Destination guide
Santa Cruz de Tenerife weather by month
July, August and September are the best months for warm, mostly dry weather in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, with daytime averages of 24°C to 25°C. September is especially appealing for swimming, with the sea at 24°C. The catch comes later in autumn, when rain becomes more frequent despite the lingering warmth. Spring suits travellers who prefer milder days, while winter works better for spending time outdoors than for a reliably warm swimming holiday.
The climate here is within a degree of Canary Islands, so if you are choosing between the two, the weather will not decide it for you.
- Hottest month
- 25.2°CAugust
- Coolest month
- 19.0°CFebruary
- Warmest sea
- 23.7°CSeptember
- Flight from London
- 4 h 18 minShort-haul (up to 4.5 h) · estimated
Santa Cruz de Tenerife, month by month
A little perspective
Santa Cruz de Tenerife through the year
Every month at a glance; "best" marks our three top months on warmth, dryness and sunshine.
| Month | Day | Night | Sea | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 19.1°C | 16.3°C | 19.6°C | 5.5 | 25 | 5 | 0% |
| February | 19.0°C | 16.0°C | 18.9°C | 5.9 | 26 | 6 | 2% |
| March | 19.5°C | 16.2°C | 18.9°C | 6.4 | 22 | 5 | 1% |
| April | 20.1°C | 16.9°C | 19.3°C | 6.6 | 15 | 4 | 1% |
| May | 21.2°C | 18.0°C | 20.1°C | 7.2 | 7 | 2 | 3% |
| June | 22.9°C | 19.7°C | 21.3°C | 8.0 | 5 | 2 | 7% |
| Julybest | 24.2°C | 21.0°C | 22.1°C | 7.8 | 5 | 2 | 20% |
| Augustbest | 25.2°C | 22.0°C | 23.0°C | 8.0 | 5 | 1 | 50% |
| Septemberbest | 25.1°C | 22.0°C | 23.7°C | 7.5 | 8 | 2 | 51% |
| October | 24.0°C | 20.9°C | 23.5°C | 6.3 | 23 | 6 | 21% |
| November | 21.9°C | 19.1°C | 22.3°C | 5.2 | 32 | 7 | 6% |
| December | 20.2°C | 17.5°C | 20.8°C | 5.3 | 33 | 7 | 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.
When to go to Santa Cruz de Tenerife
For beach weather, look at months where the daytime average clears 25°C and rainy days stay low: August, September. December is the wettest month (33 mm, about 7 rainy days) and June the driest (5 mm). The sea is warmest in September at 23.7°C and coolest in February at 18.9°C.
Getting there
A direct flight from London Gatwick to Tenerife Norte-Ciudad de La Laguna Airport (TFN, 9 km from Santa Cruz de Tenerife) takes roughly 4 h 18 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 Santa Cruz de Tenerife between 1991 and 2020 reached 37.5°C on 26 August 2020; the coldest fell to 10.4°C on 15 January 2020. In August one day in ten tops 26.9°C and about 1% of days pass 30°C; in February one night in ten drops to 13.8°C or below. The wettest single month of the period was November 2001 with 145 mm, against a November average of 32 mm.
Sunrise, sunset and daylight in Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Local time on the 15th of each month; daylight-saving rules as of 2020.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight | Sunshine/day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 07:59 | 18:30 | 10.5 h | 5.5 h |
| February | 07:44 | 18:54 | 11.2 h | 5.9 h |
| March | 07:15 | 19:13 | 12.0 h | 6.4 h |
| April | 07:40 | 20:31 | 12.8 h | 6.6 h |
| May | 07:14 | 20:48 | 13.6 h | 7.2 h |
| June | 07:07 | 21:04 | 13.9 h | 8.0 h |
| July | 07:18 | 21:04 | 13.8 h | 7.8 h |
| August | 07:35 | 20:44 | 13.2 h | 8.0 h |
| September | 07:50 | 20:10 | 12.3 h | 7.5 h |
| October | 08:06 | 19:36 | 11.5 h | 6.3 h |
| November | 07:27 | 18:12 | 10.7 h | 5.2 h |
| December | 07:50 | 18:10 | 10.3 h | 5.3 h |
Winter: mild afternoons, but pack for showers
December, January and February suit travellers who want mild weather rather than summer heat. Daytime averages ease from 20°C in December to 19°C in January and February, so light clothing can work during warmer afternoons, with a layer for evenings. Nights average 18°C in December and 16°C later in winter. Rain falls on an average of 5 to 7 days a month, making a light waterproof useful without treating every day as a washout. The sea cools from 21°C to 19°C across winter; swimming comfort will depend on your tolerance for cooler water. Keep outdoor plans flexible.
Spring and summer: choose May for mildness, August for warmth
March and April are comfortable choices if you dislike heat, with daytime averages of 20°C and evenings that still call for a light layer. May brings a useful improvement: days reach 21°C and rain drops to 2 days on average, making it a good compromise for outdoor plans without peak summer warmth. June feels warmer at 23°C, though its 21°C sea may still feel cool on entry. July and August offer the strongest summer conditions, with 8 hours of sunshine daily and daytime averages rising from 24°C to 25°C. August has just 1 rain day on average. Pack light clothes and sun protection, and take shade breaks around midday. Nights averaging 21°C in July and 22°C in August make evenings easier to spend outdoors.
Autumn: warm water, with a wetter turn after September
September keeps the summer feel, matching August's rounded daytime average of 25°C while the sea reaches 24°C. With 2 rain days on average and 8 hours of sunshine, it is a strong choice for combining swimming with time outdoors. October stays warm at 24°C, and the sea holds at 24°C, but rain days rise to 6. That makes flexible plans more useful than in September. November is milder rather than cold, with days around 22°C and nights at 19°C. Its 7 rain days and 5 hours of sunshine mean you should be more prepared for showers and less consistently sunny afternoons.
A little more detail
Santa Cruz de Tenerife weather FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
What is the best time to visit Santa Cruz de Tenerife?
Judged on warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, the best months in Santa Cruz de Tenerife are August, July and September. August is the hottest month (average high 25.2°C) and February the coolest (19.0°C).
How many months a year is Santa Cruz de Tenerife over 25°C?
2 months in Santa Cruz de Tenerife average a daytime high of 25°C or more, and 9 average 20°C or more.
When is the rainy season in Santa Cruz de Tenerife?
December is the wettest month in Santa Cruz de Tenerife (33 mm on average) and June the driest (5 mm). Annual rainfall averages 206 mm.
What is the hottest temperature recorded in Santa Cruz de Tenerife?
The hottest day recorded in Santa Cruz de Tenerife between 1991 and 2020 reached 37.5°C on 26 August 2020; the coldest fell to 10.4°C on 15 January 2020. Records come from daily data for 1991-2020, not from a single station's all-time history.
When is the sea warmest for swimming?
September and October have the warmest average sea temperature at 24°C. September is the better choice if dry weather matters too, with 2 rain days compared with October's 6. October still suits travellers who prioritise warm water and can work around showers.
Which spring month offers the best balance of warmth and dry weather?
May is the strongest spring choice, with daytime averages of 21°C and 2 rain days. March and April average 20°C and have more frequent rain. May evenings average 18°C, so a light layer remains useful after daytime warmth fades.
Will I need warm clothes in winter?
Bring layers rather than packing only summer clothes. January and February average 19°C by day and 16°C at night, so evenings can feel cool. A light waterproof is sensible too, as winter has more frequent rain than summer.
See also: Spain weather by month · where else is hot in August
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 Santa Cruz de Tenerife. 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