Whale Watching and Weather
In southern Tenerife, whale watching, like many other outdoor activities, can be affected by weather conditions. A comfortable, high-quality trip out to sea always goes hand in hand with a prior weather analysis.
Cetaceans and Weather in Tenerife
Generally speaking, southern Tenerife enjoys relatively stable and consistent temperatures and conditions throughout the year. Temperatures range between around 12 and 35 degrees Celsius, and the island is typically swept by Trade Winds coming from the north. In the south, we benefit from a rain shadow that protects us from these strong winds. The highest wind peaks are usually recorded during the winter months, with December and January being the windiest.
It is not uncommon for us to occasionally be forced to postpone or cancel a tour due to weather conditions. The quality of the tour is directly proportional to the state of the sea. The calmer the sea, the better the sighting experience — especially for our short-finned pilot whales, which tend to rest at the surface for longer periods when the water is calm. Conversely, when the sea is rough, pilot whales tend to move faster and involuntarily hide behind the waves as they surf them, reducing the quality of the trip.
Recommendations
Don’t leave your whale watching tour for the last day of your holiday. If you book your experience at the start, you’ll have some flexibility to change the date in case weather conditions don’t allow the trip on the originally planned day.
Bear in mind that the sea tends to be calmer during the early morning hours. The 9 am tour is usually better than the midday one in terms of weather conditions. However, exceptions to this rule do occur, so we also recommend getting in touch with us if you have any doubts.
Use weather apps and websites such as Windy, Wind Finder or Wind Guru. They are very intuitive and extremely helpful for choosing the best date with the best conditions. Keep in mind that the further away the date, the less accurate the weather forecast may be.
Check out our blog, where you’ll find weather reports with images and tips on when it’s a good time to book a tour based on sea conditions. If you have any doubts, contact us and we’ll be happy to clear up any questions.
Stay up to date with everything happening at sea and in the incredible world of cetaceans by visiting our website and our social media: Google, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn.
See you out on the big blue!!!