Lanzarote tends to be the hottest and most arid of the Canaries, as it is closest to the Sahara desert and because it is one of the lowest lying islands.
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I understand that the average temperatures for Lanzarote and Tenerife in the winter months are about the same, and are warmer than the other islands, but Lanzarote is windy. That wind is generally from the NE so it feels much cooler.
If you want the best beaches, Lanzarote needs to be the top choice since it is often considered the most beautiful of the Canary Islands. Yet, if you seek excursions, waterparks and diverse landscapes, then Tenerife is the ticket.
The coldest months in Lanzarote are January and February, when temperatures are between 13 and 22 degrees, with an average temperature of 19 degrees - so not very cold at all!
Although the weather is normally good in Tenerife in Sepember, I would say the weather in Turkey is hotter. Length of flight times are around the same, although depending who you fly with you may get a better time of flight with one or the other.
January to June in TenerifeJanuary and February can get a little colder as it can drop to 12 degrees. But it shouldn't be a big deal because the sea temperature is still at a very warm 19 degrees. During these months, you should pack both swimwear for the daytime and a light jacket for the nighttime.
Tenerife is the largest and most popular Canary Island which comes as no surprise since it's blessed with guaranteed sunshine almost all year round. Thanks to its location just off the west coast of Africa, temperatures rarely drop below the toasty twenties and we're talking about the winter months too!
Lanzarote tends to be the hottest and most arid of the Canaries, as it is closest to the Sahara desert and because it is one of the lowest lying islands. The Sahara can bring high temperatures and fine sand to Lanzarote, causing occasional heatwaves.
Lanzarote is situated to the the north (above) the equator and we sit directly in the area where the wind is blowing steadily from the north east. This wind blows all year around, although the speed varies from time to time.
Our recommendation for the best Canary Islands for winter sun is either TENERIFE or GRAN CANARIA. This doesn't mean you should avoid the other islands because the weather will still be warmer than most other places in Europe, but you will just have to expect more wind and a few more showers during the day.
As its name suggests, Fuerteventura (strong winds) is a windy island, making it ideal for surfers and windsurfers. The best wind season for water sports lovers is between June and October.
Snow in the Canary Islands is not uncommon. The peak of the Teide stratovolcano (3,715m), located on Island of Tenerife, is often covered with a snow cap after heavy snowfall in winter.
The Coriolis Effect in combination with high pressure causes trade winds to move from east to west, providing a cool breeze in the northeast of the island. Consequently, north Tenerife is more humid with heavier rainfall, while the south stays hot and sunny most of the time.
While in April they have (on average) the same number of hours sunshine per day (11), Lanzarote is hotter - high of 25c v 22c, low of 17c v 11c and slightly drier 6mm v 12 mm of rain.
Tenerife weather DecemberIf you want a dose of sun close to Christmas, Tenerife holidays promise nice warm weather if you're going there in December. This is because the island's so close to Africa and the Sahara Desert, with the Canary Islands nicknamed the 'Islands of Eternal Spring'.
The graph below shows the range of monthly Santa Cruz de Tenerife water temperature derived from many years of historical sea surface temperature data. The warmest water temperature is in September with an average around 74.7°F / 23.7°C. The coldest month is March with an average water temperature of 66.6°F / 19.2°C.
Wear a sun hat to protect the top of your head, the back of your neck and your face from the sun. Limit the number of hours you spend in full sun, particularly between 11am and 3pm.
But in the case of the Canary Islands, the challenge goes further. In addition to the pollutants emitted by our cars, ships and electric power stations, the islands are exposed to uncontrollable desert dust from the Sahara. Air pollution is responsible for some seven million deaths a year worldwide.