and is located in the north of Spain, on the coast of the Cantabrian Sea, where the climate is decidedly cooler and more humid than in the rest of the country.
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
effect. With this wind, the temperature can reach 20 °C (68 °F) in winter and exceed 30 °C (86 °F) from May to September (although it is rare in summer).
of the coldest months (January, February) is of 10.5 °C (51 °F), that of the warmest month (August) is of 20.5 °C (69 °F).
, from December to February, is mild and rainy. Atlantic disturbances regularly pass over northern Spain, bringing rain and cloudy skies. Although the temperatures are generally mild, wind and humidity can increase the feeling of cold.
When the south wind blows, however, the temperature can reach 20 °C (68 °F) even in the middle of winter.
are quite rare, and don't produce remarkable effects. However, there may be some cold days, with highs around 5 °C (41°F).
, although the snow tends to melt quite early, since the temperature usually rises above freezing, at least during the day. However, snowfall with significant accumulation (20 centimeters or 8 inches and more) occurred in February 1954, February 1956 and January 1985. More recently, the city was covered with snow, albeit with a smaller layer, in February 2018.
On the coldest nights of the year, the temperature generally drops to around 0 °C (32 °F). At the airport, which is located in Santander Bay but further from the open sea, the temperature dropped to -5.5 °C (22 °F) in January 1957. In February 1956, the temperature dropped to -4 °C (25 °F) in the city and -5 °C (23 °F) at the airport.
, from June to August or mid-September, is cool and cloudy. The weather is variable, so there can be drizzle, sunny spells and short showers.
It rarely gets hot: generally the temperature reaches 30 °C (86 °F) on the hottest days of the year, perhaps only for a day or two. This happens when the wind blows from the south and comes down from the mountains. As this happens more easily in spring and autumn, the highest temperature is often reached in June or September.
However, sporadically, temperatures of 35 °C (95 °F) from June to September cannot be excluded. The extreme highs in the city were 37.5 °C (99.5 °F) in June 1976 and 37 °C (98.5 °F) in September 1987.
hours per year (a little less than in Paris).
never becomes warm for swimming, however, those who stand the cold can try to swim from July to September.
to visit Santander is from June to mid-September, since it is the mildest and driest period of the year. It's better to bring a sweatshirt and a light jacket for the evening and for rainy days; an umbrella or a waterproof windbreaker can be useful too.
. Here are the average temperatures.
January is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
10.6 °C, with a minimum of
8 °C and a maximum of
13.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
3.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-0.5 °C in January 1994.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
19.5 °C. However, it reached
23.8 °C in January 2016.
Precipitation amounts to
110 mm, distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 2.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 29% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
12.8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
13 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
February, the coldest month of the year, is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
10.4 °C, with a minimum of
7.5 °C and a maximum of
13.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
3 °C. However, it dropped to
-0.8 °C in February 2018.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
19.5 °C. However, it reached
26.3 °C in February 2020.
Precipitation amounts to
85 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 3.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 35% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
12.6 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
12 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
March is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
11.8 °C, with a minimum of
8.8 °C and a maximum of
14.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
4 °C. However, it dropped to
-0.3 °C in March 2005.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
22.5 °C. However, it reached
27.2 °C in March 1996.
Precipitation amounts to
85 mm, distributed over 10 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 36% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
13.4 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
13 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
April is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
12.7 °C, with a minimum of
9.7 °C and a maximum of
15.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
5.5 °C. However, it dropped to
2.5 °C in April 1998.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
22.5 °C. However, it reached
28.2 °C in April 2011.
Precipitation amounts to
100 mm, distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 37% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
12.8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
13 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
May is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
15 °C, with a minimum of
12.2 °C and a maximum of
17.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
8.5 °C. However, it dropped to
5.5 °C in May 2016.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
25.5 °C. However, it reached
34 °C in May 2020.
Precipitation amounts to
75 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 50 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 37% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
12.1 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
15 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
June is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
17.6 °C, with a minimum of
14.9 °C and a maximum of
20.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
11.5 °C. However, it dropped to
9.6 °C in June 2002.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
26 °C. However, it reached
36.6 °C in June 1994.
Precipitation amounts to
60 mm, distributed over 9 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 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 38% of the time.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
11.5 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
17 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
July is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
19.7 °C, with a minimum of
17 °C and a maximum of
22.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
14 °C. However, it dropped to
11.8 °C in July 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
27.5 °C. However, it reached
33.5 °C in July 1993.
Precipitation amounts to
50 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 0 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 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
10.8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
20 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.
August, the warmest month of the year, is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
20.5 °C, with a minimum of
17.6 °C and a maximum of
23.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
14.5 °C. However, it dropped to
12.6 °C in August 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
28 °C. However, it reached
35.5 °C in August 2020.
Precipitation amounts to
70 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 42% of the time.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
10 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
21 °C. Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.
September is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
18.8 °C, with a minimum of
15.8 °C and a maximum of
21.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
12.5 °C. However, it dropped to
9.5 °C in September 2007.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
28 °C. However, it reached
33.6 °C in September 2003.
Precipitation amounts to
90 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 43% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
9.9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
20 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.
October is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
16.8 °C, with a minimum of
13.6 °C and a maximum of
19.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
9 °C. However, it dropped to
4.5 °C in October 2018.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
27 °C. However, it reached
32.2 °C in October 2001.
Precipitation amounts to
115 mm, distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 38% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
10.8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
18 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
November is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
13.2 °C, with a minimum of
10.4 °C and a maximum of
16 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
6 °C. However, it dropped to
1.4 °C in November 1999.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
22.5 °C. However, it reached
28.6 °C in November 2015.
Precipitation amounts to
155 mm, distributed over 10 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 32% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
13 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
15 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
December is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
11.4 °C, with a minimum of
8.8 °C and a maximum of
14.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
4 °C. However, it dropped to
0 °C in December 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
20 °C. However, it reached
23.8 °C in December 2012.
Precipitation amounts to
125 mm, distributed over 13 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 27% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
13 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
14 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.