Climate and seasons: how to choose where to own abroad

Most buyers choose a place on a sunny weekend and live in it through all twelve months. The sunny weekend is the least informative sample. This article treats climate as a purchase criterion in the same way as price or location: what to ask, what to measure, and which official sources to use. It is general guidance. We deliberately give few numbers, because climate statistics depend on the station, the period and the year, and the official services publish them better than we can.

Look at the whole year, not the postcard season

Ask for four things for the exact town, not the country:

• The hottest and the coldest months, and how many days a year are extreme in each direction.
• Rainfall and when it falls. A dry year on average can still hide a few days of violent rain.
• Humidity, which makes both heat and cold feel worse and is the main cause of mould.
• Sea temperature and wind, if the sea is part of why you are buying.

The official sources are the national meteorological services: AEMET for Spain, IPMA for Portugal, the Cyprus Department of Meteorology, the Thai Meteorological Department and the National Center of Meteorology of the UAE. Their climate pages and long-term averages by station are the best starting point. Compare the latest decade with older averages, because summers in southern Europe have been getting hotter, and avoid sales brochures that quote a single pleasant month.

Summer heat

Southern Europe, Cyprus and the Gulf are hot in summer, but not in the same way.

• Southern Spain, Portugal's interior and Algarve, Greece, Italy's south and Cyprus have long dry summers with periodic heatwaves. Inland places can be much hotter than the coast. Official services issue heat warnings, so look at how often they were issued in recent years.
• In the UAE the summer is extreme heat with high humidity on the coast, and life moves indoors with air conditioning. In practice, outdoor use of a terrace or pool is limited for several months.
• In Thailand, the hot season precedes the rains, and humidity is high throughout much of the year.

Heat changes what you should look for in the property: orientation (a north-facing home stays cooler in the northern hemisphere), shading, insulation, thick walls, a roof that is not directly exposed, and windows that can be shut against the sun. A top-floor flat with a flat roof and no insulation can be very uncomfortable in a heatwave.

Winter: the surprise of southern Europe

Many buyers from Poland, the Baltics or Germany are surprised that winter is the harder season in the south. Winters are mild, but houses were often built for summer: single-glazed windows, little insulation, no central heating, tiled floors. Nights can be cold, humidity high, and mould appears on external walls and behind furniture in an empty house. If the property is unoccupied for months, this is the typical story: you arrive in spring and find a damp smell.

Practical points: ask how the home is heated and what a winter of heating actually cost; look for damp stains at the corners of ceilings and behind cupboards; ask whether there is a dehumidifier or ventilation routine. Our articles on empty property maintenance and security and utilities and community fees cover the maintenance side.

Storms, floods, wildfires, monsoon

• Floods. In the Mediterranean, heavy autumn rain can cause sudden floods; the late-October 2024 floods in the Valencia region in Spain are a recent example. Ask whether the plot lies in a mapped flood-risk zone and whether the insurer asks for a surcharge.
• Wildfires. Hot dry summers in southern Europe bring a wildfire season. A house in woodland or scrub near the sea is beautiful and exposed.
• Monsoon and storms. Thailand has a rainy season, often called the monsoon, when heavy rain and local flooding occur, and which months are worst depends on the coast. The Gulf has rare but intense rain events. We do not quote tropical-cyclone risk for particular places; check the services above.
• Sea level and erosion. For a property directly on the shore, ask the local lawyer or the municipality about coastal rules, which can restrict construction or add risk.

Insurance cost and cover for these risks differ from country to country; see home insurance for non-resident owners.

Climate and running costs

Air conditioning in a hot country and heating in a damp one are the largest variable utility lines, and they vary strongly by building quality and electricity price. We do not give kilowatt-hour or monthly figures, because tariffs change; ask the seller for twelve months of bills, in summer and winter, and ask whether they come from a permanent resident or an occasional visitor. A new, well-insulated home with an efficient heat pump or inverter air-conditioning unit can cost much less to run than an old one, and the energy certificate (where required) helps compare. Note also that some regions limit or condition the installation of outdoor units on façades, so check the community rules.

When to view

• View once in the shoulder season (spring or autumn), when light and weather are pleasant, to judge the area.
• Then view or at least stay for a few days in the hardest month: August in the south, January for damp, and the monsoon months in Thailand.
• Visit in the evening and at night: noise, cold and the feel of the neighbourhood differ from daytime.
• If you cannot travel, ask for photos and videos on a rainy day, and for a neighbour's or the community administrator's view of problems.

FAQ

Which country has the best climate? That depends on what you need: dry heat, mild winters, sea swimming or no snow. Compare stations for your chosen town with the official services, not national averages.

Are houses in southern Europe heated? Often not centrally. Plan for electric or heat-pump heating and check insulation.

Can I buy a flood-risk property? Possibly, but ask about mapped zones, insurance conditions and the history of the plot, and take advice from a local lawyer.

Is the UAE too hot to live in all year? Summers are very hot and humid, and many residents spend them largely indoors or away. Whether that suits you is personal.

What is the single best month to view? Shoulder-season months for a first view; also one visit in the toughest month before you sign.

How we help

We are a trilingual platform that finds properties and coordinates independent local lawyers and tax advisers. We can help you compare towns, shortlist places that match your climate needs and ask local professionals about flood zones, insulation and community rules. This text is informational and is not legal, tax or investment advice. Weather statistics and local rules change, so verify them with the official services above before you buy. Use our country comparison and calculators to put running costs next to the purchase price.