Weather

Overview

In the Basque Country, as in the rest of the Cantabrian cornice, the sea is a major factor in the climate. The Basque Country has all the characteristics of ocean climate (in the Álava strip the climate is continental, but is made more temperate by the effects of the sea. Temperatures are mild and it’s quite rainy. The average annual minimum temperature is between 13° and 15°C. The highest average temperature in the coldest winter month (January) is 12°C (on the coast it’s a bit warmer) and the average maximum in the hottest month (August) is 25°C. However it is not unusual for the temperature to reach the 30s in the summer months. Rainfall is heaviest on the Cantabrian side. In recent years the effects of climate change are being seen with less rain and slightly higher temperatures – especially in summer. Summer and winter remain clearly defined but the transitional seasons of spring and autumn are getting shorter. You can usually rely on being able to swim in the sea (of course if you’re a surfer you probably wouldn’t think twice about doing it in winter too) and eat outside in summer. In winter you may well need a warm coat – especially in the inland area where the temperatures are cooler due to the higher land and the continental climate.

Variations in climate

Coastal Climate
The coastal climate dominates in the provinces of Vizcaya, Guipúzcoa and the very north of Álava. It is typically mild in winter and in summer due to the moderating effect of the sea. However, you can get temperatures of up to 40ºC in summer. Winter temperatures in some coastal places average a very mild 14ºC. The relatively heavy rainfall in the hills is responsible for the familiar green colour of the Basque cornice. The annual rainfall is above 1,200mm (more the higher you get) and most of it falls in autumn and the beginning of winter. The Basque country has its own brand of rain – fine and persistent and goes by the name of sirimiri!

From June to September the Cantabrian Sea can get up a violent north-west wind. These galernas are local cyclones, often very strong and short-lived, which are caused by the costal air being heated and then rising quickly and sucking in wetter air from the north and north-west. This wetter air makes the sea very rough and it crashes in against the shore. It’s an amazing sight and well worth watching (assuming of course you’re looking on from a sheltered position and well wrapped up!) It’s a scene that makes for great photography, although the might and beauty of the sea will undoubtedly live on in the memory. It doesn’t often snow on the coast, but as you go inland you can expect to see snow on land higher than 800m above sea level.

Inland Climate
As we get further inland towards the area of Álava (orange area on map), the influence of the sea decreases and the temperatures become more extreme. It is colder in winter (it quite often snows and settles and the average temperature doesn’t get up to 5º) and in summer it’s hotter (especially towards the south of this middle area) although it cools down at night. The rainfall in Álava also decreases to an average 828mm. Further south still (green area on the map) on the other side of the mountains towards the southern basin there is on average less than 600 mm of rain. The climate here tends to be Mediterranean with continental characteristics – lots of hot days in summer, very dry spells and only moderate rain in summer and winter. However, in winter it can get quite cold with sub zero temperatures.

With thanks to Ane Muñoz for writing this guide