Weather Fuerteventura

Climate in Fuerteventura: best time to visit, weather by month, temperature

The climate in Fuerteventura is pleasant throughout the year, just like on any other Canary Island. The sea regulates the air temperature, as it blows the hot Saharan winds away from the island. During the winter months, temperatures are well above 22°C, while lows rarely go below 15°C. During the summer, the average temperature is 28°C with lows of 20°C.

The average rainfall during the year is around 147 millimetres. Fuerteventura receives less annual rainfall than neighbouring islands, most of which falls in autumn and winter, especially during December. The name ‘Fuerteventura’ can be associated with the concept of ‘strong wind‘, which is certainly a significant characteristic of the island. However, it is an island where the sun shines practically all the time: it boasts an average of 320 days of sunshine per year.

When to go to Fuerteventura

Because of its wonderful climate, Fuerteventura is a suitable destination for every month of the year. In the following paragraphs, however, we try to justify a summer and a winter holiday.

Summer in Fuerteventura

The months from June to August have the highest average temperatures of the year. As a rule, temperatures do not exceed 30ºC, but especially when there is no wind, they can reach perceived peaks of 40ºC. Summer is characterised by low humidity and low rainfall, and its proximity to the African coast provides the island with plenty of sunshine.

At night, the temperature drops to 20ºC and the evenings are very pleasant and breezy. By contrast, in August and September, the average sea temperature reaches 22°C, well below those of the Mediterranean. But this should certainly not frighten you: of course the ocean water is cold, but it is certainly not prohibitive to bathe. In the worst case, many hotels provide a heated swimming pool.

If you want to avoid the many tourists that crowd Fuerteventura in July and August, May and June are the ideal time to visit the island. The weather is wonderful as it is not too hot, allows sunbathing on the beach and swimming, the prices are lower and the days are longer. By contrast, September is a little more uncertain in terms of weather, but it is the month when the water is warmest.

Winter in Fuerteventura

It is wrong to think that Fuerteventura in winter is a destination to avoid, although the only period of bad weather you may encounter is from December to March. One might even incur a whole week of wet and windy weather, but it is a rather low risk and worth considering.

Generally, during the winter, rainfall occurs mainly in the northern part of the island. The average temperature fluctuates between 15ºC and 24ºC, and this mild climate makes Fuerteventura a very popular winter destination to escape the cold winters of continental Europe, especially for northern Europeans and Britons. The water temperature in the winter drops to around 19ºC in the colder months, perhaps too low for bathing: best to head for the hotel pool unless you are really intrepid.