People ask two questions about Gibraltar before they book: how big is it, and what is the weather like. The first is a quick answer. The second is more interesting than most people expect. Gibraltar sits at the very bottom of Spain, on the Strait between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, pressed against a 426 metre limestone rock that shapes its own microclimate. The short version is: warmer than the UK all year, cooler than inland Spain in summer, one of the sunniest places in Europe, and rarely wet outside of a handful of winter weeks. Live Gibraltar conditions are now on the [Victory Suites homepage](/#weather) with a seven day forecast, powered by real time data from Open-Meteo. This is the full climate picture. What the weather actually does month by month, the two winds that dominate local life, when the sea is warm enough to swim in, and what to pack for each season. Gibraltar has a Mediterranean climate with strong Atlantic influences. That means hot dry summers, mild wet winters, and long transitional spring and autumn seasons that many visitors consider the best time to be here. The annual average temperature is 18 degrees Celsius. Sunshine hours total close to 3,000 per year, one of the highest figures anywhere in Europe. Rainfall averages around 750 millimetres, almost all of it between October and March. The lowest monthly average temperature, in January and February, still sits around 13 degrees. The highest, in August, is around 24. Extremes are rare in both directions. Spring is arguably the best time to visit Gibraltar. Daytime temperatures climb from around 16 degrees in March to 22 in late May. Rainfall drops sharply after March. Wildflowers cover the Upper Rock Nature Reserve. The jacaranda trees in the Alameda Botanical Gardens bloom purple through late April and May. Sunshine averages seven hours a day in March and rises past nine by May. What you notice first is that it is properly warm in the sun and cool in the shade — the Mediterranean compromise. A light jumper for the evening is plenty. The sea warms slowly, from 15 degrees in March to 18 by late May, which is cool for a long swim but fine for a quick dip. Spring is the best season for hiking the Mediterranean Steps or climbing the Rock without a hat permanently bolted to your head. Summer in Gibraltar is warm rather than punishing, thanks to the sea on three sides. July and August are the hottest months, with daytime highs averaging 28 to 29 degrees Celsius. Heatwaves can push temperatures above 32, but these rarely last more than a few days. Overnight lows sit around 20, which is warm enough to sleep without covers and cool enough to walk comfortably after dinner. Rainfall in summer is essentially zero. June, July, and August collectively average less than 10 millimetres of rain combined. Sunshine runs to eleven hours a day. The sea warms to 22 degrees by mid June and peaks at around 23 to 24 degrees in August and September. These are the months to plan beach days, boat trips, and dolphin watching cruises. The marinas fill up, Casemates Square stays busy until midnight, and sunsets over the Bay of Gibraltar are spectacular. The one thing to plan around in summer is the Levante wind (more on this below), which occasionally raises humidity and cloaks the Rock in cloud for a day or two. Autumn is the overlooked season. October is often indistinguishable from May: 22 degrees, blue skies, and a Mediterranean that has held onto summer's warmth and still sits around 21 degrees, making it arguably the most comfortable month to swim in. Sunshine averages seven hours a day. The first real rain of the year usually arrives in late October or early November, which is worth knowing if you are planning hiking. November is the turn. Average daytime temperatures drop to 18 degrees, nights to 13, and rainfall climbs to around 120 millimetres for the month, concentrated in a handful of heavier days. When it is not raining, November in Gibraltar is still the kind of weather the UK would call a good early summer: clear, bright, and warm enough for a jacket rather than a coat. Gibraltar winters are among the mildest in Europe. Daytime highs average 16 to 17 degrees from December through February. Overnight lows rarely drop below 10. Snow is essentially unheard of. Frost is unheard of. The sea drops to 15 degrees, too cold for most people to swim in, but the heated indoor pool at Victory Suites is open year round for anyone who still wants to. Rainfall is the winter story. December and January each average around 130 millimetres, concentrated in short intense bursts followed by sunshine rather than the persistent drizzle common in northern Europe. Even in the wettest weeks of the year, daily sunshine still averages five to six hours. You can sit outside for lunch on Main Street in January wearing a light jumper. This is why cruise ships call at Gibraltar year round, why the UK winter break market has started to discover it, and why [winter flights