ERA5 almanac comparison — 8 years of real data
Madrid vs Málaga / Costa del Sol: weather in October
Málaga / Costa del Sol edges out Madrid for sun in October: 61% clear historically versus 38% (8-year ERA5 average, a 23-point gap). Both are viable — Málaga / Costa del Sol is the safer bet.
What you are reading: 8-year historical averages, not a forecast.
Either destination can still surprise you this specific October. For this
week’s actual forecast, each destination links to its live page below.
Madrid
ES
- Clear days, October
- 38%
- Sample size
- n=248 days
- Avg high
- 71°F
- Early October (1st–15th)
- 66%
- Late October (16th–end)
- 12%
Málaga / Costa del Sol
ES
- Clear days, October
- 61%
- Sample size
- n=248 days
- Avg high
- 76°F
- Early October (1st–15th)
- 74%
- Late October (16th–end)
- 48%
Compare Madrid vs Málaga / Costa del Sol in another month
All percentages are historical averages from the ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 8 full years (2018–2025). “Clear” means avg high ≥ 72 °F, precipitation < 1 mm, and a non-precipitation weather code. This is history, not a forecast. The live 7-day outlook for any destination is on its own page and may differ from the long-run average. Data from Open-Meteo.