Today's weather for Lanzarote, Canary Islands4th Jul 2009 02:00

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Weather Overview for Lanzarote

Lanzarote enjoys high temperatures, low rainfall and endless sunshine throughout the year. It is the westernmost island of Spain’s Canary Islands which sit far south of the Spanish mainland, closer to the east coast of Northern Africa. The Canaries are often called ‘The Islands of Eternal Spring’ due to their enviable climate. Lanzarote and the other Canaries are thought to receive the perfect temperature, much cooler than in the Sahara which lies at the same latitude. This is thanks to the surrounding ocean and the cool Canary Current which help to moderate the heat.

Lanzarote’s position, near to Western Sahara and Morocco, makes it the hottest of the Canaries and its relatively flat topography means there is little regional variation in weather conditions. However, there are two low mountain ranges which do somewhat block the cool northeast trade winds and the hot westerly winds coming over from mainland Africa. As a result the western side of the island is typically hotter and drier than the eastern portion. This has created a stark contrast in landscape from one side of the island to the other; the western side is desert-like, often compared to the alien surface of Mars, while the eastern side is quite green.

Summer, from April till November, is hot and dry. The average high temperature climbs from 24°C in April to a peak of 29°C in August, getting back down to 24°C in November. At the beginning and very end of the season nights cool down pleasantly to around 17°C but the peak months generally stay around 20°C. Luckily, sea breezes which blow freely across the island and low humidity ease the heat. However, if the sirocco wind is blowing from the east, from Africa and the Sahara, temperatures can soar to 40°C and a drought can set in. Locals refer to this phenomenon as ‘Calima’ or ‘Tiempo Africano’. The sirocco can be incredibly strong and whip up violent sandstorms. Sandstorms reduce visibility and can bring all transport to a halt; they generally disrupt any holiday activity and can last anywhere between an hour and a week.

Rainfall is pretty much negligible throughout the season though the fringes of the season might see the odd brief downpour. Generally, clear skies are uninterrupted and Lanzarote sees long hours of sunshine. From June till July is the sunniest period. Sea temperatures climb up the low 20s to a peak of 23°C in September and October.

Winter, from December till March, is warm with cool nights. The average high temperature drops to around 21°C for most of the season, creeping up to 23°C in March. Night time lows fall to 16°C in December, 14°C in January and 13°C in February, getting back up to 15°C in March. Daytime temperatures in the low 20s will be preferable to the summer highs for many and the cool nights can come as a relief. Again, if the sirocco wind blows temperatures can be send into the high 20s and sandstorms can develop, but this is more likely in the summer.

Rainfall does increase in this season but storms are only expected on around five days in each month and they do not tend to last for very long. This can cause flash flooding but the inconvenience caused is usually short-lived. These brief bursts of rain leave plenty of time for sunshine and most days see at least seven hours . The sea temperature drops to its coolest from February till April, but at 18°C is still just warm enough for swimming. People may find that smaller bodies of water, hotel swimming pools for example, do not have time to heat up in the day after the cool nights.

Lanzarote is actually much cooler than one might expect given its latitude which it shares with the Sahara. This is due to the usual effects of being surrounded by sea, but adding to this is the Canary Current, a stream of cool water that flows around the Canaries. Lanzarote receives much lower rainfall than the other Canary islands due to its flat topography which allows clouds to blow freely past the island.

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