Tenerife Weather in February - Is it warm?

Tenerife is an all year round destination - people come here for different reasons and during all seasons, because winter is considered one of the high seasons in Tenerife, since the island is one of the places where you can escape the cold in Europe.

January and February are indeed the months with the most rain in Tenerife, but it's still better than the snow most countries in Europe receive during those same months.

How warm is Tenerife in February?

The truth is that due to climate changes, the weather has become pretty hard to predict.

Rain in Tenerife in February is mostly in the north of the island and less in the south, although it's not unusual to get stormy days in the south as well. Rainy days are sometimes accompanied by storms and wind bursts, but they usually don't last for long in the south. 

During our 2018 holiday in Tenerife in February we had only sunny days in the south and we got to spend our time on the beach relaxing. We also made a trip to Candelaria and although it wasn't as warm as in the south of Tenerife, the temperatures were still around 18° - 19° Celsius and the weather was sunny, so it was a good day.

Based on data regarding the weather in the Canary Islands in February, as well as our personal perception (as people who visit at least one of the Canary Islands in winter every year), Tenerife is the warmest Canary Island during winter, and one of the top choices for a sunny and warm winter break in Europe (in fact, the Canary Islands are the hottest places to visit in Europe in winter, without going flying long haul).

What's the weather like in Tenerife South in February

If you're looking to get some winter sun, choose a hotel or a villa/apartment in the South of Tenerife. 

We love the north of Tenerife as well, it's really beautiful and authentic, but we wouldn't choose it as our base during the winter months. We always stay in the south and we often make day trips to visit the north as well. But knowing that in the evening we get to come back to the pleasant warmth of the south makes all the difference.

In the south of Tenerife, you can expect daytime temperatures around 23°C to 25°C, but when the sun is shining it usually feels hotter than it is. 

The beaches in the south of Tenerife were full of people even in February, as the weather was lovely most days and we were able to get a tan in the middle of winter.

Los Cristianos Weather in February

Los Cristianos is one of our favourite destinations in Tenerife and it's one of the places where we choose to stay when we visit the island in winter. We thought that the sea temperature in Playa de Los Cristianos was the most acceptable out of all the beaches we visited this winter. Of course, this is totally a personal opinion, not a proven scientific fact. But, if it helps, there were lots of children playing in the ocean at this beach and on Playa del Camison as well.

Temperature in February in Tenerife

Well, if you're looking for extremely high temperatures and roasting weather, then visiting Tenerife in February might not be the best choice for you. Tenerife will probably welcome you with mild temperatures in the low and mid 20°s Celsius if you decide to stay in the south.

Since we love the sun and warm temperatures, but we hate being in hot tropical climates, we find that visiting Tenerife in winter is perfect for us because it's still warm enough to spend time on the beach and even swim in the ocean, but without the excessive humidity of tropical destinations.

The atmosphere is also much more chilled and relaxed in winter, there are more mature visitors coming to spend several months at a time in Tenerife over the winter and there are fewer families with children, except for the school holidays period.

• Average high temperature: 22°C  (71.6°F)
• Average low temperature: 15.1°C  (59.2°F)
• Daily mean temperature: 18.5°C  (65.3°F)

In Tenerife South, the daily mean temperature is 18.5°C in February, which is calculated as a mean between the average high temperature of 22°C and the average low of 15.1°C. 

Record low & record high temperatures

The highest temperature ever recorded in Tenerife in February (at Tenerife South Airport station) was 30°C and the lowest temperature was 9.8°C.

Rainfall

• Average rainfall: 20 mm
• Average rainy days: 2

Statistically, January and February are the months with the most rain in Tenerife.

But if you plan to spend your holiday in the south of Tenerife, the prospect of rain shouldn't scare you too much. Yes, there are chances of rain, but it will still be warmer than back home.

Also, the sun doesn't come up as early in the morning as it does during summer, so expect to get cloudy mornings. We are not put off by this and we enjoy the chilly air early in the morning while walking on the beach when no one is around.

However, the weather is always unpredictable, so if you do get a few days of rain, check out our article about what to do in Tenerife when it's raining.

Snow in February

Can it snow in Tenerife in February?

YES, it can happen. But not in the south of the island. You will not see any snow covered beaches in Tenerife.

You may, however, see the top of Mount Teide covered in snow from the comfort of your sunbed. Snow in Tenerife is not unusual during the winter months, but it does NOT snow in the area of Los Cristianos, Playa de las Americas, Costa Adeje,  or the other popular tourist destinations located in the south.

Sunshine hours

• Monthly sunshine hours in February: 209
• Daily average sunshine hours: 7
• UV index: 6

Tenerife gets an average of 7 to 8 hours/day of sunshine in February, which is really good for a winter month.

The UV index is higher than it was in January, situated at a 6 on a scale that goes up to 11 as max.

Sea temperature in Tenerife South

This is the average temperature for the sea temperature in February in Playa de las Americas:

• Average water temperature: 19.5°C / 67.1°F

The sea around Tenerife can be too cold for most people to swim comfortably in February.

But not all years are the same, and in 2019 for example not only did we swim almost every day in Tenerife South, but we also went swimming in Playa de Las Teresitas, which is located close to Santa Cruz de Tenerife, so pretty far from the sunny south.

February weather averages for different parts of Tenerife

For those of you who wonder how warm is Tenerife in February, you have below a list of temperatures for this month.

What to expect from a winter break in Tenerife

Playa Fanabe on a sunny and warm winter day

The Tower of Power at Siam Park

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February is usually carnival month in Tenerife, so check out the carnival in Santa Cruz if you want to participate in the largest event of its kind in Europe. 

During the day, you can "work" on your tan and chill by the beach with a cold beer in hand. Yes, you can still find a 1 Euro pint in some places in Tenerife, but 1.5 to 2 Euros is not so bad either, when you get to have your drink with an ocean view.

Go to Siam Park on a warm sunny day

The pools are heated and for us the temperature was perfect.

In winter Siam Park is less crowded than during summer, so we didn't even need a fast pass.

Winter is also a good time to explore the island, as there are so many amazing things to do in Tenerife and it would be a shame to sit in one place only throughout your entire holiday.

Is Tenerife hot in February?

For our family, the winter months in Tenerife are ideal. We escape the cold back home and enjoy the island with fewer crowds and hustle and bustle. Yes, we don't get those HOT scorching days as you get in July or August, but we don't like it when it's that hot anyway.

If you're planning a winter holiday to Tenerife you can read our other articles on the subject:

• 10 reasons to visit the Canary Islands in winter
• Tenerife in December

Should you go on holiday to Tenerife in February?

Honestly, you're the only one who can answer that question.

There's no guarantee anymore when it comes to weather; but if you're on the lookout for a holiday to relax and unwind, Tenerife is the perfect place. You just have to do some research to find out when is the best time to visit Tenerife for you and your family, according to your needs and expectations.