Climate
The Guadarramas have climatic features, characterized by considerable temperatures changes between summer and winter and a very dry summer. But, as in any mountainous zone, the climate on the mountains proper changes markedly with increases in height, and can be differentiated into discrete climatic zones.
Between 800m and 1,400m, the average annual temperature is 10-11 °C, with a summer high of 28°C and winter low of -6°C. Average annual precipitation is between 700 and 800 mm, predominantly in non-summer months. At this elevation, much of the precipitation falls as snow, between December and February, although there are always exceptions, and the snow rarely remains unmelted for more than three days. It is in this region that all cities and the majority of people live; this also means that of all distinguished elevations, it is the most susceptible to damage from human traffic and intrusion.
Between 1,400 and 2,000 m, the average annual temperature is 8-9°C, with a summer high of 25°C and winter low of -8°C. Average annual precipitation increases with the height to 900-1,000 mm, again primarily during the non-summer season in the form of snow, but between December and April. Much of the snow remains on the ground for the duration of the winter, especially on the range's north slope.
Between 2,000 and 2,428 m, the average annual temperature is between 6-7°C, with a summer high of 22°C and a winter low of -12°C. Average annual precipitation is between 1,200 and 2,500 mm, mostly snowfall between November and May which remains all winter and into the spring.
In summary, the climate of the Guadarramas is quite humid, more so than that of the rest of the Meseta Central (Central Plateau), and generally cold, increasing with altitude. In the peaks the wind is usually very intense and thunderstorms in the mountains are more frequent than in the plateau.
Read more about this topic: Sierra De Guadarrama
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