Your August weather guide
HotWeather in Costa del Sol in August
August is a good time for the Costa del Sol if you want hot, dry weather and a sea warm enough for swimming. Average daytime highs are around 29°C, nights stay near 22°C and the sea averages 23°C. The catch is that this is the region's warmest month: it suits travellers happy to slow down during the hottest part of the day, rather than those wanting cool conditions for long walks.
Long-term climate averages for Malaga, not a forecast · 1991-2020
Costa del Sol, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Malaga.
- Average daytime high
- 28.9°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 32°C
- Average night-time low
- 21.5°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 20°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +7.5°C
- London averages 21.4°C in August
- Sea temperature
- 23.0°C
- year to year: 22°C to 24°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 11.1h
- 83% of 13.4 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 1
- 4 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 65%
- Days over 25°C
- 95%
- 30% over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 42.5°C
- 2020-08-01
- Record low 1991-2020
- 14.0°C
- 1993-08-27
- Flight from London
- ≈ 2 h 48 min
- 1639 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 August compares
August is the 1st warmest month of the year in Costa del Sol. Within Spain it is 41st of 87 (Spain in August). Against London's average high of 21.4°C in August, Costa del Sol is 7.5°C warmer by day and 8.0°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in August
The typical August day in Costa del Sol peaks at 28.9°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 32.0°C or more. About 95% of days top 25°C and 1 in 3 pass 30°C. Nights average 21.5°C; one night in ten drops to 19.5°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest August day here reached 42.5°C (2020-08-01) and the coldest night 14.0°C (1993-08-27).
Rain in August
Dry (3 rainy days or fewer): about 1 days with 1 mm or more, 4 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest August was 2017 with 59 mm, the driest 1991 with 0 mm. Humidity averages 65%.
Sea temperature in August
The sea averages 23.0°C - warm enough to swim (22°c+). Depending on the year it ranges from 22.2°C to 23.9°C. This is the warmest the sea gets here all year.
Sunshine and daylight
Around 11.1 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 13.4 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 07:35 and sets about 21:09 local time in mid-August. Average cloud cover is 17%.
Is August a good time to visit Costa del Sol?
Yes - it is one of the better months: hot days, little rain and long sunny days. The best months for Costa del Sol on our scoring are July, August, June; months averaging 25°C or more: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.
Expect heat that shapes your day
The average high is not a ceiling: 30% of August days reach 30°C, while the hottest days can push beyond that. Plan longer walks for the morning and leave room for shade or an indoor break around midday. Light, loose clothing, sun protection and water are more useful than a packed daytime schedule. Humidity averages 65%, so the heat may feel less comfortable if you are active. Warm nights also make accommodation with air conditioning a sensible choice, particularly if you struggle to sleep in the heat. August works well for a relaxed pace, but is a less comfortable choice if being outdoors and active all day is your priority.
Good swimming weather, with little rain
The sea averages 23°C, with a year-to-year range of 22°C to 24°C, making August a good choice if swimming matters to your holiday. It should feel more inviting than bracing, though comfort still depends on your tolerance. Sunshine averages about 11.1 hours a day, so there is plenty of scope to spend time outside without concentrating everything around midday. Rain is unlikely to disrupt many plans, with about 1 rainy day during the month, but dry averages are not a guarantee for your stay. Pack mainly for sunshine and warmth, and keep some flexibility rather than treating every day as certain to be cloudless.
A little perspective
Costa del Sol through the year
August 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 | 14.7°C | 8.7°C | 15.1°C | 5.2 | 61 | 8 | 0% |
| February | 15.3°C | 9.0°C | 14.8°C | 6.0 | 52 | 7 | 0% |
| March | 17.0°C | 10.4°C | 15.1°C | 6.4 | 58 | 7 | 1% |
| April | 18.7°C | 12.0°C | 15.8°C | 7.4 | 44 | 7 | 1% |
| May | 21.8°C | 14.7°C | 17.2°C | 8.8 | 26 | 5 | 14% |
| Junebest | 25.7°C | 18.2°C | 19.3°C | 11.5 | 8 | 1 | 60% |
| Julybest | 28.7°C | 20.9°C | 21.6°C | 12.8 | 1 | 0 | 93% |
| AugustSelectedbest | 28.9°C | 21.5°C | 23.0°C | 11.1 | 4 | 1 | 95% |
| September | 25.6°C | 18.9°C | 21.4°C | 8.3 | 27 | 4 | 60% |
| October | 21.9°C | 15.7°C | 19.3°C | 6.1 | 62 | 7 | 12% |
| November | 17.8°C | 12.1°C | 17.2°C | 5.4 | 75 | 7 | 1% |
| December | 15.5°C | 10.0°C | 15.9°C | 4.7 | 77 | 8 | 0% |
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 August
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
A little more detail
Costa del Sol in August FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Costa del Sol hot in August?
Costa del Sol is hot in August: the average daytime high is 28.9°C and nights average 21.5°C. About 95% of August days reach 25°C or more.
Can you swim in the sea in Costa del Sol in August?
The sea around Costa del Sol averages 23.0°C in August, 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 Costa del Sol in August?
Costa del Sol sees about 1 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 4 mm of rain in a typical August. The wettest August between 1991 and 2020 was 2017 (59 mm) and the driest was 1991 (0 mm).
How sunny is Costa del Sol in August?
Costa del Sol gets around 11.1 hours of sunshine a day in August out of 13.4 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Costa del Sol compare with the UK in August?
Costa del Sol is on average 7.5°C warmer than London by day in August (28.9°C against 21.4°C).
What is the hottest August on record in Costa del Sol?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest August day in Costa del Sol reached 42.5°C on 2020-08-01, and the coldest night dropped to 14.0°C on 1993-08-27.
How much hotter is it than London in August?
The Costa del Sol's average daytime high is 28.9°C, compared with London's 21.4°C - a difference of 7.5°C. That is a noticeable step up in heat, so allow for a slower pace outside rather than expecting typical UK summer conditions.
Will I need a jacket in the evenings?
With an average night low of 21.5°C, heavy evening layers are unlikely to be useful. Light clothing should suit many evenings, but a thin extra layer is sensible if you feel the cold: the coolest nights can fall to 19.5°C or lower.
Is August a good month for a short break?
Yes, if your priority is warmth and swimming. The flight from London is about 2 h 48 min, and the weather is generally hot and dry. The main compromise is the heat, which makes a tightly packed outdoor schedule less appealing.
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 Málaga (Malaga). 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