A sub-tropical oceanic climate which is constant almost the whole year round, but with a great difference between the islands and even between the North and the South of one single island. From the driest islands Fuerteventura and Lanzarote, with only 150 - 200 mm rain a year, the old volcano the Teide with most of the months snow on the top to the green humid island La Palma with green forests and the sand dunes on Gran Canaria which looks like the Sahara.

The weather is almost constant sunshine all year round with passing clouds. If you're very unlucky it will rain, ranging from light drizzle to a torrential downpour, but this is rare. It's slightly cloudier in October, some rain in November and December and a bit colder in January and February. As a rule, you can say that the sun shines on more than 300 days a year! If it is raining, the rain comes in short bursts of heavy showers, 20, 30 minutes and that's it.

As with other Canary Islands, the climate in the north of Gran Canaria often differs from the south, most temperatures are given from Las Palmas - expect it to be around 5°C cooler in the north. The warm and dry climate, mainly at the South side of the islands, is comfortable in the winter and mostly between 22ºC and 29ºC. This makes the Canaries very attractive for sun vacations in the summer months between 26ºC and 28ºC, often exceeding 30°C, and in the winter months between 22ºC and 24ºC.

Many people who are suffering from arthritis or rheumatism are getting a new life here, thanks to the gentle and constantly warm climate.

Sometimes, you can see snow in the highest peaks, and just a few kilometres away you will get both tropical temperatures and extreme cold.