Weather in Malaga during February 2010
Another exceptionally wet month.
Temperatures
The average maximum temperature during February 2010 in Malaga was 17.0 Celsius (63F), and that was very close to normal for the time of year. The average minimum temperature was 11.1 Celsius (52F), and that was slightly above the normal February value.
The highest temperature recorded during the month was 22.6 Celsius (73F) on the 23rd, and the following day had a high of 21.8 Celsius (71F). However, there were only 5 other days when maxima exceeded 20 Celsius (68F), with 2 of these days occurring during the first week of February. There were several cool days, and on 9 occasions maxima failed to rise above 15 Celsius (59F). The coldest weather occurred around the end of the second week, and after mid month there were only 2 cool days. The coldest day of the month was the 13th with a maximum temperature of 11.1 Celsius (52F).
There were many mild nights during February, with minimum temperatures above 12 Celsius (54F) on 11 occasions. The mildest nights occurred during the last week with minima above 13 Celsius (55F) on 4 occasions. The mildest night was the 25th/26th with a low of 14.2 Celsius (58F). There were only 7 nights when the temperature fell below 10 Celsius (50F) with the last of the chilly nights occurring on the 19th/20th. The coldest nights occurred around the latter part of the second week. Only 1 night had a minimum temperature below 7 Celsius (45F), the 13th/14th with a low of 5.8 Celsius (42F).
Sea temperatures were around 14 Celsius (57F) through most of the month, rising to 15 Celsius (59F) at the very end of February.
Rain
The total rainfall during February was 218.7 millimetres (8.6 ins), and this was a massive 400% of the long-term average. Remarkably, the rainfall for the winter of 2009/10 (December, January and February) produced over 752mm (29.5 ins). A figure that exceeded the average annual rainfall for many northern cities. For example; the average yearly rainfall in Copenhagen is around 600mm, Berlin 590mm, Helsinki 700mm, Edinburgh 700mm and London 600mm.
Not only was the rain total in February very high, it fell with unusual frequency. Measurable rain was recorded on 19 days, and that was 11 more than normal. The first heavy rain fell on the 4th when 31.5mm (1.2ins) fell. There were then 3 consecutive dry days, the last time during the month when there was more than 1 day between bouts of rain. In the Granada area, and in hilly parts elsewhere, snow fell through much of the 12th. The wettest period occurred around mid month with the 15th and 16th producing a 48-hour rainfall total of 98.6 mm (3.9 ins) including 62.0mm (2.4ins) on the16th. The rain on the 16th was torrential with most of it falling during the morning rush hour.
Although much of the rain during the rest of the month fell in short, sharp bursts, further heavy rain occurred on the 19th (19.6mm) and the 22nd (16.8mm).
Across southern Spain, February rainfall was very high nearly everywhere, but with weather systems predominantly arriving from the southwest, a long rain shadow was cast northeast of the Sierra Nevada which encompassed Murcia . The Table below shows the total rainfall for the month, and as a percentage of the long-term average; and also the number of days with rain falling, plus the average.
| Reporting Station | Total in mm. | as a % | Rain Days (Av.) |
| Malaga Airport | 207 | 376 | 18 (5) |
| Granada Airport | 126 | 331 | 18 (6) |
| Almeria | 74 | 352 | 12 (3) |
| Seville | 187 | 346 | 21 (6) |
| Cordoba | 126 | 238 | 19 (6) |
| Jerez de la Frontera | 267 | 445 | 21 (7) |
| Murcia | 30 | 107 | 11 (3) |
Thunder
There were surprisingly few thunderstorms reported during February, although several occurred after mid month around Cadiz. There was only 1 day when thunder was reported in west Malaga, the 16th in the morning, and in Sevilla there were thunderstorms on the afternoon of the 21st.
Wind
Winds were mostly gentle or moderate, predominantly from the northwest, but on the 4th strong northwesterlies occurred with a gust of 43kn (49mph). There were some very squally east to southeast winds for a while on the 15th, and for time there was a full gale blowing, with gusts exceeding 43kn (49mph). The highest gust was 49kn (56mph).
Fog
Several reports of early morning fog were received from the saturated inland valleys during February, but the only fog in west Malaga occurred overnight on the 26th/27th. Visibility was reduced to within fog limits in the inland snow on the 12th, and during very heavy rain on the 15th and 16th.
