, with mild, rainy winters and pleasantly warm summers.
The city (called Hondarribia in Basque) is located in the extreme north-east of Spain and of the
, at the mouth of the Bidasoa River, beyond which lies the French city of Hendaye. Not far to the north-east are the cities of Bayonne and
. Just south of Fuenterrabía we find the Basque city of Irún.
blows frequently from the ocean, and can be strong, especially in the cold half of the year. On the other hand, the warm and dry southerly wind, which descends from the Cantabrian Mountains, can cause sudden increases in temperature due to the
Although the climate is mild, cold waves in winter are more intense than in the rest of the northern Spanish coast, due to its proximity to France. In addition, the rains are particularly abundant.
of the coldest month (January) is of 9.4 °C (48.9 °F), that of the warmest month (August) is of 21.8 °C (71.2 °F).
amounts to 1,650 millimeters (65 inches) per year: it is therefore abundant. The rains are more abundant than in the rest of the Spanish north coast. To find other cities so rainy, you have to go to the west coast of Galicia (see Pontevedra, Vigo).
, from December to February, is mild and rainy. Atlantic disturbances regularly pass over northern Spain, bringing rain and cloudy skies.
With the wind from the south, the temperature can exceed 20 °C (68 °F) even in the middle of winter.
, although they are quite rare. Generally, on the coldest nights of the year, there are only slight frosts, but sometimes it can get very cold. In February 1956, the temperature dropped to -13 °C (8.5 °F), while in January 1985, it dropped to -12 °C (10.5 °F). From 2000 to 2020, it dropped to -7 °C (19.5 °F) in December 2001 and to -5.5 °C (22 °F) in February 2012.
is rare, however, from time to time, the beaches can be whitened by snow, as happened in February 1996 and February 2018.
, from June to August or mid-September, is pleasantly warm, with some cool days, and others warmer. The rains are quite frequent even in this season, and the sun doesn't shine very often.
, usually only for a day or two. On the hottest days of the year, the temperature typically reaches 35 °C (95 °F), but can sometimes reach 38/40 °C (100/104 °F). In July 2020, with 42 °C (107.5 °F), the previous record was broken, 40.5 °C (105 °F) dating back to July 1995.
temperature ranges between 12 °C (54 °F) and 22 °C (72 °F). The sea is cool even in summer, although it is a little less cool than in Galicia and Asturias.
to visit Fuenterrabía is from June to mid-September, since it is the mildest and least rainy of the year.
To go to the beach, the preferable months are July and August (and the beginning of September if the weather is good).
The following data was recorded at the airport (which is also the airport of the city of San Sebastián).
. Here are the average temperatures.
January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
9.4 °C, with a minimum of
5.5 °C and a maximum of
13.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-1.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-4.6 °C in January 2009.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
20.5 °C. However, it reached
24.6 °C in January 1999.
Precipitation amounts to
155 mm, distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 3 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 30% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
9.9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
12.8 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
February is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
9.6 °C, with a minimum of
5.4 °C and a maximum of
13.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-0.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-5.4 °C in February 2012.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
21.5 °C. However, it reached
27.6 °C in February 1994.
Precipitation amounts to
135 mm, distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 36% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
9.9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
12.4 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
March is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
11.9 °C, with a minimum of
7.6 °C and a maximum of
16.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
2 °C. However, it dropped to
-5 °C in March 2005.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
24.5 °C. However, it reached
28 °C in March 1996.
Precipitation amounts to
125 mm, distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 38% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
10.2 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
12.5 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
April is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
13.6 °C, with a minimum of
9.3 °C and a maximum of
17.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
4 °C. However, it dropped to
0.5 °C in April 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
26.5 °C. However, it reached
32.4 °C in April 2005.
Precipitation amounts to
155 mm, distributed over 14 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 39% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
9.9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
13.2 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
May is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
16.6 °C, with a minimum of
12.3 °C and a maximum of
20.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
7 °C. However, it dropped to
4 °C in May 2019.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
30.5 °C. However, it reached
36.6 °C in May 1996.
Precipitation amounts to
120 mm, distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 40 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 40% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
9.2 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
15.3 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
June is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
19.3 °C, with a minimum of
15.3 °C and a maximum of
23.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
11 °C. However, it dropped to
8 °C in June 2007.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
33 °C. However, it reached
39.8 °C in June 2003.
Precipitation amounts to
95 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 25 minutes. So the days are long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 41% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
8.5 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
18.5 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.
July is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
21.3 °C, with a minimum of
17.5 °C and a maximum of
25.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
13.5 °C. However, it dropped to
11 °C in July 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
35 °C. However, it reached
42.2 °C in July 2020.
Precipitation amounts to
85 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 0 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 43% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
8.1 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
20.9 °C. Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.
August, the warmest month of the year, is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
21.8 °C, with a minimum of
17.8 °C and a maximum of
25.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
13 °C. However, it dropped to
10.4 °C in August 1998.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
34 °C. However, it reached
40 °C in August 1991.
Precipitation amounts to
115 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 46% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
7.9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
21.8 °C. Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.
September is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
19.6 °C, with a minimum of
15.3 °C and a maximum of
24 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
10 °C. However, it dropped to
7.3 °C in September 2002.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
32 °C. However, it reached
38 °C in September 2016.
Precipitation amounts to
130 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 46% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
8.2 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
20.5 °C. Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.
October is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
16.7 °C, with a minimum of
12.5 °C and a maximum of
21 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
5.5 °C. However, it dropped to
0.8 °C in October 2003.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
28.5 °C. However, it reached
32.5 °C in October 2001.
Precipitation amounts to
165 mm, distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 39% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
8.9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
17.9 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
November is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
12.4 °C, with a minimum of
8.5 °C and a maximum of
16.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
1.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-2.6 °C in November 1998.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
24 °C. However, it reached
29.4 °C in November 2015.
Precipitation amounts to
190 mm, distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 3 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 33% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
9.7 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
15.4 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
December is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
10.1 °C, with a minimum of
6.2 °C and a maximum of
13.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-0.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-7.2 °C in December 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
20.5 °C. However, it reached
24.2 °C in December 2015.
Precipitation amounts to
175 mm, distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 0 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 2.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 29% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
9.9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
13.7 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.