March Weather in Gran Canaria

The weather in March can be somewhat unpredictable: it could be 30°C in blazing sunshine on the beach in the south, or it could be cool and rainy. As always, the south of the island sees the most sunshine, though the evenings usually remain cool throughout the island.

Daytime High Temperatures

In March, daytime high temperatures typically range between about 19 up to 27 or 28°C at Gran Canaria Airport. At Puerto de Mogan, on the south coast, daytime temperatures typically reach between about 21 up to the high 20s Celsius – possibly even hitting 30°C. In Las Palmas, daily maximums reach the low twenties Celsius, with a couple of days reaching the mid-twenties. The record high at Puerto de Mogan in March is 32.3°C – recorded on the 15th of the month in 2009.

Nighttime Lows

Around the coast, temperatures drop to around 15 or 16 degrees celsius at night – perhaps a degree and half warmer in the city of Las Palmas. In the mountainous interior, temperatures will drop considerably more – dropping to as low as 6-8°C in some areas.

The lowest temperature ever recorded in March at Puerto de Mogan is 11.4°C (04/03/2015). At Gran Canaria Airport, the record low is a chilly 6.6°C – recorded on the 27th of March 1954.

In short, if you are staying in a coastal area, expect 16°C evenings – cool enough that you should pack a light jacket or cardigan.

Rain

Gran Canaria Airport receives an average of 6 days with some rain in March and an average total monthly precipitation of 12.5mm. Resorts in the south such as Maspalomas or Puerto Rico receive a fraction of this rainfall – typically seeing only one or two days with rain. Rainfall at this time of year in the south of Gran Canaria is subject to extremes: there is often no rain at all during the month, but a torrential downpour is also possible.

Cloudiness

Gran Canaria Airport sees an average of 22.8 days with some clouds in the sky during march. The resorts in the south will typically see about half that number. There will typically be 2 or 3 completely overcast days during the month.

Windy?

The wind usually begins to pick up in March, and the average wind speed at the airport is 24.5kmph. As is usual, the east coast is most affected by the trade winds, and the resorts on the southern coast are well sheltered from these.

Sea Temperature

The sea remains close to its coldest temperature in March with an average of between 18 and 19°C. This is still quite cool, so a wetsuit is advised if you plan on snorkelling, surfing or any other activities that involve spending a long time in the water. It might be okay for a quick dip though – especially at sheltered beaches on hot days.