Santa Cruz de la Palma in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), Santa Cruz de la Palma sees average daytime highs around 17°C and overnight lows near 16°C, with 114 mm of rain over about 21 wet days across the season. It is the 3rd-warmest season and the wettest season of the year.
Over the season highs ease from about 18°C in early December to 16°C by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 47% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels dry.
Winter is Santa Cruz de la Palma's weakest season of the year to visit on our travel score. Santa Cruz de la Palma has little temperature swing across the year, so its calendar seasons blur — the season framing matters less here than for a place with four distinct seasons. For the whole year in context, see Santa Cruz de la Palma's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 17°C
- 3rd-warmest season
- Avg overnight low
- 16°C
- Rainfall
- 114 mm
- 21 wet days
- Avg wind
- 28 km/h
- Travel score
- 6.0
- weakest season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Santa Cruz de la Palma in Winter
Over the season highs ease from about 18°C in early December to 16°C by late February.
A typical winter day in Santa Cruz de la Palma reaches about 17°C and drops to 16°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is December, the coolest February.
Santa Cruz de la Palma weather by month
How the three winter months (December, January and February) compare with the rest of the year — the season's months are highlighted.
| Month | High / Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) | Wet days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 17° / 16° | 32 | 6.5 | 10.4 | 6.0 |
| Feb | 16° / 15° | 32 | 5.9 | 11 | 5.8 |
| Mar | 16° / 15° | 29 | 5.5 | 11.8 | 6.0 |
| Apr | 17° / 16° | 15 | 3.7 | 12.7 | 6.4 |
| May | 18° / 17° | 7 | 2 | 13.4 | 7.1 |
| Jun | 19° / 18° | 4 | 1.3 | 13.8 | 7.8 |
| Jul | 20° / 19° | 3 | 1.1 | 13.6 | 8.2 |
| Aug | 21° / 20° | 4 | 0.8 | 13 | 8.5 |
| Sep | 21° / 21° | 8 | 2.3 | 12.2 | 8.2 |
| Oct | 21° / 20° | 26 | 6.6 | 11.3 | 7.3 |
| Nov | 19° / 18° | 36 | 8.3 | 10.6 | 6.6 |
| Dec | 18° / 17° | 51 | 8.8 | 10.2 | 6.3 |
Cloud cover in Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 47% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
Santa Cruz de la Palma gets around 114 mm of rain over 21 wet days across winter. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Winter
Most of winter feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Winter
Winds average 28 km/h across winter.
Sunrise & sunset in Winter
Daylight runs from about 10 h 18 min in early December to 11 h 18 min by late February. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Winter
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across winter, about 3.9 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Santa Cruz de la Palma
None of Santa Cruz de la Palma's seasonal hazards peak in winter. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do.
Santa Cruz de la Palma sits in the Atlantic hurricane belt; the season peaks August–October.
Is winter a good time to visit Santa Cruz de la Palma?
Our two travel scores rate winter for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
winter is a reasonable time to visit Santa Cruz de la Palma for sightseeing.
What to pack for Santa Cruz de la Palma in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, Santa Cruz de la Palma sees daytime highs around 17°C and nights near 16°C. Pack a windbreaker. Worth having: a warm layer, rain gear and sun protection. About 21 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Santa Cruz de la Palma in Winter
The nearest coast averages about 20°C across winter — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.
The sea at the nearest coast (about 13 km away) is warmest in September at about 24°C and coldest in March near 19°C.
It's comfortable for a long swim from May 1 to Jan 16 — about 8.6 months when the water holds above 20°C.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°C) | 20 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 21 |
| Comfort | Refreshing | Cool | Cool | Cool | Refreshing | Refreshing | Refreshing | Refreshing | Warm | Refreshing | Refreshing | Refreshing |
| Sea temperature (°C) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 20 | Refreshing |
| Feb | 19 | Cool |
| Mar | 19 | Cool |
| Apr | 20 | Cool |
| May | 20 | Refreshing |
| Jun | 22 | Refreshing |
| Jul | 22 | Refreshing |
| Aug | 23 | Refreshing |
| Sep | 24 | Warm |
| Oct | 24 | Refreshing |
| Nov | 23 | Refreshing |
| Dec | 21 | Refreshing |
UV index in Santa Cruz de la Palma in Winter
Clear-sky midday UV across winter averages around 4 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Santa Cruz de la Palma peaks around June 22 at about 11 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 17 at about 3 (moderate).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 4 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 3 |
| Level | Moderate | High | Very high | Very high | Very high | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | Very high | Moderate | Moderate |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 4 | Moderate |
| Feb | 6 | High |
| Mar | 9 | Very high |
| Apr | 9 | Very high |
| May | 9 | Very high |
| Jun | 11 | Extreme |
| Jul | 11 | Extreme |
| Aug | 10 | Extreme |
| Sep | 9 | Very high |
| Oct | 8 | Very high |
| Nov | 4 | Moderate |
| Dec | 3 | Moderate |
Air quality in Santa Cruz de la Palma in Winter
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where winter falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Santa Cruz de la Palma is worst in October — around 19 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 4.8× the cleanest month (June, 4 µg/m³).
Seasonal pattern from CAMS reanalysis, scaled to Santa Cruz de la Palma's WHO annual average of 8.5 µg/m³.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 10 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 19 | 12 | 12 |
| Level | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Moderate | Good | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 10 | Good |
| Feb | 10 | Good |
| Mar | 6 | Good |
| Apr | 5 | Good |
| May | 4 | Good |
| Jun | 4 | Good |
| Jul | 5 | Good |
| Aug | 6 | Good |
| Sep | 9 | Good |
| Oct | 19 | Moderate |
| Nov | 12 | Good |
| Dec | 12 | Good |
Where is Santa Cruz de la Palma?
Santa Cruz de la Palma sits at 28.7°N, 17.8°W, 18 m above sea level, in Spain. The nearest listed city is Los Llanos de Aridane, 15 km away.
Topography around Santa Cruz de la Palma
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Santa Cruz de la Palma.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Santa Cruz de la Palma has large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 621 m around an average of 146 m above sea level; within 16 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,416 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,398 m.
The land around Santa Cruz de la Palma is covered by water (44%) and trees (28%) within 3 km, water (47%) and trees (36%) within 16 km, and water (92%) within 80 km.
Spain travel facts
- Travel advisory
- Level 2
- Exercise Increased Caution
- Power plugs
- Type C / F
- 230 V · 50 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 65% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $38,627
- 2025
- Happiness
- 6.5 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Safe drinking water
- 99%
- of population, 2024
- Homicide rate
- 0.7
- per 100k, 2023
- Road deaths
- 3.9
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- High
- World Bank
- English
- Moderate
- EF EPI 540
- Religion
Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.
Data sources
Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Santa Cruz de la Palma (28.6835°, -17.7642°, elevation 18 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google.