Climate of Aragon
Aragon is characterised by a Mediterranean-continental dry climate with irregular rainfall, a large temperature range and strong winds, particularly along the Ebro Depression. The region has some of the most extreme temperatures in Spain as a result of its continental position, far from the blaming effects of the the Atlantic and Mediterranean. The valley of Jiloca in Teruel is probably the most consistently cold corner of the Iberian Peninsula, high mountains aside, with record temperatures of -28/-30ºC in Calamocha. (see temperature records in Spain). The valley lies in a triangle formed by Teruel, Calamocha and Molino de Aragon (over the border in Guadalajara) similarly considered as the coldest area of Spain, with temperatures regularly dropping to -20ºC. Much of southern Aragon suffers from 120 days of frost a year, often more than the Aragonese Pyrenees, whose cloudiness stops temperatures hitting zero so frequently.
The highest levels of precipitation fall in the Pyrenees, rising to a maximum of 1870mm in Canfranc. Much of the rest of Aragon receives 300-500mm, though Los Montes Universales in Teruel have higher levels, rising to a maximum of 982.9
Climatically, Aragon can be divided into three areas:
- Continental Mediterranean . The Ebro Depression. One of the severest climates in Spain and a daily and winter-summer temperature range. Low levels of rainfall which decrease as clouds move east towards Catalonia.
- Alpine-mountain climate. Short summers and bitterly cold winters, though with big differences depending on altitude and orientation.
- Continental. The Calatayud-Daroca-Teruel depression shielded by mountains to the west and east preventing humid Atlantic or Mediterranean . 600 – 900 m low rainfall. Hot summers very cold winters. The cierzo wind blows here..