Climate - Santa Maria (Azores)

The climate of Santa Maria is temperate oceanic, with mild, rainy winters and pleasantly warm summers.
The island is located at the 37th parallel and is the most south-eastern, and the least rainy, of the Azores islands. The highest peak on the island is the Pico Alto, 587 meters (1,925 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 12 °C (53.5 °F).
In summer, there are spring-like periods, when the weather is variable and there are intermittent rains. However, short, hot periods can sometimes occur, which resemble the Mediterranean summer, with lows around 23/24 °C (73/75 °F) and highs around 28/29 °C (82/84 °F).
Spring and autumn are mild, quite rainy seasons.

Best Time

The best time to visit Santa Maria 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 a bit more frequent.
Even in summer, it's better to bring a sweatshirt, and maybe a light jacket for the evening.

Santa Maria - Climate data

In Santa Maria, the average temperature of the coldest month (February) is of 14.8 °C (58.7 °F), that of the warmest month (August) is of 23.1 °C (73.5 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
In Santa Maria, precipitation amounts to 730 millimeters (28.7 inches) per year: so, it is at an intermediate level. It ranges from 20 mm (0.8 in) in the driest month (June) to 115 mm (4.5 in) in the wettest one (November). Here is the average precipitation.
At Santa Maria, the sea temperature ranges from 17.5 °C (64 °F) in February, March to 23.5 °C (74 °F) in September. Here are the average sea temperatures.
In Santa Maria, there are on average around 1935 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.

Santa Maria - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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In January, the weather in Santa Maria is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 15.2 °C (59 °F), with a minimum of 13 °C (55.5 °F) and a maximum of 17.3 °C (63.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 10.5 °C (51 °F). However, it dropped to 6.4 °C (43.5 °F) in January 2009.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 19.5 °C (67 °F). However, it reached 22 °C (71.6 °F) in January 2007.
Precipitation amounts to 85 mm (3.3 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 3 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 30% of the time.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 22 kph (14 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 18.5 °C (65 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.

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In February, the coldest month of the year, the weather in Santa Maria is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 14.8 °C (59 °F), with a minimum of 12.4 °C (54.4 °F) and a maximum of 17.2 °C (62.9 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 10 °C (50 °F). However, it dropped to 7.2 °C (45 °F) in February 2014.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 19.5 °C (67 °F). However, it reached 22 °C (71.6 °F) in February 2001.
Precipitation amounts to 70 mm (2.8 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 3.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 33% of the time.
The average humidity is 80%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 21 kph (13 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 17.5 °C (64 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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In March, the weather in Santa Maria is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 15.2 °C (59 °F), with a minimum of 12.7 °C (54.8 °F) and a maximum of 17.7 °C (63.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 10 °C (50 °F). However, it dropped to 6.3 °C (43.3 °F) in March 2002.
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 23.6 °C (74.5 °F) in March 1995.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 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 22 kph (14 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 17.5 °C (63.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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In April, the weather in Santa Maria is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 16.0 °C (61 °F), with a minimum of 13.3 °C (56 °F) and a maximum of 18.6 °C (65.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 10.5 °C (50.5 °F). However, it dropped to 6.8 °C (44.2 °F) in April 1991.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 21 °C (70 °F). However, it reached 24.5 °C (76.1 °F) in April 2002.
Precipitation amounts to 55 mm (2.2 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 40% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 20 kph (13 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 18 °C (64 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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In May, the weather in Santa Maria is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 17.4 °C (63 °F), with a minimum of 14.7 °C (58.4 °F) and a maximum of 20.1 °C (68.1 °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 May 1993.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 23 °C (73 °F). However, it reached 29.2 °C (84.6 °F) in May 2001.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 50% of the time.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 18 kph (11 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 19 °C (66 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.

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In June, the weather in Santa Maria is usually warm. The average temperature is of 19.6 °C (67 °F), with a minimum of 16.8 °C (62.3 °F) and a maximum of 22.3 °C (72.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 14 °C (57.5 °F). However, it dropped to 12.4 °C (54.3 °F) in June 2000.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 24.5 °C (76.5 °F). However, it reached 28.1 °C (82.6 °F) in June 2005.
Precipitation amounts to 20 mm (0.8 in), distributed over 4 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 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 45% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 20.5 °C (68.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.

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In July, the weather in Santa Maria is usually warm. The average temperature is of 21.8 °C (71 °F), with a minimum of 18.9 °C (66.1 °F) and a maximum of 24.7 °C (76.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 15.5 °C (60 °F). However, it dropped to 15 °C (59 °F) in July 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 27 °C (80.5 °F). However, it reached 29.4 °C (84.9 °F) in July 1998.
Precipitation amounts to 25 mm (1 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 25 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 55% of the time.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 21.5 °C (71 °F). Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.

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In August, the warmest month of the year, the weather in Santa Maria is usually warm to hot and muggy. The average temperature is of 23.1 °C (74 °F), with a minimum of 20.2 °C (68.3 °F) and a maximum of 26 °C (78.7 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 18.5 °C (65.5 °F). However, it dropped to 16 °C (60.8 °F) in August 1994.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 28 °C (82 °F). However, it reached 30.6 °C (87.1 °F) in August 2013.
Precipitation amounts to 35 mm (1.4 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 58% of the time.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 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 September, the weather in Santa Maria is usually warm. The average temperature is of 22.2 °C (72 °F), with a minimum of 19.3 °C (66.7 °F) and a maximum of 25 °C (77.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 18 °C (64 °F). However, it dropped to 15 °C (59 °F) in September 2001.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 27 °C (81 °F). However, it reached 28.5 °C (83.3 °F) in September 1998.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 8 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 50% of the time.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 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 October, the weather in Santa Maria is usually warm. The average temperature is of 20.0 °C (68 °F), with a minimum of 17.5 °C (63.5 °F) and a maximum of 22.6 °C (72.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 14.5 °C (58.5 °F). However, it dropped to 10.7 °C (51.3 °F) in October 2015.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 25.5 °C (77.5 °F). However, it reached 26.6 °C (79.9 °F) in October 2009.
Precipitation amounts to 75 mm (3 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 43% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 20 kph (13 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 22.5 °C (72.5 °F). Therefore, the sea can be considered barely acceptable for swimming.

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In November, the weather in Santa Maria is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 17.6 °C (64 °F), with a minimum of 15.2 °C (59.4 °F) and a maximum of 19.9 °C (67.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 13 °C (55 °F). However, it dropped to 8 °C (46.4 °F) in November 1994.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 22.5 °C (73 °F). However, it reached 25 °C (77 °F) in November 1998.
Precipitation amounts to 115 mm (4.5 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 10 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 20 kph (13 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 21 °C (69.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.

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In December, the weather in Santa Maria is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 16.0 °C (61 °F), with a minimum of 13.9 °C (56.9 °F) and a maximum of 18.2 °C (64.7 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 10 °C (50 °F). However, it dropped to 6.2 °C (43.2 °F) in December 2000.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 20.5 °C (69 °F). However, it reached 22.6 °C (72.7 °F) in December 1998.
Precipitation amounts to 80 mm (3.1 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 40 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 33% of the time.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 23 kph (14 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 19.5 °C (67 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.