Tenerife weather by month

When to go to Tenerife

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 Tenerife 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: mild days, cooler evenings

December to February suits a holiday built around time outdoors rather than guaranteed swimming weather. December averages 21°C by day, slipping to 20°C in January and February, so light clothes can work during the day but a jumper is useful after sunset. January and February nights average 15°C. Rain need not dominate your plans, though December averages 6 rain days compared with 4 in January and February; keep a light waterproof handy. The sea cools from 21°C in December to 19°C in February, making swimming a matter of personal tolerance. February offers more sunshine than December or January, but not warmer days.

Spring into early summer: a gradual improvement

March is not much warmer than winter, with daytime averages of 20°C and a sea temperature of 19°C. April edges up to 21°C, but both months average 5 rain days, so a flexible outdoor plan still helps. May is a better compromise if you want gentle warmth with less rain: days reach 22°C and sunshine averages 10 hours. June makes the clearest move towards summer, with 23°C days, 12 hours of sunshine and just 2 rain days. That combination suits longer days outside without the higher temperatures of July and August. Evenings remain cooler than daytime, so keep a light layer for later, especially earlier in the season.

Summer and autumn: warm seas, then more rain

July and August suit travellers who want the strongest combination of warmth, sunshine and little rain. July averages 26°C by day and 13 hours of sunshine; August is warmer at 27°C, with nights averaging 21°C. Plan shade breaks at midday rather than treating the long sunshine hours as a reason to stay exposed. September is a useful alternative: days ease to 25°C while the sea reaches 24°C, making it particularly appealing for swimming. October keeps that sea warmth and averages 24°C by day, but rain becomes more likely. November still offers 23°C days and a 22°C sea, though both autumn months average 6 rain days. Keep outdoor plans flexible rather than expecting summer dryness.