
7. 1 2 3 4 "Weather2Travel.com: Valencia Climate Guide". 
8. ↑ http://www.weather2travel.com/climate-guides/united-kingdom/london.php
9. ↑ http://www.weather2travel.com/climate-guides/russia-europe/moscow.php
10. ↑ http://www.weather2travel.com/climate-guides/poland/warsaw.php
11. ↑ Extreme Values. Valencia - Extreme Values. Valencia.
12. ↑ Guía resumida del clima en España (1981-2010) Archived May 26, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. - Agencia Estatal de Meteorología
13. ↑ Valores climatológicos extremos - Agencia Estatal de Meteorología
14. ↑ Valores climatológicos extremos - Agencia Estatal de Meteorología
15. 1 2 Valencia average sea temperature - seatemperature.org
16. ↑ Valores climatológicos normales y estadísticos de estaciones principales - Agencia Estatal de Meteorología
17. ↑ Valores climatológicos extremos - Agencia Estatal de Meteorología
18. ↑ Valores climatológicos normales y estadísticos de estaciones principales - Agencia Estatal de Meteorología
19. ↑ "Standard Climate Values. Valencia Aeropuerto". 
20. ↑ "ESP VALENCIA - ALMACERA". 
21. ↑ Standard Climate Values. Madrid - Agencia Estatal de Meteorología