Weather in La Palma in October

How October compares

October is the 4th warmest month of the year in La Palma and ranks 84th of 134 destinations we compare for October - see where else is hot in October. Within Spain it is 60th of 87 (Spain in October). Against London's average high of 14.6°C in October, La Palma is 7.5°C warmer by day and 11.2°C warmer at night.

Daytime and night-time in October

The typical October day in La Palma peaks at 22.1°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 23.8°C or more. Roughly 1 in 23 days top 25°C and 1 in 100 pass 30°C. Nights average 19.6°C; one night in ten drops to 17.7°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest October day here reached 31.9°C (2020-10-13) 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, 20 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest October was 1993 with 57 mm, the driest 1998 with 0 mm. Humidity averages 76%.

Sea temperature in October

The sea averages 23.8°C - warm enough to swim (22°c+). Depending on the year it ranges from 23.1°C to 24.5°C. For the warmest sea here, come in September (24.1°C).

Sunshine and daylight

Around 6.9 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 11.3 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 08:13 and sets about 19:42 local time in mid-October. Average cloud cover is 39%.

Is October a good time to visit La Palma?

It is a reasonable choice: warm days. The best months for La Palma on our scoring are August, September, July.

Warm enough for light clothes, rarely hot

October's warmth is more useful for being outdoors comfortably than for anyone chasing high temperatures. Only 4% of days reach 25°C, so hot afternoons are the exception, not the basis for your plans. Pack light tops and comfortable daytime clothing, plus a light jumper for evenings: average nights are mild, but the colder ones can fall to 18°C or below. Humidity averages 76%, which may make the air feel more humid than the temperature alone suggests. If you find intense heat tiring, this is a reasonable compromise. Keep sun protection handy at midday, without packing as though sustained heat is likely.

Plan for sunshine, with room for rain

There is enough sunshine to make outdoor plans worthwhile, but not enough to assume clear skies throughout the day. October averages about 6.9 hours of sunshine within 11.3 hours of daylight, so leave some flexibility over when you spend time outside. Rain falls on about 4 days during the month; that is a manageable drawback for many travellers, though it cannot tell you how a particular stay will unfold. A light waterproof is a sensible addition to your bag. The practical approach is to take advantage of brighter spells and avoid making every day's enjoyment depend on uninterrupted dry weather.

The sea is a good reason to choose October

Swimming is a stronger reason to choose October than hot air temperatures. The sea averages 23.8°C, with a year-to-year range of 23°C to 24°C, putting it comfortably in the warm-enough-to-swim category. If you like spending part of a holiday in the water but dislike very hot afternoons, that balance should appeal. Bring swimwear, but keep something dry to put on afterwards, particularly when sunshine gives way to cloud. Sea temperature alone does not establish safe swimming conditions, so judge those locally. For a trip combining swims with time outdoors in moderate warmth, October makes sense; for dependable heat, it is less convincing.