Climate of Madrid

Madrid and its metropolitan area has a cold semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification: BSk)[2] which transitions to a mediterranean climate (Csa) on the western half of the city. According to the Troll-Paffen climate classification, Madrid has warm-temperate subtropical climate (Warmgemäßigt-subtropisches Zonenklima)[3] and according to the Siegmund/Frankenberg climate classification, Madrid has a subtropical climate.[4] Madrid has hot summers and relatively cool winters with somewhat frequent frosts (15 days have lows under 0 °C (32 °F) on average) and occasional snowfalls, with 3-4 snowy days on average.

Madrid
Climate chart (explanation)
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F
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A
M
J
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D
 
 
37
 
 
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35
 
 
12
4
 
 
26
 
 
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█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm
Source: WMO[1]
Imperial conversion
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
1.5
 
 
49
37
 
 
1.4
 
 
54
39
 
 
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60
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66
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56
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2.2
 
 
50
39
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches

Seasons

Spring
May 2008 in Pradolongo.

Late Spring, in the months of May and June, is witness to the peak of pollinization of Gramineae, the main culprit behind rhinitis and bronchial asthma in Madrid. Years with high concentrations have proven a public health issue, with punctual cases of asthma epidemics among the inhabitants of Madrid in the aforementioned months.[5][6]

Sunshine and UV index

Sunshine duration is 2,769 hours per year, from 124 (4 hours per day in average) in December to 359 (above 11.6 hours per day in average) in July.[7] This is one of the largest number of sunshine duration hours in Europe and 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 70% larger value than in northern half of Europe, where sunshine duration is around 1500 hours per year. In winter Madrid has about three times more sun duration than in the northern half of Europe. Madrid has the second highest UV value of continental Europe after Athens[8] and Lisbon.[9] The values are close to that of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as ultraviolet radiation suffers little interference from other geographic variables.[10] Although values are still average, which is not as risky as almost the entire continent, except the afternoons of the warmer months, where exposure should be reduced. The amount varies from 2 between November and January to 9 between June and July.[11]

Climate data for Madrid
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean monthly sunshine hours 148 157 214 231 272 310 359 335 261 198 157 124 2,769
Mean daily sunshine hours 4.77 5.60 6.90 7.70 8.77 10.3 11.6 10.8 8.70 6.38 5.23 4.00 7.56
Percent possible sunshine 54 61 59 65 66 75 86 84 70 60 48 47 65
Average ultraviolet index 2 3 5 6 8 9 9 8 6 4 2 2 5
Source: Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (mean daily and monthly sunshine hours),[7] climatemps.com (percent possible sunshine)[12] and Weather Atlas (UV index)[11]

Precipitation

Madrid has on average only 63 precipitation days a year, therein average several rainy days per month (≥ 1 mm), ranging from 2 days in July and August to 8 days in May. The average annual precipitation is less than 436 mm (17.87 inches), ranging from 10 mm (0.35 inch) in August to 56 mm in November and December.[7]

Climate data for Madrid (precipitation days – 1 mm)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average precipitation mm (inches) 37
(1.5)		 35
(1.4)		 26
(1.0)		 47
(1.9)		 52
(2.0)		 25
(1.0)		 15
(0.6)		 10
(0.4)		 28
(1.1)		 49
(1.9)		 56
(2.2)		 56
(2.2)		 436
(17.2)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1 mm) 6 5 5 7 8 4 2 2 3 6 6 7 63
Source: Agencia Estatal de Meteorología[7]
Climate data for Madrid (precipitation days – 0.1 mm)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 9 9 7 11 12 7 3 3 5 9 9 11 95
Source: World Meteorological Organization[1]

Humidity

Average relative humidity is 57%, ranging from 38% in July to 74% in December.[7]

Climate data for Madrid
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average relative humidity (%) 71 65 55 56 53 44 38 41 50 64 70 74 57
Source: Agencia Estatal de Meteorología[7]

Snow
Over the passage of Storm Filomena in January 2021, Madrid was covered by a historic snowfall.

Snowfalls are occasional, happening only a few days per year. In January 1941 8 snow days were recorded, the most for any month.[13]

From 7 January to 10 January 2021, Madrid received the most snow in its recorded history; Spain's meteorological agency AEMET reported between 50 and 60 centimetres (20 and 24 in) of accumulated snow at its weather stations within the city.[14]

Climate data for Madrid
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average snowy days 1.0 1.3 0.3 0.2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.1 0.6 3.6
Source: Agencia Estatal de Meteorología[7]

Temperature extremes

The highest temperature recorded during the day at the Retiro station is 40.7 °C (105.3 °F) on both 28 June 2019, 14 August 2021, and 14 July 2022.[15] Higher maximum temperatures have been recorded in other stations.

The August 1933 reported record had the average maximum temperature during the day at 35.5 °C (95.9 °F). The coldest temperature recorded was −10.1 °C (13.8 °F) at night on 16 January 1945.[13]

Climate data for Madrid Buen Retiro Park
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 19.9
(67.8)		 22.0
(71.6)		 26.7
(80.1)		 30.9
(87.6)		 35.5
(95.9)		 40.7
(105.3)		 40.7
(105.3)		 40.7
(105.3)		 38.9
(102.0)		 30.0
(86.0)		 22.7
(72.9)		 18.6
(65.5)		 40.7
(105.3)
Record low °C (°F) −10.1
(13.8)		 −9.1
(15.6)		 −5.1
(22.8)		 −1.6
(29.1)		 0.6
(33.1)		 4.4
(39.9)		 8.5
(47.3)		 9.2
(48.6)		 4.0
(39.2)		 −0.4
(31.3)		 −3.4
(25.9)		 −9.2
(15.4)		 −10.1
(13.8)
Source: Agencia Estatal de Meteorología[13][16][17][18]
Climate data for Madrid Barajas Airport
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 20.9
(69.6)		 24.5
(76.1)		 27.1
(80.8)		 32.5
(90.5)		 36.5
(97.7)		 41.2
(106.2)		 42.2
(108.0)		 42.7
(108.9)		 40.2
(104.4)		 31.7
(89.1)		 24.7
(76.5)		 21.3
(70.3)		 42.2
(108.0)
Record low °C (°F) −15.2
(4.6)		 −14.8
(5.4)		 −6.6
(20.1)		 −4.0
(24.8)		 −0.5
(31.1)		 3.9
(39.0)		 7.0
(44.6)		 7.4
(45.3)		 1.9
(35.4)		 −2.4
(27.7)		 −7.4
(18.7)		 −10.5
(13.1)		 −15.2
(4.6)
Source: Agencia Estatal de Meteorología[13][16][17][18]

Daylight

Madrid 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[19] (for comparison: London[20] or Moscow[21] or Warsaw[22] - about 8 hours).

Average hours of daylight[19]
Hours Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Day 10 11 12 13 14 15 15 14 12 11 10 9
Twilight/Night 14 13 12 11 10 9 9 10 12 13 14 15

Climatic data for Madrid area
Climate data for Madrid (667 m), Buen Retiro Park in the city centre (1981–2010), Extremes (1920–)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 9.8
(49.6)		 12.0
(53.6)		 16.3
(61.3)		 18.2
(64.8)		 22.2
(72.0)		 28.2
(82.8)		 32.1
(89.8)		 31.3
(88.3)		 26.4
(79.5)		 19.4
(66.9)		 13.5
(56.3)		 10.0
(50.0)		 19.9
(67.8)
Daily mean °C (°F) 6.3
(43.3)		 7.9
(46.2)		 11.2
(52.2)		 12.9
(55.2)		 16.7
(62.1)		 22.2
(72.0)		 25.6
(78.1)		 25.1
(77.2)		 20.9
(69.6)		 15.1
(59.2)		 9.9
(49.8)		 6.9
(44.4)		 15.0
(59.0)
Average low °C (°F) 2.7
(36.9)		 3.7
(38.7)		 6.2
(43.2)		 7.7
(45.9)		 11.3
(52.3)		 16.1
(61.0)		 19.0
(66.2)		 18.8
(65.8)		 15.4
(59.7)		 10.7
(51.3)		 6.3
(43.3)		 3.6
(38.5)		 10.1
(50.2)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 33
(1.3)		 35
(1.4)		 25
(1.0)		 45
(1.8)		 51
(2.0)		 21
(0.8)		 12
(0.5)		 10
(0.4)		 22
(0.9)		 60
(2.4)		 58
(2.3)		 51
(2.0)		 423
(16.8)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1 mm) 6 5 4 7 7 3 2 2 3 7 7 7 59
Mean monthly sunshine hours 149 158 211 230 268 315 355 332 259 199 144 124 2,744
Source: Agencia Estatal de Meteorología[23]
Climate data for Madrid-Cuatro Vientos Airport, 8 km (4.97 mi) from the city centre, altitude: 690 m.a.s.l. satellite view)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 10.1
(50.2)		 12.4
(54.3)		 15.8
(60.4)		 17.5
(63.5)		 21.8
(71.2)		 27.7
(81.9)		 32.1
(89.8)		 31.7
(89.1)		 26.9
(80.4)		 19.9
(67.8)		 14.1
(57.4)		 10.6
(51.1)		 20.0
(68.0)
Daily mean °C (°F) 5.8
(42.4)		 7.5
(45.5)		 10.1
(50.2)		 11.8
(53.2)		 15.8
(60.4)		 21.0
(69.8)		 24.9
(76.8)		 24.5
(76.1)		 20.5
(68.9)		 14.6
(58.3)		 9.5
(49.1)		 6.7
(44.1)		 14.4
(57.9)
Average low °C (°F) 1.4
(34.5)		 2.7
(36.9)		 4.4
(39.9)		 6.2
(43.2)		 9.8
(49.6)		 14.2
(57.6)		 17.6
(63.7)		 17.3
(63.1)		 14.0
(57.2)		 9.2
(48.6)		 4.9
(40.8)		 2.7
(36.9)		 8.7
(47.7)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 40
(1.6)		 36
(1.4)		 26
(1.0)		 48
(1.9)		 54
(2.1)		 28
(1.1)		 17
(0.7)		 14
(0.6)		 27
(1.1)		 48
(1.9)		 54
(2.1)		 58
(2.3)		 449
(17.7)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1 mm) 6 6 5 7 8 4 2 2 3 6 7 7 63
Mean monthly sunshine hours 156 168 211 223 270 293 346 332 238 205 163 127 2,733
Source: Agencia Estatal de Meteorología[24]
Climate data for Madrid-Cuatro Vientos Airport, 8 km (4.97 mi) from the city centre (altitude: 690 metres (2,260 feet), "satellite view".) (1981–2010)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 10.4
(50.7)		 12.5
(54.5)		 16.5
(61.7)		 18.3
(64.9)		 22.6
(72.7)		 28.9
(84.0)		 32.8
(91.0)		 32.2
(90.0)		 27.3
(81.1)		 20.4
(68.7)		 14.3
(57.7)		 10.7
(51.3)		 20.6
(69.1)
Daily mean °C (°F) 6.0
(42.8)		 7.6
(45.7)		 10.8
(51.4)		 12.6
(54.7)		 16.5
(61.7)		 22.2
(72.0)		 25.6
(78.1)		 25.1
(77.2)		 21.0
(69.8)		 15.2
(59.4)		 9.8
(49.6)		 6.7
(44.1)		 14.9
(58.8)
Average low °C (°F) 1.6
(34.9)		 2.7
(36.9)		 5.1
(41.2)		 6.8
(44.2)		 10.4
(50.7)		 15.4
(59.7)		 18.3
(64.9)		 18.1
(64.6)		 14.6
(58.3)		 9.9
(49.8)		 5.4
(41.7)		 2.7
(36.9)		 9.3
(48.7)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 34
(1.3)		 35
(1.4)		 25
(1.0)		 43
(1.7)		 50
(2.0)		 25
(1.0)		 12
(0.5)		 11
(0.4)		 24
(0.9)		 60
(2.4)		 57
(2.2)		 53
(2.1)		 428
(16.9)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1 mm) 6 5 4 7 7 3 2 1 3 7 7 7 59
Mean monthly sunshine hours 158 173 221 238 280 316 364 335 250 203 161 135 2,840
Source: Agencia Estatal de Meteorología[25]

See also

Climate in other places in Iberian Peninsula:

References
  1. "Weather Information for Madrid".
  2. Meteorología, Agencia Estatal de. "Evolución de los climas de Köppen en España en el periodo 1951-2020 - Agencia Estatal de Meteorología - AEMET. Gobierno de España". www.aemet.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-09-29.
  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. Camacho Ruiz, José Luis; Subiza Garrido Lestache, Javier (2004). "Relación entre factores meteorológicos y recuentos de pólenes de gramíneas causantes de alergias" (PDF). El Clima entre el Mar y la Montaña. Santander: Asociación Española de Climatología, Universidad de Cantabria.
  6. Subiza Garrido-Lestache, Javier (2001). "Polinosis en Madrid". Polen atmosférico en la Comunidad de Madrid (PDF). p. 35. ISBN 84-451-2018-2.
  7. "Standard Climate Values. Madrid".
  8. "Athens, Greece - Detailed climate information and monthly weather forecast". Weather Atlas. Yu Media Group. Retrieved 2019-07-03.
  9. "Lisbon, Portugal - Detailed climate information and monthly weather forecast". Weather Atlas. Yu Media Group. Retrieved 2019-07-03.
  10. "Pittsburgh, PA - Detailed climate information and monthly weather forecast". Weather Atlas. Yu Media Group. Retrieved 2019-07-03.
  11. "Madrid, Spain - Detailed climate information and monthly weather forecast". Weather Atlas. Yu Media Group. Retrieved 2019-07-03.
  12. Sunshine & Daylight Hours in Madrid, Spain - climatemps.com
  13. "Valores Extremos for Madrid" (pdf) (www version) – Agencia Estatal de Meteorología
  14. Pereda, Olga; Santos, Pilar (10 January 2021). "Observatorios de Madrid registraron espesores de nieve de entre 50 y 60 cms". La Vanguardia.
  15. "Madrid igualó ayer su máxima histórica (40,7 °C) desde que hay registros". La Vanguardia. 15 July 2022.
  16. "Extreme Values (Jan–Apr), Madrid". AEMet.
  17. "Extreme Values (May–Aug), Madrid". AEMet.
  18. "Extreme Values (Sep–Dec), Madrid". AEMet.
  19. "Weather2Travel.com: Madrid Climate Guide".
  20. "London Climate and Weather Averages, UK". Weather2travel.com. Retrieved 2013-09-23.
  21. "Moscow Climate and Weather Averages, Russia (Europe)". Weather2travel.com. Retrieved 2013-09-23.
  22. "Warsaw Climate and Weather Averages, Poland". Weather2travel.com. Retrieved 2013-09-23.
  23. "Valores climatológicos normales. Madrid, Retiro". AEMet. 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  24. "Standard Climate Values, Madrid, Cuatro Vientos". AEMet.
  25. "Guía resumida del clima en España (1981–2010)". AEMet. Archived from the original on 6 September 2014.
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