The Sierra de Guadarrama Climate
The Sierra de Guadarrama, along with the Gredos and Ayllón Sierras, makes up the Sistema Central (the Central System). This chain of mountains runs basically in West-East direction and splits the meseta in two subplateaux having different continental mediterranean climates. The orography of the Central System has a direct influence on the Iberian Peninsula climate; the Northern area has a temperate climate, with dry and warm summers (Csb according to Köppen climate classification) and the Southern region has dry and hot summers (Csa). Csb climate is the one dominating in the Sierra de Guadarrama.
This continental mediterranean climate, typical of the peninsular interior, overlaps in the Sierra de Guadarrama with the mountain climate, with very cold winters and dry chilly summers. As the height increases, there is a precipitation and temperature gradient across the Sierra, so precipitation is more copious and, generally, in the form of snow. On the other hand, the temperature varies inversely to the height.
