WEATHER IN DECEMBER IN TENERIFE

Weather in December on Tenerife is comparable to a summer in the United Kingdom, sometimes even warmer and sunnier, other times cooler.

Those traveling to Tenerife in December are naturally curious about the weather conditions in this subtropical region. To provide an accurate perspective, we turn to meteorological data and delve into long-term averages.

Data from Aemet

Tenerife, the largest island of the Canary Islands, enjoys a subtropical climate with mild temperatures year-round. December shows significant variations in temperature and rainfall between the northern and southern parts of the island. The natural reserve Las Cañadas, the Parque Natural del Teide, and Teide itself are part of a high-altitude climate zone.

The data presented in this article are long-term averages, meaning figures may slightly differ. However, major deviations are unlikely. As most tourists stay in the southern part of Tenerife, we rely on the long-term averages recorded by Aemet at Tenerife South Airport.

Temperatures

Maximum temperatures drop daily by 2 °C, ranging from 22–23 °C at the start of the month to just above 20 °C by the end. They rarely fall below 20 °C or exceed 26 °C.

Minimum temperatures decrease daily by 1–2 °C, ranging from 18 °C to 16 °C. They rarely drop below 14 °C or exceed 19 °C.

For reference: On August 19, the hottest day of the year, temperatures on Tenerife typically range from 22 °C to 28 °C. On February 8, the coldest day, they range from 15 °C to 21 °C.

Clouds

Cloud cover in December remains steady, with an average of 35% of the sky being overcast or mostly cloudy.

The clearest day of the month is December 31, with clear, mostly clear, or partly cloudy conditions 67% of the time.

For reference: On December 15, the cloudiest day of the year, there’s a 38% chance of overcast or mostly cloudy skies, while on July 18, the clearest day, the chance of clear or mostly clear skies is 98%.

Rainfall

A wet day is defined as having at least 1 mm of precipitation. At Tenerife South Airport, the chance of a wet day in December is around 10%.

Average rainfall over a 31-day period gradually increases, starting at 8% at the beginning of the month and rising to 10% by the end. Rainfall ranges from 12 mm at the start of the month to 19 mm at the end, rarely exceeding 54 mm or dropping below 1 mm.

For reference: The highest chance of a wet day is 11% on December 29, while the driest day of the year (0%) is June 21.

Sunshine

In December, the length of daylight on Tenerife decreases by 34 minutes, or roughly 1 minute 8 seconds per day.

The shortest day is December 21, with 10 hours and 21 minutes of daylight. The longest day is December 1, with 10 hours and 28 minutes of daylight.

Sunrise on December 1 is at 7:41 am, shifting to 7:51 am on December 31. Sunset on December 1 is at 6:09 pm, extending to 6:20 pm by the end of the month.

For reference: On June 20, the longest day of the year, sunrise is at 7:09 am and sunset at 9:06 pm, giving 13 hours and 57 minutes of daylight. On December 21, the shortest day, sunrise is at 7:54 am, and sunset is at 6:14 pm.

Humidity

Humidity comfort levels are based on the dew point, which determines how dry or humid it feels. Unlike temperature, the dew point changes more slowly, so humid days typically remain humid at night.

The likelihood of a humid day in Tenerife decreases in December, from 3% at the start of the month to 1% by the end.

For reference: On August 30, the muggiest day of the year, muggy conditions are present 45% of the time. On January 14, the least muggy day, there are 0% muggy conditions.

Wind

This section addresses hourly average wind speeds at 10 meters above the ground. Wind speed and direction vary significantly depending on local topography and other factors.

Average hourly wind speed increases slightly, from 19.4 to 20.3 km/h in December. The calmest day of the year is December 6, with an average wind speed of 16.7 km/h.

For reference: On July 16, the windiest day, the daily average wind speed is 25.4 km/h. In December, winds primarily come from the east, followed by the north.

Sea Temperature

Tenerife South Airport is located near the Atlantic Ocean. The average sea surface temperature drops by 1 °C in December, from 21 °C on December 1 to 20 °C by December 30.

Topography

For weather data in December, Tenerife South Airport’s geographical coordinates were used: latitude 28.044°, longitude -16.572°, and elevation 50 meters.

The topography within a 3-kilometer radius of the airport has significant elevation changes, with a maximum elevation difference of 286 meters. Within a 16-kilometer radius, the terrain becomes even more varied, with elevation changes up to 1,931 meters. At an 80-kilometer radius, extreme elevation differences reach 3,704 meters.

Sources

This article, The Weather in December on Tenerife, illustrates the typical climate based on a statistical analysis of historical periodic weather reports and reconstructions of model data from January 1, 1980, to December 31, 2016.

For a detailed report (in Spanish), click HERE.

The weather in December on Tenerife is truly uplifting. Find out how many hours of sunshine Tenerife gets in our article DAYLIGHT ON TENERIFE.

Willy Van De Wiele © Photography
Guy Devos © Illustration
The Weather in December on Tenerife ©