Climate - Ponta Delgada (Azores)

The climate of Ponta Delgada is temperate oceanic, with mild, rainy winters and pleasantly warm summers.
The city is the capital of the Azores and is located on the southern coast of the island of São Miguel. The highest peak on the island is Pico da Vara, 1,103 meters (3,619 feet) high.
In winter, there are several rainy and windy periods. Even if the temperature is not low, the wind can increase the feeling of cold.
Cold weather is rare, however, occasionally there can be relatively cold days, with lows of 6/7 °C (43/45 °F) and highs of about 13/14 °C (55/57 °F). The coldest record is 4 °C (39.2 °F) and was set in February 1974.
In summer, there are spring-like periods, when the weather is variable and there are intermittent rains. However, short, warm periods can sometimes occur, which resemble the Mediterranean summer, with lows around 23/24 °C (73/75 °F) and highs around 27/28 °C (81/82 °F). The highest record is 28.8 °C (83.8 °F) and was set in August 1988 and in August 2011.
Spring and autumn are mild, rainy seasons.

The average temperature of the coldest month (February) is of 14.5 °C (58 °F), that of the warmest month (August) is of 22.5 °C (72.5 °F). Here are the average temperatures.

Precipitation amounts to 970 millimeters (38.2 inches) per year: so, it is at an intermediate level. It ranges from 25 mm (1 in) in the driest month (July) to 120 mm (4.7 in) in the wettest ones (November, December). However, the rains are frequent, and there are also many days with light, intermittent rains that are not considered in the statistics. Here is the average precipitation.

On average, there are around 1,740 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.

The sea temperature ranges between 16 °C (61 °F) and 23 °C (73 °F). Here are the average sea temperatures.

Best Time

The best time to visit Ponta Delgada runs from June to August, since it is the warmest and the least rainy period of the year. In May, you can go, but cool and rainy days are more frequent.
Even in summer, it's better to bring a sweatshirt, and maybe a light jacket for the evening.

Ponta Delgada - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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In January, the weather in Ponta Delgada is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 15.1 °C (59 °F), with a minimum of 13.1 °C (55.6 °F) and a maximum of 17.1 °C (62.8 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 8.5 °C (47.5 °F). However, it dropped to 4.6 °C (40.3 °F) in January 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 19 °C (66 °F). However, it reached 19.6 °C (67.3 °F) in January 2017.
Precipitation amounts to 110 mm (4.3 in), distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 3 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 32% of the time.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 18 kph (11 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 17 °C (62 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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In February, the coldest month of the year, the weather in Ponta Delgada is usually mild. The average temperature is of 14.5 °C (58 °F), with a minimum of 12.2 °C (54 °F) and a maximum of 16.8 °C (62.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 8 °C (46.5 °F). However, it dropped to 5.6 °C (42.1 °F) in February 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 18.5 °C (65.5 °F). However, it reached 20.4 °C (68.7 °F) in February 2000.
Precipitation amounts to 80 mm (3.1 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 3.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 34% of the time.
The average humidity is 80%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 17 kph (11 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 16.5 °C (61.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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In March, the weather in Ponta Delgada is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 14.6 °C (58 °F), with a minimum of 12.3 °C (54.1 °F) and a maximum of 17 °C (62.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 8 °C (46.5 °F). However, it dropped to 5 °C (41 °F) in March 2002.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 19 °C (66 °F). However, it reached 21.7 °C (71.1 °F) in March 1998.
Precipitation amounts to 85 mm (3.3 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 32% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 19 kph (12 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 16 °C (61 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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In April, the weather in Ponta Delgada is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 15.4 °C (60 °F), with a minimum of 12.8 °C (55 °F) and a maximum of 17.9 °C (64.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 10 °C (49.5 °F). However, it dropped to 6.4 °C (43.5 °F) in April 2000.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 20 °C (68 °F). However, it reached 22.6 °C (72.7 °F) in April 2002.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 36% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 17 kph (11 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 16.5 °C (62 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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In May, the weather in Ponta Delgada is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 16.8 °C (62 °F), with a minimum of 14.2 °C (57.6 °F) and a maximum of 19.4 °C (66.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 10.5 °C (51.5 °F). However, it dropped to 9.1 °C (48.4 °F) in May 2017.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 21.5 °C (70.5 °F). However, it reached 23.6 °C (74.5 °F) in May 2014.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 40% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (10 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 17.5 °C (64 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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In June, the weather in Ponta Delgada is usually warm. The average temperature is of 19 °C (66 °F), with a minimum of 16.3 °C (61.3 °F) and a maximum of 21.7 °C (71.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 12 °C (54 °F). However, it dropped to 10 °C (50 °F) in June 1992.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 24 °C (75.5 °F). However, it reached 26.7 °C (80.1 °F) in June 2018.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 40 minutes. So the days are long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 37% of the time.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 19.5 °C (67.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.

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In July, the weather in Ponta Delgada is usually warm. The average temperature is of 21.3 °C (70 °F), with a minimum of 18.3 °C (64.9 °F) and a maximum of 24.3 °C (75.7 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 15 °C (59 °F). However, it dropped to 13.5 °C (56.3 °F) in July 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 26.5 °C (79.5 °F). However, it reached 28.2 °C (82.8 °F) in July 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 25 mm (1 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 25 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 47% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 22 °C (71.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.

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In August, the warmest month of the year, the weather in Ponta Delgada is usually warm. The average temperature is of 22.5 °C (72 °F), with a minimum of 19.5 °C (67.1 °F) and a maximum of 25.5 °C (77.9 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 17 °C (62.5 °F). However, it dropped to 14.5 °C (58.1 °F) in August 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 27.5 °C (81.5 °F). However, it reached 28.8 °C (83.8 °F) in August 2011.
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm (2 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 51% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 23.5 °C (74 °F). Therefore, the sea can be considered barely acceptable for swimming.

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In September, the weather in Ponta Delgada is usually warm. The average temperature is of 21.6 °C (71 °F), with a minimum of 18.8 °C (65.8 °F) and a maximum of 24.4 °C (75.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 16.5 °C (61.5 °F). However, it dropped to 13.5 °C (56.3 °F) in September 1993.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 26.5 °C (79.5 °F). However, it reached 27.2 °C (81 °F) in September 2000.
Precipitation amounts to 95 mm (3.7 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 47% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 23 °C (73.5 °F). Therefore, the sea can be considered barely acceptable for swimming.

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In October, the weather in Ponta Delgada is usually warm. The average temperature is of 19.5 °C (67 °F), with a minimum of 17 °C (62.6 °F) and a maximum of 22 °C (71.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 13.5 °C (56 °F). However, it dropped to 11 °C (51.8 °F) in October 2015.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 24.5 °C (76 °F). However, it reached 25.8 °C (78.4 °F) in October 1997.
Precipitation amounts to 110 mm (4.3 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 41% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 17 kph (10 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 21.5 °C (70.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.

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In November, the weather in Ponta Delgada is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 17.0 °C (63 °F), with a minimum of 14.6 °C (58.3 °F) and a maximum of 19.3 °C (66.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 11.5 °C (52.5 °F). However, it dropped to 8.6 °C (47.5 °F) in November 2006.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 22 °C (71.5 °F). However, it reached 25.5 °C (77.9 °F) in November 2001.
Precipitation amounts to 120 mm (4.7 in), distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 3.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 36% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 19.5 °C (67 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.

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In December, the weather in Ponta Delgada is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 15.8 °C (60 °F), with a minimum of 13.7 °C (56.7 °F) and a maximum of 17.9 °C (64.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 9.5 °C (49 °F). However, it dropped to 7.2 °C (45 °F) in December 2006.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 20 °C (68 °F). However, it reached 22.6 °C (72.7 °F) in December 2004.
Precipitation amounts to 120 mm (4.7 in), distributed over 14 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 35 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 3 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 31% of the time.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 19 kph (12 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 18 °C (64 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.