Your October weather guide
HotWeather in Gran Canaria in October
October is a good time to visit Gran Canaria if you want warm days and a sea that still suits swimming, without relying on constant sunshine. Average daytime highs are around 26°C, nights stay near 21°C, and the sea averages 23°C. For a UK traveller, that makes light clothing and outdoor evenings realistic. The catch is occasional rain and some hotter spells, so go expecting warmth rather than a guarantee of dry weather every day.
Long-term climate averages for Maspalomas (south coast), not a forecast · 1991-2020
Gran Canaria, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Maspalomas (south coast).
- Average daytime high
- 25.7°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 29°C
- Average night-time low
- 20.7°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 19°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +11.1°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.)
- 7.3h
- 65% of 11.3 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 5
- 21 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 73%
- Days over 25°C
- 56%
- 5% over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 38.4°C
- 2019-10-02
- Record low 1991-2020
- 15.0°C
- 2018-10-30
- 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 Gran Canaria and ranks 53rd of 134 destinations we compare for October - see where else is hot in October. Within Spain it is 1st of 87 (Spain in October). Against London's average high of 14.6°C in October, Gran Canaria is 11.1°C warmer by day and 12.3°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in October
The typical October day in Gran Canaria peaks at 25.7°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 28.8°C or more. About 56% of days top 25°C and 1 in 19 pass 30°C. Nights average 20.7°C; one night in ten drops to 19.0°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 15.0°C (2018-10-30).
Rain in October
Some rain (4-8 rainy days): about 5 days with 1 mm or more, 21 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest October was 2016 with 63 mm, the driest 1998 with 0 mm. Humidity averages 73%.
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 24.1°C. For the warmest sea here, come in September (23.2°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 7.3 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 36%.
Is October a good time to visit Gran Canaria?
Yes - it is one of the better months: hot days, manageable rain and long sunny days. The best months for Gran Canaria on our scoring are August, July, June; months averaging 25°C or more: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct.
Warm enough for summer clothes, with some midday heat
Pack mainly for warm weather: short sleeves and light, breathable clothes should be useful through the day, with a light layer for cooler evenings. Days reach 25°C on 56% of occasions, so that level of warmth is common rather than guaranteed. The warmest days reach 28.8°C or more, making shade and a slower pace sensible around midday. Humidity averages 73%, which can make the warmth feel sticky, particularly when you are active. Nights are generally warm, although cooler ones fall to 19°C or below. October suits travellers who want to spend time outside in light clothing, but anyone who dislikes heat should leave room for breaks rather than plan long, exposed outings.
Swimming weather, but keep plans flexible
The sea is a strong reason to choose October: its average temperature of 23.2°C puts it comfortably in the swimming category, though personal tolerance still matters. The year-to-year range of 22°C to 24°C also supports planning time in the water rather than treating swimming as a bonus. On land, expect a mix of sunshine and interruptions. There are about 5 rainy days, so a light waterproof and flexible plans make more sense than assuming every day will stay dry. Sunshine averages about 7.3 hours within 11.3 hours of daylight, leaving useful time outdoors without promising clear skies throughout. Keep swimming and other outdoor plans movable rather than tying them to a rigid schedule.
A little perspective
Gran Canaria 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 | 20.2°C | 15.5°C | 19.5°C | 6.8 | 14 | 3 | 1% |
| February | 20.5°C | 15.6°C | 18.8°C | 7.5 | 20 | 3 | 4% |
| March | 21.6°C | 16.1°C | 18.8°C | 8.1 | 16 | 4 | 12% |
| April | 22.0°C | 16.6°C | 19.2°C | 8.5 | 13 | 4 | 8% |
| May | 23.4°C | 17.8°C | 20.0°C | 9.4 | 8 | 3 | 17% |
| Junebest | 25.1°C | 19.3°C | 21.2°C | 11.2 | 3 | 1 | 42% |
| Julybest | 27.6°C | 20.9°C | 21.9°C | 12.1 | 1 | 0 | 89% |
| Augustbest | 28.3°C | 22.0°C | 22.8°C | 11.2 | 0 | 0 | 97% |
| September | 27.0°C | 21.5°C | 23.2°C | 9.1 | 7 | 2 | 90% |
| OctoberSelected | 25.7°C | 20.7°C | 23.2°C | 7.3 | 21 | 5 | 56% |
| November | 23.4°C | 18.8°C | 22.1°C | 6.4 | 15 | 4 | 21% |
| December | 21.2°C | 16.9°C | 20.6°C | 6.4 | 28 | 5 | 2% |
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.
Turkey · 25°C by day · sea 24°C
Fethiye
Tunisia · 27°C by day · sea 24°C
Sousse
Turkey · 25°C by day · sea 24°C
Marmaris
Mauritius · 27°C by day · sea 24°C
Flic en Flac
Greece · 24°C by day · sea 23°C
Crete
A little more detail
Gran Canaria in October FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Gran Canaria hot in October?
Gran Canaria is hot in October: the average daytime high is 25.7°C and nights average 20.7°C. About 56% of October days reach 25°C or more.
Can you swim in the sea in Gran Canaria in October?
The sea around Gran Canaria 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 Gran Canaria in October?
Gran Canaria sees about 5 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 21 mm of rain in a typical October. The wettest October between 1991 and 2020 was 2016 (63 mm) and the driest was 1998 (0 mm).
How sunny is Gran Canaria in October?
Gran Canaria gets around 7.3 hours of sunshine a day in October out of 11.3 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Gran Canaria compare with the UK in October?
Gran Canaria is on average 11.1°C warmer than London by day in October (25.7°C against 14.6°C).
What is the hottest October on record in Gran Canaria?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest October day in Gran Canaria reached 38.4°C on 2019-10-02, and the coldest night dropped to 15.0°C on 2018-10-30.
How much warmer is Gran Canaria than London in October?
Gran Canaria's average daytime high is 25.7°C, compared with 14.6°C in London - a difference of 11.1°C. That is a substantial change for a UK traveller, making light daytime clothing a more sensible starting point than an autumn wardrobe.
Is October likely to be too hot?
October is hot, but days reaching 30°C are relatively uncommon, at 5%. Average highs of 25.7°C should suit travellers seeking warmth rather than intense heat. If you are heat-sensitive, breathable clothing and shade around midday are still sensible.
How long is the flight from London?
The flight from London takes about 4 hours 24 minutes, making Gran Canaria a short-haul option for October warmth. If journey time matters, that gives you a useful balance between a manageable flight and noticeably warmer daytime weather.
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 (south coast)). Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 4.1 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