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Climate - Azores


Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine

Flag - Azores

Map - Azores

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The climate of the Azores Islands is subtropical oceanic, pleasantly warm in summer yet cool or mild for many months; therefore, they are not a tropical paradise. The archipelago, a Portuguese autonomous region, is located in the Atlantic Ocean at the same latitude as the Mediterranean Sea. However, the influence of the ocean makes the climate mild by comparison, especially in the summer, when the temperature is lower than on the coasts and islands of the Mediterranean.

Index:


  • Temperature
  • Rainfall
  • Sunshine
  • Sea temperature
  • Hurricanes

Temperature



The winter temperatures range from 12/13 °C (53/55 °F) at night to 17/18 °C (63/64 °F) during the day, while in summer, they range from 17/18 °C (63/64 °F) at night to 24/26 °C (75/79 °F) during the day. The temperature varies incrementally from one month to the other, and highs exceed 20 °C (68 °F) only from June to October.
Given that they are very far from the continents (and from the Pole), the Azores do not experience real heat waves in summer or cold waves in winter. In winter, cold air comes from Canada, after having crossed the Atlantic Ocean for a long distance, and mainly affects the northwesternmost islands (Flores and Corvo).
The highest records on the Azores are not impressive, being around 30 °C (86 °F). In August 2010 and 2011, at Lajes airport, in the north of the island of Terceira, the temperature reached 31.5 °C (88.5 °F), while in September 1985, at the Pico Island airport, it reached 32 °C (89.5 °F).
On the other hand, temperatures rarely drop below 7/8 °C (45/46 °F) in winter. However, cold records on the coasts are around 3/4 °C (37/39 °F) in most of the islands, and 2 °C (35.5 °F) in Flores (the latter recorded in January 1985).
Here are the average temperatures of Ponta Delgada.
Ponta Delgada - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January131715.1566359.2
February121714.5546258.1
March121714.6546358.4
April131815.4556459.6
May141916.8586762.2
June162219617166.2
July182421.3657670.3
August202622.5677872.5
September192421.6667670.9
October172219.5637267.1
November151917586762.5
December141815.8576460.4
Year15.320.317.7559.568.564

Rainfall



The famous anticyclone (high pressure area) that brings fine weather to Western Europe and the Mediterranean (i.e. the Azores High) got its name from the Azores, interestingly enough however, the weather on these islands is not always sunny. In fact, in autumn and winter, the rains are frequent, and on the north-western islands, they are also abundant. In addition, sometimes there can be wind storms in the period from November to March.
Owing to the abundance of rainfall, the environment is green and blossoming; flowers paint the landscape mainly in spring, and they also gave the name to the westernmost and very rainy island of Flores ("flowers").
Here is the average precipitation of Santa Cruz, on the island of Flores.
Santa Cruz Flores - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January1957.717
February1706.717
March1556.115
April1054.112
May1054.110
June953.79
July602.48
August702.810
September1254.913
October1807.114
November1807.115
December2258.918
Year166565.6158

The rainfall is below 750 millimeters (29.5 inches) per year on the island of Santa Maria (the southeasternmost island), it's above 900 mm (35 in) in São Miguel, while it reaches or exceeds 1,000 mm (40 in) on the other islands (see Angra do Heroísmo, on the island of Terceira). In the summer months, from June to August, the rains are a bit more rare and less abundant, but they still occur for 5/7 days per month on average.
Here is the average rainfall of the aforementioned Ponta Delgada, on the southeastern island of São Miguel.
Ponta Delgada - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January1104.313
February803.112
March853.311
April652.610
May652.69
June401.66
July2516
August5026
September953.710
October1104.311
November1204.713
December1204.714
Year97038.2122

Sunshine



The Azores do not get a lot of sun, especially in the period from October to April, when the skies are often cloudy. On average, there are about 1,700 hours of sunshine per year in the north-western islands and 1,900 hours in the south-eastern ones. Here are the average sunshine hours per day in Ponta Delgada.
Ponta Delgada - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January395
February3.5105
March4120
April4.5140
May5.5175
June5.5165
July6.5210
August7215
September6175
October4.5140
November3.5110
December395
Year4.81740

Some of the islands are covered by hills or mountains. The highest peak is Mount Pico, on the island of the same name; it's a volcano of 2,351 meters (7,713 feet) and is also the highest mountain in Portugal. On the slopes of the mountain, there is not much sun and the rainfall is abundant, while the summit can be covered with snow in winter and spring.

Azores

Sea temperature



From July to September, the ocean is not particularly warm, yet may be acceptable for swimming for those who are not sensitive to the cold. The water temperature is 22 °C (72 °F) in July and 23/23.5 °C (73/74 °F) in August and September. Below are the average sea temperatures.
Ponta Delgada - Sea temperature
MonthCelsius (°C)Fahrenheit (°F)
January1762
February1661
March1661
April1762
May1864
June2067
July2271
August2374
September2374
October2171
November1967
December1864
Year19.266.6

Hurricanes



Occasionally, the Azores islands can be affected by hurricanes, the tropical cyclones of the Atlantic, although they generally arrive weakened because they have to move into a sea that is not very warm. Generally, hurricanes move northeast after hitting the Caribbean, but sometimes they can come directly from the south, from the Cape Verde area. The Azores are almost always reached in September or October.
Some hurricanes that hit the archipelago were:
At the beginning of September 1899, the "Great Bahamas" hurricane, which had hit the Caribbean in August, struck the island of São Miguel.
Hurricane Carrie in September 1957.
Hurricane Debbie in September 1961.
Hurricane Emmy at the beginning of September 1976.
In September 1992, two hurricanes, Bonnie and Charley, passed one after the other within a few days.
Hurricane Tanya in early November 1995.
Hurricane Gordon, which mainly affected the island of Santa Maria on September 20, 2006, with gusts at 130 kph (80 mph).
Another hurricane named Gordon affected the island of Santa Maria in August 2012.
In January 2016, in an absolutely anomalous period, hurricane Alex affected the islands, after having weakened to a tropical storm; however, it brought heavy rains and strong winds.
Hurricane Ophelia in early October 2017.
Hurricane Lorenzo at the beginning of October 2019.

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 See also (cities or regions):

 Angra Heroismo
 Ponta Delgada
 Santa Cruz Flores
 Santa Maria

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