Canary Islands Weather in November - Which island to choose?
In November, when the weather starts to get cold almost all over Europe, the Canary Islands still enjoy a mild climate, with temperatures above 20°C, long sunny days and water warm enough for swimming in the ocean.
If you're looking for a sunny break in November, the Canary Islands might be the best choice in terms of weather, especially if you are traveling from Europe.
Although November is considered a transition month in terms of weather conditions, as the climate makes the change from autumn to winter, the weather stays generally warm, except for a few days of rain or storm, which may hit the archipelago. But although the weather can be moody and tricky sometimes in November, it will still be much warmer and better than back home in the UK or anywhere else on the continent.
Weather in the Canary Islands in November
As the weather changes from autumn to winter, you can expect more precipitation in the northern part of the mountainous islands, like Tenerife, La Palma and Gran Canaria, while the south stays fairly dry and sheltered from precipitation.
So for Gran Canaria and Tenerife, we recommend that you stay somewhere in the south of the island, where you have the best chances for sunny weather. This is also the case for Lanzarote, where it tends to rain more in the area of Haria, a valley that looks lovely green after a few days of rain.
Even in La Palma, the south will generally see less precipitation than the mountain regions, but since the main reason to head over to La Palma are the volcanoes and the hiking opportunities they offer, you may still want to choose your accommodation based on what you plan to do during your holiday there.
Temperatures in the Canary Islands in November
Below you can see the average temperatures for the island during the month of November. But do keep in mind that especially in Tenerife and Gran Canaria the weather in the south is warmer than in the north during the colder months.
Tenerife
- Average high temperature: 23°C (73.4°F)
- Average low temperature: 17°C (62.6°F)
- Daily mean: 20°C (68°F)
Gran Canaria
- Average high temperature: 24°C (75.2°F)
- Average low temperature: 18°C (64.4°F)
- Daily mean: 21°C (69.8°F)
Lanzarote
- Average high temperature: 24°C (75.2°F)
- Average low temperature: 17°C (62.6°F)
- Daily mean: 21°C (69.8°F)
Fuerteventura
- Average high temperature: 24°C (75.2°F)
- Average low temperature: 18°C (64.4°F)
- Daily mean: 21°C (69.8°F)
As you can see, the values for temperatures in the Canary Islands in November are relatively similar between the largest and most visited islands in the archipelago.
If you want more details about the weather conditions, temperatures and sunshine hours, you can read the dedicated article for each island:
Rainfall
Are the Canary Islands rainy in November? And how much rain should you expect?
- Tenerife - Average rainfall (mm): 47 mm
- Gran Canaria - Average rainfall (mm): 32 mm
- Lanzarote - Average rainfall (mm): 15 mm
- Fuerteventura - Average rainfall (mm): 12 mm
Although Tenerife seems to get the largest amount of rain in November, this usually happens in the north of the island, and less often in the south.
Sea temperature
How warm is the ocean water in the month of November and are there big differences between the islands?
- Tenerife - Average sea temperature: 22.3°C (72.1°F)
- Gran Canaria - Average sea temperature: 22.1°C (71.7°F)
- Lanzarote - Average sea temperature: 21.2°C (70.1°F)
- Fuerteventura - Average sea temperature: 21.2°C (70.1°F)
Can you swim in the Canary Islands in November?
Yes, with an average temperature above 21°C, the water is still warm enough for swimming.
In Gran Canaria and Tenerife, we recommend the beaches in the south, while in Lanzarote and Fuerteventura there are no big differences between north and south. In general, there are big differences between the east coast and the west coast, with the west coast being better for surfers and other water sports, and not so great for swimming, due to the strong currents.
Storms and weather hazards in November
In the Canary Islands, November is usually the month when there's a noticeable shift in weather and violent storms can occur sometimes.
November 19, 2018 - A big wave destroyed a balcony off an apartment building in Tenerife North
A powerful storm has hit the north of Tenerife on November 19th, 2018, when a huge wave completely ripped off a balcony from a building in Mesa del Mar (Tacoronte). The phenomenon that occurred then is known as "mar de fondo" and is generated by low polar pressure and it usually occurs in the northwest part of the islands. This type of big swell is not common for the south of the islands, where the weather it's usually much dryer than in the north.
November 2005 - Tropical Storm Delta
Tropical Storm Delta is considered a historical event in the Canary Islands and it took place in November 2005. The archipelago is not commonly affected by tropical cyclones, so this isn't something that usually happens in the islands.
The Canaries were gravely hit and even 19 lives were lost due to the storm (18 people lost their lives on a boat that sank during the storm). The peak gust of 152 km/h was recorded on La Palma, while in Tenerife the peak wind speed was 147 km/h. The islands of La Palma and Tenerife were the hardest hit.
Should you come on holiday to the Canary Islands in November?
In our opinion, yes.
But we love coming to the Canaries during any month, no matter the weather, rain or shine, because we really love these islands.
If you're looking for HOT weather, then November might not be what you are looking for.
If you're expecting sunny days, with T-shirt weather during the daytime, then you will probably love it here.
Keep in mind that in November, the weather in the Canary Islands gets chilly at night, so you may want to bring a cardigan with you, or maybe even a light jacket.
Read also: Which Canary Island to visit?
- Looking for a hotel? Booking.com is our top choice for hotel reservations.
- For tours and excursions, we recommend using Get Your Guide, since they offer free cancellation up to 24 h before the activity starts.
