Your October weather guide
WarmWeather in Canary Islands in October
October is a good time to visit the Canary Islands if you want warm days and a sea that still suits swimming, rather than reliable intense heat. Average daytime highs are 24.2°C, nights stay around 20.5°C and the sea averages 23.2°C. For a UK traveller, that makes light clothing and time by the water realistic plans. The catch is occasional rain, so leave some flexibility rather than expecting uninterrupted sunshine.
Long-term climate averages for Maspalomas (Gran Canaria), not a forecast · 1991-2020
Canary Islands, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Maspalomas (Gran Canaria).
- Average daytime high
- 24.2°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 26°C
- Average night-time low
- 20.5°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 19°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +9.6°C
- London averages 14.6°C in October
- Sea temperature
- 23.2°C
- year to year: 22°C to 24°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 7.0h
- 62% of 11.3 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 4
- 17 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 75%
- Days over 25°C
- 29%
- 3% over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 38.4°C
- 2019-10-02
- Record low 1991-2020
- 13.8°C
- 1999-10-26
- Flight from London
- ≈ 4 h 24 min
- 2904 km, short-haul (estimate for a direct flight)
Records are observed extremes within 1991-2020, not typical holiday conditions. Warm-day percentages are shares of days, not day counts.
How October compares
October is the 4th warmest month of the year in Canary Islands. Within Spain it is 16th of 87 (Spain in October). Against London's average high of 14.6°C in October, Canary Islands is 9.6°C warmer by day and 12.1°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in October
The typical October day in Canary Islands peaks at 24.2°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 26.3°C or more. Roughly 1 in 3 days top 25°C and 1 in 40 pass 30°C. Nights average 20.5°C; one night in ten drops to 18.7°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest October day here reached 38.4°C (2019-10-02) and the coldest night 13.8°C (1999-10-26).
Rain in October
Some rain (4-8 rainy days): about 4 days with 1 mm or more, 17 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest October was 2012 with 72 mm, the driest 1998 with 0 mm. Humidity averages 75%.
Sea temperature in October
The sea averages 23.2°C - warm enough to swim (22°c+). Depending on the year it ranges from 22.4°C to 24.0°C. For the warmest sea here, come in September (23.4°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 7.0 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 11.3 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 08:03 and sets about 19:34 local time in mid-October. Average cloud cover is 39%.
Is October a good time to visit Canary Islands?
Yes - it is one of the better months: warm days, manageable rain and long sunny days. The best months for Canary Islands on our scoring are July, August, September; months averaging 25°C or more: Jul, Aug, Sep.
Warm enough for summer clothes, without frequent extreme heat
Expect warmth rather than fierce heat: October days average 9.6°C warmer than London's 14.6°C. That is a noticeable change for an autumn trip, but not a promise of hot weather every afternoon. Days reach 25°C around 29% of the time, so this month suits travellers who prefer comfortable warmth to consistently high temperatures. Humidity averages 75%, which can make the air feel sticky, especially when you are active. Keep strenuous plans away from midday if you dislike heat. Light clothes make sense during the day; pack a light layer for cooler evenings rather than assuming every night will feel equally warm.
Swimming weather, with room for a change of plan
The sea is warm enough for swimming, making October a sensible choice if getting in the water matters as much as sitting beside it. Its year-to-year temperature range is 22°C to 24°C, so personal comfort will still vary. Sunshine averages about 7.0 hours within 11.3 hours of daylight: there is useful time outdoors, but daylight is not the same as clear skies. Rain falls on about 4 days, enough to justify a light waterproof and flexible plans, not enough to make rain the main reason to avoid October. Keep swimming and outdoor time flexible rather than relying on a particular day staying dry.
A little perspective
Canary Islands through the year
October is highlighted. See how it compares with the rest of the year.
| Month | Day | Night | Sea | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 19.1°C | 15.7°C | 19.5°C | 6.4 | 15 | 3 | 0% |
| February | 19.2°C | 15.6°C | 18.8°C | 7.1 | 20 | 3 | 2% |
| March | 19.9°C | 16.0°C | 18.8°C | 7.6 | 16 | 3 | 4% |
| April | 20.4°C | 16.6°C | 19.2°C | 8.0 | 10 | 3 | 3% |
| May | 21.6°C | 17.7°C | 20.0°C | 8.8 | 4 | 1 | 6% |
| June | 23.3°C | 19.4°C | 21.1°C | 10.1 | 2 | 1 | 17% |
| Julybest | 25.1°C | 20.9°C | 21.9°C | 11.1 | 0 | 0 | 45% |
| Augustbest | 25.9°C | 21.9°C | 22.8°C | 10.4 | 1 | 0 | 58% |
| Septemberbest | 25.3°C | 21.5°C | 23.4°C | 8.6 | 6 | 1 | 53% |
| OctoberSelected | 24.2°C | 20.5°C | 23.2°C | 7.0 | 17 | 4 | 29% |
| November | 22.0°C | 18.7°C | 22.1°C | 6.0 | 17 | 4 | 10% |
| December | 20.2°C | 16.9°C | 20.6°C | 6.1 | 30 | 5 | 1% |
Day = average daytime high, night = average night-time low, 1991-2020.Sun is hours per day; rainy days count 1 mm or more.
Day, night and sea
Monthly average temperatures, 1991-2020
- Day
- Night
- Sea
Best months here
On warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, start with these.
Keep exploring
Similar in October
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
A little more detail
Canary Islands in October FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Canary Islands hot in October?
Canary Islands is warm in October: the average daytime high is 24.2°C and nights average 20.5°C. Roughly 1 in 3 October days reach 25°C.
Can you swim in the sea in Canary Islands in October?
The sea around Canary Islands averages 23.2°C in October, which is warm enough for most people to swim comfortably. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 22°C to 24°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Canary Islands in October?
Canary Islands sees about 4 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 17 mm of rain in a typical October. The wettest October between 1991 and 2020 was 2012 (72 mm) and the driest was 1998 (0 mm).
How sunny is Canary Islands in October?
Canary Islands gets around 7.0 hours of sunshine a day in October out of 11.3 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Canary Islands compare with the UK in October?
Canary Islands is on average 9.6°C warmer than London by day in October (24.2°C against 14.6°C).
What is the hottest October on record in Canary Islands?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest October day in Canary Islands reached 38.4°C on 2019-10-02, and the coldest night dropped to 13.8°C on 1999-10-26.
Is October a good choice if I dislike very hot weather?
Yes, if you want warmth without frequent intense heat. Only 2% of days reach 30°C, although hotter spells remain possible. October is a better fit for comfortable outdoor time than for travellers who want reliably high temperatures.
How long is the flight from London?
The flight from London takes about 4 h 24 min, putting the Canary Islands within short-haul reach. That makes October a practical option for warmer weather without a long-haul flight, though the flight time is not your full journey time.
Would summer be a better time to go?
July, August and September are stronger overall weather choices. October still suits travellers whose priority is warm days and swimmable sea rather than the warmest conditions. Choose it with some tolerance for rain, not an expectation of guaranteed sunshine.
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid) and NOAA Coral Reef Watch 5 km sea temperatures, 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at Maspalomas (Maspalomas (Gran Canaria)). Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 3 km from that point. Sunshine hours are estimated from average cloud cover.Records are the highest and lowest daily values in that 30-year period, not all-time records. These are climate averages, not a forecast for your trip. How we measure holiday weather
- Hot · 25°C+
- Warm · 20°C to below 25°C
- Mild · 15°C to below 20°C
- Cool · below 15°C