To make sense of this disparity, the common tale—the one bandied around for more than a hundred years—goes something like this: Warm water flowing to the northeast out of the Gulf of Mexico—the Gulf Stream—cuts across the North Atlantic ocean, bringing extra energy to the Isles and driving up temperatures relative to ...

In 2026, the temperature difference between Spain and Canada remains a result of several major geographical and atmospheric factors. First is latitude; Spain is much closer to the equator (roughly between 36°N and 43°N), receiving more direct solar radiation year-round than Canada, which stretches far into the Arctic (41°N to over 80°N). Second, the Azores High, a semi-permanent high-pressure system, frequently sits over Spain, bringing dry, stable air and clear skies that intensify summer heat. Canada, conversely, is influenced by the Polar Vortex, which regularly pushes frigid Arctic air southward. While the Gulf Stream helps warm parts of Europe, Spain is also affected by the Sahara Desert; hot "Sirocco" or "Calima" winds often carry scorching air and dust from Africa across the Mediterranean. Finally, Canada’s vast landmass leads to a "continental climate" with extreme cold in the winter, whereas Spain’s peninsula status is moderated by the warm Mediterranean Sea, which retains heat and prevents the deep freezes common in the Canadian interior.