Playa de las Americas weather by month

When to go to Playa de las Americas

For beach weather, look at months where the daytime average clears 25°C and rainy days stay low: July, August, September. December is the wettest month (39 mm, about 6 rainy days) and July the driest (1 mm). The sea is warmest in September at 23.7°C and coolest in March at 19.1°C.

Getting there

A direct flight from London Gatwick to Tenerife Sur Airport (TFS, 16 km from Playa de las Américas) takes roughly 4 h 24 min - short-haul (up to 4.5 h) by UK standards. Time-zone: Atlantic/Canary.

Records and extremes, 1991-2020

The hottest day recorded in Playa de las Americas between 1991 and 2020 reached 38.8°C on 28 July 2007; the coldest fell to 9.9°C on 1 February 2005. In August one day in ten tops 31.0°C and about 16% of days pass 30°C; in January one night in ten drops to 12.7°C or below. The wettest single month of the period was December 1991 with 147 mm, against a December average of 39 mm.

Winter and spring: mild days, cooler swimming

December brings daytime averages of 21°C, but cooler evenings and more rain make it better for time outdoors than a holiday built around swimming. January and February average 20°C by day and 15°C at night, so pack a jumper for evenings rather than relying entirely on summer clothes. March stays at 20°C, with April edging up to 21°C and May reaching 22°C. Spring is not uniformly drier: March and April each average 5 rain days, falling to 3 in May. May is the stronger choice for more sunshine without summer heat. The catch is the sea, which stays at 19°C in February and March and only reaches 20°C in April and May.

Summer: the strongest choice for sun and dry weather

June is a gentler start to summer, averaging 23°C by day and 18°C at night, with just 2 rain days. It suits travellers who want plenty of sunshine without the highest temperatures. July rises to 26°C and has the most sunshine, averaging 13 hours daily, making it a strong choice for spending much of the day outside. Plan shade breaks around midday rather than treating the long sunshine hours as a reason to stay exposed. August is hottest at 27°C, with nights averaging 21°C, so light evening clothing becomes more practical. The sea also warms through summer, from 21°C in June to 23°C in August.

Autumn: warmer seas, but rain becomes more likely

September offers the best autumn balance: days average 25°C, nights stay at 20°C and the sea reaches 24°C. It is a particularly good fit if swimming matters more to you than having the longest sunshine hours. October keeps that 24°C sea temperature, while daytime temperatures ease to 24°C. The trade-off is rain, with 6 rain days compared with September's 3, so leave some flexibility in outdoor plans. November remains mild at 23°C by day, but nights fall to 18°C and the sea cools to 22°C. With 7 hours of sunshine daily in both October and November, there is still scope for time outside, though these months are less reliably dry than summer.