Gibraltar is a "country" located at the bottom tip of southern Spain, just a short boat ride away from the city of Tangier in Morocco and in close proximity to Marbella and Malaga. While it is a British territory, you won't find British weather here. The climate throughout the region of Gibraltar is naturally Mediterranean, consisting of pleasant winters and warm, dried out summers. There is an average of no fewer than 300 days of sunshine a year.
Gibraltar enjoys sunshine and warm temperatures influenced by the weather of North Africa. The area benefits from a sheltered position lying at the western entrance to the Alboran Basin which is protected by the Atlas mountain range to the south, and the Sierra Nevada to the north.
However, that being said, Gibraltar can experience vast seasonal extremes when weather is ruled by the Levanter. This is a warm breeze from the Sahara which is loaded with moisture. As it hits the eastern face of the Rock, it compresses in the sky beyond it and causes a cold diminish to suspend over the city and bay. The Levanter can occur at any time of the year, but is most common from July to October and in March. During this period the climate is humid.
You can check out the weather forecast for Gibraltar if you're planning a holiday there.
Spring Weather In Gibraltar
Spring is a great time to visit Gibraltar as it experiences mainly mild weather from March to May. Holiday-makers can explore the area without it being too hot or cold. While the Levanter may bring a touch of humidity, the weather is generally warm and dry on most days. The average temperature in spring ranges from 15°C in March to 19°C in May. In the afternoons, the mercury can reach highs of 22°C in May. Evenings and nights are cool, but by no means cold, the average low temperature ranging between 12°C and 15°C throughout spring.
March and April still see a few spring showers, though, with 70mm of total rainfall and 10 rainy days in each month. However, precipitation drops dramatically towards the end of the season. May sees just 20mm of rain as the dry weather of summer begins to arrive. May is, in fact, already the fourth-driest month of the year, together with September and after the following three summer months.
As rainfall decreases, we might expect the skies to clear gradually and that's exactly what they do. As a result of that, daily sunshine hours increase steadily in the course of the season, from 7 hours per day in March to 9 hours in May.
Summer Weather In Gibraltar
Gibraltar's summer monthsune through Septemberan get very hot and humid while the sun shines for approximately 10 to 11 hours daily. It's beautifully sunny this time of year and absolutely perfect weather for sunbathing and swimming.
Average temperatures range from 22°C in June to 25°C in August, but some days can reach up to 30°C or above at their hottest point. The average afternoon high temperatures range between 25°C and 28°C in summer. Evenings stay pleasantly warm as well, which is excellent for romantic after-dinner strolls or drinks at an outside terrace.
Gibraltar may be humid throughout the summer but the weather is mainly dry. It is not at all unusual for residents of Gibraltar to take pleasure in up to 90 continuous days without a drop of rain. The average rainfall is a tiny 10mm per month in June, July and August.
In summer, the wind from Levanter often brings warm and humid surroundings and can produce a fairly unrelenting "Rock Top" cloud that suspends over the city area. Sea fog is not unusual on these occasions. The sea temperature reaches its annual maximum in summert averages 22°C from July through September, an ideal temperature for (very) refreshing dips in the Mediterranean Sea.
Autumn Weather In Gibraltar
The hot temperatures of summer tend to melt away into autumn as the weather cools slightly. However, temperatures throughout October and November still range between a mild 14°C and 17°C at night, with balmy highs of up to 23°C in the afternoon, so it is quite possible to get a golden tan even in the autumn months.
The sea temperature drops a tiny bit in the course of autumn. In October, the sea water is 20°C warm, while in November, it has become a bit cooler and averages 18°C, which is by no means cold.
Holiday-makers visiting Gibraltar in October can enjoy 7 hours of sunshine, while November has 5, so there's plenty of time for sunbathing. There is no rainy season in Gibraltar, but the majority of the rain falls in the autumn and winter months. November sees a substantial 140mm of rain over 11 days, while October has 12 wet days on average and a lesser total amount of 70mm. November is the wettest month of the year in Gibraltar.
Winter Weather In Gibraltar
Winter in Gibraltar sees a mix of fine, wet and cool weather. While tourists flock to Gibraltar in spring and summer to enjoy the beautiful beaches and warm temperatures, winter is generally a quieter time on the peninsula. January and February are typically the coldest months of the year, with average temperatures of 14°C and nighttime low temperatures of 11°C. However, the peninsula can still experience afternoon high temperatures of around 17°C on some days in December and February.
The temperature of the Mediterranean Sea is at its lowest throughout winter, ranging from 15°C in February to 17°C in December. While these aren't cold temperatures at all, they will most likely be a bit too chilly to go swimming this time of year.
Although winter is typically drier than autumn, only slightly, it does still bring some precipitation to Gibraltar. December experiences 120mm of rainfall and 14 wet days throughout the month, which makes it the second wettest month of the year. Visitors may need to pack an umbrella and raincoat when visiting in mid-winter. January and February receive respectively 110mm and 100mm of rainfall, which is considerable, but nothing to worry about, really. A winter in Gibraltar is nothing compared to the winters in the UK.