Satellite weather is the most convenient way to see the weather and climatic conditions in any place. It is also a very fascinating subject and technology.
Tenerife experiences a significant seasonal variation in temperature and cloud cover. These factors influence the perceived humidity.
Temperature
Tenerife is well known for its all year round pleasant climate, and is one of the world’s best island retreats for a holiday. It is not very cold in winter and it is not too hot in summer, so it is a perfect destination for all types of holidays.
Intensified by the north easterly trade winds, this subtropical oceanic climate on the west and south coasts is characterized by dry and warm weather. Rainfall is minimal, and usually concentrated in the northern region where the trade winds blow.
The inland areas of the island, such as Santa Cruz and San Cristobal de la Laguna, tend to be wetter than the coastal regions. This is because the inland slopes are subject to more intense rainfall, and they also receive a greater amount of evaporation than their counterparts on the coastline.
On the other hand, in the northern part of the island, the air temperature is much cooler because it is sheltered by the mountains and it is also a higher elevation than the coastal regions. This is the area where most tourists stay, and it is also the area that sees the most rain during the winter months.
This climate also has a significant impact on the sea around the island. The sea is quite cold during the winter, although not prohibitively cold for swimming. It can reach 19/24 degC (66/73 degF) between February and March, but it gets warmer during the summer, ranging from 23/24 degC (73/75 degF) between August and October.
These variations in the climate are largely due to the location of the island. Located near the Tropic of Cancer, this low latitude island is close to the Atlantic Ocean where a current of cold water flows. This explains why the average daily temperatures are quite high in summer, but relatively low in winter.
Another important factor affecting the climate is Tenerife’s topography, which ranges from sea level to the towering peak of Mount Teide, which is covered in snow during the winter. This means that from sea level it is possible to swim in the ocean and enjoy the views of the snow-covered peaks, while on the higher altitudes it will be difficult for people to feel the sun.
Cloud Cover
The satellite weather in Tenerife is largely controlled by the northeasterly trade winds which blow off the Atlantic coast and bring a cooling effect to the islands. The mountains on the north of the island also act as a barrier from the prevailing winds, causing much of the rainfall to fall in the northern areas of the island.
In summer, the average high temperature is around 27degC with night time temperatures reaching an average of 20degC. During this period, you can expect the sunshine to be at its best with an average of 6 hours of good sun per day.
This is the ideal time of year to head to Tenerife for a holiday with temperatures that are still warm but not too hot and the sea is at its most pleasant to swim in. During October and November, there is a slight change in the weather as rain begins to increase but it is not often severe.
You can still enjoy a fantastic beach holiday in this month of the year as the sea temperatures are very pleasant for swimming and you can have 9 hours of sunshine a day. The sand is also soft and it is a great time of the year to go for walks in the hills as the weather is less threatening than the summer heat.
Although the cloud cover can sometimes be quite low, the resulting mar de nubes (sea of clouds) is very impressive and one of the things that makes a Tenerife holiday stand out from other popular destinations. The low, grey cloud layer reflects the light from the sun and it is a wonderful experience to behold on this holiday island.
On a more serious note, the climatic conditions can be affected by dust storms that sweep in from the Sahara when the prevailing wind direction changes. This phenomenon is called the ‘calima’ and it brings fine sand particles which can create a haze. This can make it difficult to breathe, especially for those with respiratory problems.
The calima is a rare phenomenon and can only be experienced once or twice a year. It can be a bit of a headache but it does pass and you will be back to normal in no time!
Precipitation
Rainfall is an important factor in determining the weather in Tenerife. The amount of rainfall varies across the island, from mild weather along the coast to severe weather in the interior. The northern regions are typically drier than the southern areas.
The driest period of the year occurs in December, with an average of 4.5 mm or less per day. The wettest months are March, May and September, with an average of 6.6 mm or more per day.
Precipitation is important to the satellite weather in tenerife because it plays a major role in determining the temperature of the air and the water levels in the ocean. In addition, the amount of precipitation can impact the wind speed and direction.
Usually, the weather in Tenerife is warm and sunny with highs reaching 20 degC and lows averaging 17degC. In fact, in some areas, the sun shines for more than 9 hours a day.
If you are looking for a tropical climate with plenty of sunshine and great beaches, then look no further than Tenerife. Although it does get very hot during the summer, you can expect to spend most of your time outdoors and the sea is usually pleasant for swimming.
As for the rain, it is usually not heavy and doesn’t last long. However, it is worth bearing in mind that there are some dry periods, particularly between April and October. These periods are called Calima and tend to be more frequent than rainstorms.
These dry periods are typically associated with a hot, dusty wind that originates in the Sahara Desert. This wind can be especially unpleasant in some parts of the island and can result in visibility deteriorating.
The resulting dust can be harmful for some people with respiratory conditions, and it can also cause some problems in the sea when the winds change direction. If you want to avoid these unpleasant weather conditions, consider visiting Tenerife in the spring or fall, before it begins to heat up.
It is worth noting that the climatic zones of Tenerife are very distinct, with rain being rare along the south coast and abundant in the north. This has an impact on the satellite weather, as it can make it difficult to predict when the rain will be most likely to fall.
Wind Speed
The trade winds are an important factor in the climate of Tenerife. They bring wind and sea breezes to the island, which can help keep temperatures down and make summer a little more bearable. The north of the island, in particular, experiences strong winds from the trades. The south of the island is usually the least windy, due to the mountainous landscape that protects it from strong winds.
The ocean temperature is also influenced by the trade winds, and in March waters are still quite cool. However, spring brings a change in direction as temperatures start to rise and rainfall increases. This is a good sign that the warm, dry summer is on its way!
During the winter, sea breezes and low pressure systems can cause a lot of fog to form, especially on the north coast. The south of the island, on the other hand, is relatively unaffected by fogs, although cloud banks can sometimes form in summer on the Atlantic Ocean that reach the island.
This is where satellite weather comes in handy, as it can reveal the amount of fog and cloud cover that is occurring at any given time. In addition to providing visibility, satellite data can also show how much moisture is in the air, as well as what temperature and humidity levels are being experienced.
For example, in mid-January 2022, satellite images showed that a dust storm was washing over the Canary Islands, causing skies to turn orange and air quality to drop. This was a rare event called a ‘calima’ and happened as a result of strong seasonal winds transporting sand from the Sahara.
Calima can occur anywhere during the year, but it’s most common around this time of year as the seasonal winds move sand from the Sahara into the Canary Islands. The dust can be extremely fine and create a haze that can affect visibility and cause breathing difficulties for some people, though it’s unlikely to last long and often passes quickly.
Land near-surface wind speed trends for land stations in the Canary Islands are generally similar to those reported over the ocean (see Table 3 and S2), except in Izana above the TWIL where the opposite trend is observed. Nevertheless, the spatial distribution of trend differences among stations suggests that local features play a key role in determining wind speed over land (see Azorin-Molina et al., 2016).