Climates

The country of Spain has varied climates due to its location. On the western side sits Portugal with the Atlantic and France to the north while the Mediterranean is to the south and east. To the north west, the climate is much cooler and dominated by the prevailing wind bringing cooling rain from the Atlantic. To the east and south, the Mediterranean moderates the otherwise hot climate of the southern latitudes of Spain. This also causes the east to be very dry and arid due to being too far from the Atlantic to get rain while the calmer and shallower sea is unable to give rains. The centre of Spain is generally a continental climate without any transition between to provide relief from the dry heat. Only altitude offers cooler regions where vines can be grown to make quality wines.