Help! Is May too hot?

[NTange]

I have been excitedly gathering information from amazingly helpful Forum members on the Mozarabe from Almeria to Cordoba.
We will be walking from about 3 May- 22 May.
I am now concerned that it will be too hot.
Has anybody walked this stretch at that time?
Thanks

 

[Stephen Nicholls]

"Too hot" is a personal concept.
I'm happy walking at up to, say, 32 deg C but some would say that was too hot.
April and May are - for me - perfect months on the caminos: all the wild flowers are out in abundance, and there aren't too many other pilgrims - except, probably in the final 100 Kms.
So I would say - go ahead, May will be perfect, and enjoy every step you take!
Buen camino!

 

[NTange]

"Too hot" is a personal concept.
I'm happy walking at up to, say, 32 deg C but some would say that was too hot.
April and May are - for me - perfect months on the caminos: all the wild flowers are out in abundance, and there aren't too many other pilgrims - except, probably in the final 100 Kms.
So I would say - go ahead, May will be perfect, and enjoy every step you take!
Buen camino!

Thanks Stephen.
I would not enjoy walking in 32 deg. I live everyday at those temperatures and would like a cooler climate for walking.
Did you have days at 32 deg in May?

 

[Deleted member 73526]

For a walk from Almeria to Cordoba from 3/May to 22/May, you're likely to encounter the highest temperatures toward the end of your walk in Cordoba, since Cordoba gets hotter than other places on the route as summer approaches. So lets look at Cordoba to start:

Córdoba May Weather, Average Temperature (Spain) - Weather Spark

In Córdoba during May average daily high temperatures increase from 75°F to 85°F and the fraction of time spent overcast or mostly cloudy decreases from 39% to 31%.

weatherspark.com

Click on the month of May to drill down to the detail. Around 21/May, it shows:
Average daily high temp. = 27℃ (max. historical temp. is around 33℃)
Average daily low temp. = 13℃ (min. historical temp. is around 10℃)

You can click further to see what that looks like over the course of the day.

On an average 22/May, you'll be feeling cool (14℃) at 7:15 AM when the sun comes up. The temperature will rise through the day. From 2pm to 8pm it will be over 25℃ with a peak of 27℃ at about 5pm

If you are unfortunate enough to experience something like the hottest recorded temperatures for that date, the temperature will be 18℃ at daybreak. From around 2pm to 9pm it will be above 30℃, with a peak of about 33℃ at about 5pm.

Bottom line - If the forecast is for record breaking heat, you should plan on setting off before dawn and covering as much distance as possible before 2pm.

 

[Deleted member 73526]

By contrast, even in May you'll probably experience a chilly morning or two between Hueneja and Granada. The low temperature as you set off from Alquife could (historically) be as low as 3℃.
(An average mid-May day there starts at 6℃ and rises to 19℃ - you'd better have some layers to wear).

 

[Stephen Nicholls]

Thanks Stephen. I would not enjoy walking in 32 deg. I live everyday at those temperatures and would like a cooler climate for walking. Did you have days at 32 deg in May?

I've just googled Almeria, and it says: "The weather in May in Almeria is characterised by increasing temperatures and longer, sunnier days as summer approaches. The average daytime temperature now is a pleasant 19 C with average high and low temperatures of 14C to 24C. "

Note that those are AVERAGE. That sounds pretty perfect to me: I'm getting jealous!
Buen camino .....

 

[BruceNZ]

We walked Granada to Merida in May 2 years ago and struck perfect walking weather. Low 20's most days and only one day of drizzle. Hoping for similar when we do the de la Lana April/May this year tho suspect may be cooler to start. Buen Camino

 

[NTange]

By contrast, even in May you'll probably experience a chilly morning or two between Hueneja and Granada. The low temperature as you set off from Alquife could (historically) be as low as 3℃.
(An average mid-May day there starts at 6℃ and rises to 19℃ - you'd better have some layers to wear).

For a walk from Almeria to Cordoba from 3/May to 22/May, you're likely to encounter the highest temperatures toward the end of your walk in Cordoba, since Cordoba gets hotter than other places on the route as summer approaches. So lets look at Cordoba to start:

Córdoba May Weather, Average Temperature (Spain) - Weather Spark

In Córdoba during May average daily high temperatures increase from 75°F to 85°F and the fraction of time spent overcast or mostly cloudy decreases from 39% to 31%.

weatherspark.com

Click on the month of May to drill down to the detail. Around 21/May, it shows:
Average daily high temp. = 27℃ (max. historical temp. is around 33℃)
Average daily low temp. = 13℃ (min. historical temp. is around 10℃)

You can click further to see what that looks like over the course of the day.

On an average 22/May, you'll be feeling cool (14℃) at 7:15 AM when the sun comes up. The temperature will rise through the day. From 2pm to 8pm it will be over 25℃ with a peak of 27℃ at about 5pm

If you are unfortunate enough to experience something like the hottest recorded temperatures for that date, the temperature will be 18℃ at daybreak. From around 2pm to 9pm it will be above 30℃, with a peak of about 33℃ at about 5pm.

Bottom line - If the forecast is for record breaking heat, you should plan on setting off before dawn and covering as much distance as possible before 2pm.

Thanks again Raggy for so much useful information.

 

[NTange]

I've just googled Almeria, and it says: "The weather in May in Almeria is characterised by increasing temperatures and longer, sunnier days as summer approaches. The average daytime temperature now is a pleasant 19 C with average high and low temperatures of 14C to 24C. "

Note that those are AVERAGE. That sounds pretty perfect to me: I'm getting jealous!
Buen camino .....

It does sound perfect, thank you.

 

[Robi Diaz De Vivar]

I have been excitedly gathering information from amazingly helpful Forum members on the Mozarabe from Almeria to Cordoba.
We will be walking from about 3 May- 22 May.
I am now concerned that it will be too hot.
Has anybody walked this stretch at that time?
Thanks

I walked Granada to Cordoba last year at the end of March and it was extremely comfortable. I live in north west Andalucia and the 3 weeks when you are walking are warm (24 - 28 C) not hot. I honestly believe that you will be fine. Buen Camino.

 

[JR9162]

Yes, way to hot. Start in March / April

 

[NTange]

I walked Granada to Cordoba last year at the end of March and it was extremely comfortable. I live in north west Andalucia and the 3 weeks when you are walking are warm (24 - 28 C) not hot. I honestly believe that you will be fine. Buen Camino.

Thanks. Will go ahead with plans to walk in May.

 

[Cailin O Eire]

I'm Irish, pale skin, freckles and I burn, plus I cant tolerate the heat, just not used to it maybe. Went in June in 2015, quickly realised that walking at first light or just before it and taking a lunch break at the suns peak in the sky, was the only way to face the heat. If you are booked and cant change, just start your day very early and get the most of the day in before it becomes unbearable
Buen Camino

 

[NTange]

I'm Irish, pale skin, freckles and I burn, plus I cant tolerate the heat, just not used to it maybe. Went in June in 2015, quickly realised that walking at first light or just before it and taking a lunch break at the suns peak in the sky, was the only way to face the heat. If you are booked and cant change, just start your day very early and get the most of the day in before it becomes unbearable
Buen Camino

Thanks Cailin, we always start early anyway.