Cartagena, Spain Climate & Monthly Averages
Cartagena has a semi-arid climate. August is the hottest month, averaging 87° by day; January is the coldest at 61°.
Cartagena's climate runs on sunshine and sparse rain
Cartagena runs on a dry-summer rhythm: the warmest months are also the driest. July averages 2 mm (0.1 in) while the wet season peaks in March at 2.0 inches (50 mm). Highs range from 61°F (16°C) to 87°F (31°C).
What the dry climate changes
4 months average under 20 mm of rain, the longest unbroken stretch running June through August. Warmth peaks in August: highs of 87°F (31°C), lows of 74°F (23°C). January bottoms out at 61°F (16°C) in daylight, 47°F (9°C) after dark. Across the gridded 2015-2024 daily record, the highest daily maximum for this location was 105°F (41°C) and the lowest daily minimum 34°F (1°C).
Six of the twelve months pair mild highs with fewer than twelve wet days; the longest unbroken run is March through June.
March is the wettest month at 2.0 inches (50 mm) over 7 days; July is the driest.
More climate facts for Cartagena
- Hottest month: August - highs near 87°F (31°C)
- Coldest month: January - highs near 61°F (16°C)
- Decade extremes (2015-2024): 105°F (41°C) high · 34°F (1°C) low
- Wettest month: March (7 rainy days) · Sunniest: July (13.6 h sun/day)
- Climate type: semi-arid
- Annual swing: 15°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 7°C
- Months averaging 30°C or hotter: 2
- Average humidity: 70%
Heat, cold and scarce precipitation in the dataset
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ. Need another precipitation unit? Use the rainfall converter.
When the dry weather is easiest to use
Avoiding the hardest heat or cold
January to June is the sweet spot for Cartagena - temperatures sit either side of the peak heat rather than in it. Expect 68°F (20°C) in the afternoon and around 4 days of rain in a typical month of it. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in January.
Prepare for sun and cooler nights
Pack for Cartagena with light clothing for the warm months. Even in August, lows of 74°F (23°C) make an extra layer worth the space.
Monthly heat and rainfall table
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Precipitation | Sunshine | Daylight | Wet-day chance | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 61° | 47° | 4 | 1.3 in | 8.6 h/day | 9.8 h | 12% | 69% |
| February | 63° | 49° | 3 | 0.5 in | 9.3 h/day | 10.7 h | 12% | 68% |
| March | 65° | 52° | 7 | 2.0 in | 9.8 h/day | 11.9 h | 21% | 69% |
| April | 68° | 55° | 6 | 1.7 in | 10.8 h/day | 13.1 h | 20% | 70% |
| May | 74° | 60° | 4 | 1.1 in | 12.7 h/day | 14.2 h | 12% | 69% |
| June | 81° | 67° | 2 | 0.4 in | 13.4 h/day | 14.7 h | 7% | 68% |
| July | 86° | 73° | 0 | 0.1 in | 13.6 h/day | 14.5 h | 1% | 70% |
| August | 87° | 74° | 2 | 0.5 in | 12.3 h/day | 13.6 h | 6% | 71% |
| September | 82° | 69° | 6 | 2.0 in | 10.9 h/day | 12.4 h | 19% | 73% |
| October | 76° | 63° | 5 | 1.3 in | 9.5 h/day | 11.1 h | 16% | 74% |
| November | 69° | 55° | 4 | 1.1 in | 8.9 h/day | 10.1 h | 14% | 69% |
| December | 64° | 50° | 3 | 1.1 in | 8.2 h/day | 9.6 h | 10% | 72% |
How daytime heat and cool nights change by month
Each card shows the average high and low. The bar places that month between Cartagena's coldest night and warmest afternoon.
January
- Rain
- 4 days
- Sunshine
- 8.6 h
- Daylight
- 9.8 h
February
- Rain
- 3 days
- Sunshine
- 9.3 h
- Daylight
- 10.7 h
March
- Rain
- 7 days
- Sunshine
- 9.8 h
- Daylight
- 11.9 h
April
- Rain
- 6 days
- Sunshine
- 10.8 h
- Daylight
- 13.1 h
May
- Rain
- 4 days
- Sunshine
- 12.7 h
- Daylight
- 14.2 h
June
- Rain
- 2 days
- Sunshine
- 13.4 h
- Daylight
- 14.7 h
July
- Rain
- 0 days
- Sunshine
- 13.6 h
- Daylight
- 14.5 h
August
- Rain
- 2 days
- Sunshine
- 12.3 h
- Daylight
- 13.6 h
September
- Rain
- 6 days
- Sunshine
- 10.9 h
- Daylight
- 12.4 h
October
- Rain
- 5 days
- Sunshine
- 9.5 h
- Daylight
- 11.1 h
November
- Rain
- 4 days
- Sunshine
- 8.9 h
- Daylight
- 10.1 h
December
- Rain
- 3 days
- Sunshine
- 8.2 h
- Daylight
- 9.6 h
Looking for warmer alternatives? Browse warm places by month, or compare Cartagena's coolest part of the year: January, February, December.
Heat and cold across the Cartagena year
Spring (March through May)
Through spring, Cartagena is mild and warm: 69°F (20°C) by day, 56°F (13°C) after dark, and rain comes on about 16 days over the three months. Daylight is generous - around 11.1 hours of sun a day.
Summer (June through August)
Summer is hot here - highs near 85°F (29°C), nights near 71°F (22°C), and precipitation is sparse, near 1.0 inches (26 mm) for the season. Daylight is generous - around 13.1 hours of sun a day. With the moisture factored in, afternoons feel hotter than the reading suggests - the humidity and dew point converter shows why.
Fall (September through November)
Fall in Cartagena is mild and warm, with daytime highs averaging 75°F (24°C) and nights around 62°F (17°C); rain comes on about 15 days over the three months.
Winter (December through February)
Winter in Cartagena is mild, with daytime highs averaging 62°F (17°C) and nights around 49°F (9°C); rain comes on about 10 days over the three months.
How unusual is Cartagena?
- Rain or snow reaches the ground on 46 days a year - fewer wet days than all but 8% of the 3496 cities we track.
- Annual precipitation is 12.9 inches (328 mm) - drier than all but 9% of the 3496 cities we track.
- The city sees 10.7 hours of sunshine on an average day - sunnier than 88% of the 3496 cities we track.
These comparisons use the same ten-year window for every city in the dataset.