Madrid and its metropolitan area has a cold semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification: BSk) which transitions to a mediterranean climate (Csa) on the western half of the city. According to the Troll-Paffen climate classification, Madrid has warm-temperate subtropical climate (WarmgemäÃÂigt-subtropisches Zonenklima) and according to the Siegmund/Frankenberg climate classification, Madrid has a subtropical climate. Madrid has hot summers and relatively cool winters with somewhat frequent frosts (13 days have lows under on average) and occasional snowfalls, with an average of 3âÂÂ4 snowy days annually.
The annual average temperature in the city centre is , while in the airport it is . The city centre generally has warmer temperatures year round, due to the urban heat island, causing nighttime temperatures in the center to be higher than in surrounding areas, despite daytime temperatures being slightly lower in relation to the surrounding areas.
Late Spring, in the months of May and June, is witness to the peak of pollinization of Gramineae, the main culprit behind rhinitis and bronchial asthma in Madrid. Years with high concentrations have proven a public health issue, with punctual cases of asthma epidemics among the inhabitants of Madrid in the aforementioned months.
Madrid has on average only 59 precipitation days a year, therein average several rainy days per month (âÂÂ¥ 1 mm), ranging from 2 days in July and August to 7 days in October. The average annual precipitation is less than on the center and around on airport on eastern half of the city. Madrid is the European capital with the least annual precipitation, as well as the only with a semi-arid climate
Sunshine duration is 2,769 hours per year, from 124 (4 hours per day on average) in December to 359 (above 11.6 hours per day on average) in July. This makes Madrid one of the sunnier cities in Europe. It is also slightly above average for the southern half of Europe, where annual sunshine duration typically varies from about 2,000 to about 3,000 hours per year. In the northern half of Europe, sunshine duration is around 1500 hours per year. In winter Madrid has about three times more sun duration than in the northern half of Europe. Madrid has the second highest UV value among continental European capitals after Athens and Lisbon. The values are close to that of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as ultraviolet radiation suffers little interference from other geographic variables. Although values are still average, which is not as risky as almost the entire continent, except the afternoons of the warmer months, where exposure should be reduced. The amount varies from 2 between November and January to 9 between June and July.
Average relative humidity is around 55âÂÂ58%, ranging from 32âÂÂ39% in July to 75âÂÂ76% in December, with more humidity in the centre and less in airport.
Snowfalls are occasional, happening only a few days per year. In January 1941, 8 snow days were recorded, the most for any month.
From 7 January to 10 January 2021, Madrid received its heaviest snowfall in five decades; Spain's meteorological agency AEMET reported between of accumulated snow at its weather stations within the city.
The highest temperature recorded during the day at the Retiro station is on 28 June 2019, 14 August 2021, and 14 July 2022. Higher maximum temperatures have been recorded in other stations.
The August 1933 reported record had the average maximum temperature during the day at . The coldest temperature recorded was at night on 16 January 1945.
Madrid, as well as the rest of Spain (except the Canary Islands), are in the UTC +1 time zone and UTC +2 in summer time. Sunrise and sunset occur relatively late compared to other countries in southern Europe or even slightly higher latitudes. Madrid enjoys one of the most optimal number of hours of daylight in Europe. Days in winter are not as short as in the northern part of the continent, the average hours of daylight in December, January and February is 10 hours (for comparison: London or Moscow or Warsaw â about 8 hours), and it is the European capital with the latest sunsets during winter. During the summer, the days have an average length of 14 hours, being the European capital with the latest sunrises in summer, as well as the capital with the latest sunset in southern Europe. Sunset occurs after 21:00 (9:00 pm) throughout most of the summer.
Climate in other places in Iberian Peninsula: