The Trade Winds

Tenerife's gentle climate, with an average annual temperature of 23 ºC (73 ºF), has a lot to do with the trade winds. The geographic relief and the cold ocean currents mean that, while the greenery on the north peaks is veiled in humidity, the weather on the coast stays mild, never reaching extreme temperatures.

The weather in Tenerife is the result of a combination of cold ocean currents, warmth from the nearby Tropic of Cancer, the trade winds and the Island's orography. Although the Canary Islands are located close to the African continent, meaning Tenerife's climate should be hot and dry, the truth is that the Island reveals a curious contrast between the north and south. The side of the Island that is exposed to the trade winds has a more humid atmosphere, with more abundant rainfall inland and on the peaks. The breathtaking blankets of cloud that form around Tenerife's highest summits are in fact a mass of clouds colliding with the mountainside as they reaches the Island from the north. Shedding water and humidity, these clouds are good for the region's vegetation and flora, and they also feed the Island's underground watercourses. This same process means that Tenerife's mountains protect the south of the Island from these clouds, ensuring summery weather all year round, especially on the coast.