The Marbella Climate

General Climate of the Malaga Province.

The climate of the province of Malaga would generally be classified as a Mediterranean Hot Temperate type, characterised by dry, hot summers and generally mild winter. Through out the province of Malaga, however there are some variations. The Costa del Sol has a more Subtropical Mediterranean climate, with very mild winters and prolonged and hot summers. The Cortes de la Frontera and Valle del Guadiaro areas have an Oceanic Mediterranean climate with mild and wet winters, and a shorter hot summer and the Antequera and Ronda areas have a more Continental Mediterranean, with warm summers and colder winters.

Malage province january temperatures

Average july temp

Marbella's "Micro-climate"

Marbella's special micro-climate is the result of a series of geographical factors. These include the shelter brought by the mountains to the north, the southerly orientation of the coast, the proximity of the mild Mediterranean sea and the generally SW wind direction originating in the Straits of Gibraltar.

Sunshine Totals

There are on average more than 320 sunny days a year. Monthly sunshine totals range from 330 hours/month in the summer to between 180 and 190 hours/month in the winter. Marbella is in an area of low latitude. A consequence of this is that the solar rays impact more perpendicularly on the earths surface so very high quantities of solar energy are received.

Rainfall Totals

Rain is concentrated in autumn-winter period with and the summer being extremely dry. The annual average precipitation is around the 600-700 mm. The eastern parts of the marbella region are generally dryer with Calahonda being generally dry form May to October. Marbella itself is dry from May to September and the western parts of San Pedro dry from June to September.

Yearly rainfall totals map

The Influence of the Sea.

The action of the sea exercises a double influence on the climate of Marbella. On the one hand it regulates the temperature and provides moisture. The effect of this giant "thermostat" on the Marbella coast is provide the year round. It cools the coast in the summer and keeps the winters especially mild.

On the other is the effect of the marine currents caused by the proximity of the Strait of Gibraltar. These are on the boundary between the tidal Atlantic Ocean and the non-tidal Mediterranean Sea. This produces a renewal of the water and also effects the sea temperature.

The Influence of the Mountains

The mountains that surround Marbella have an effect on temperature, the wind and cloudiness. For example the Sierra Blanca protects a good part of the Municipality from the cold north winds and protects the beneficial effect of the sea. This is most pronounced around Marbella itself as this is where the Sierra Blanca are closest to the sea forming a natural amphitheatre around the city.