, with quite mild winters and hot, muggy and rainy summers (according to the Köppen classification, humid subtropical climate - Cfa).
: in winter, cold currents from the northwest prevail, while in summer, warm and humid currents of tropical origin prevail.
Matsuyama is a city of 505,000 inhabitants, located in southwestern Japan, on the northwest coast of the island of Shikoku (of which it is the largest city), in Ehime Prefecture, and at almost 34 degrees north latitude.
, there are fairly mild periods, with highs above 10 °C (50 °F), alternating with cold periods, with wind and rain, highs around 5/7 °C (41/45 °F) or less, and possible falls of sleet or snow. Snowfalls, however, are generally light, as are nocturnal frosts.
In the post-war period, the coldest record is -5.3 °C (22.5 °F), set in February 1977. The heaviest snowfall occurred in February 1984, with 14 cm (5.5 in).
are hot and humid. There can be periods of good weather, with maximum temperatures around 35 °C (95 °F), tropical nights and high humidity, but also periods of bad weather due to the summer monsoon. August is the hottest month, both because of the thermal inertia of the sea and because of the lower frequency of periods of bad weather.
in Matsuyama is warm enough for swimming, with a temperature of 23 °C (73 °F) or more, from July to October, and it becomes pleasantly warm in August.
From June to October (but especially from August to early October), Matsuyama can be hit by
, the tropical cyclones of Southeast Asia, although the northern coast of Shikoku is more protected than the southern coast. In early November 2024, the city was flooded by rains brought by "late" Typhoon Kong-rey.
As regards to the climate, the best times to visit Matsuyama are spring and autumn, and in particular, from mid-April to mid-May and from late October to mid-November.
in Matsuyama takes place, with variations depending on the year, from March 24 (the start of the season) to April 3 (peak bloom). About a week passes between the beginning and the peak of the flowering. Even though in some years it can get a little cold, with highs around 12 °C (54 °F), you can also take advantage of this period.
In summer, August is partly preferable to July, having more sunshine and less rainfall, but it is also true that it is hotter and there's a greater risk of typhoons.
. Here are the average temperatures.
January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of
6.4 °C, with a minimum of
2.6 °C and a maximum of
10.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-1 °C. However, it dropped to
-3.5 °C in January 2011.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
15 °C. However, it reached
20.3 °C in January 1997.
Precipitation amounts to
50.9 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 41% of the time.
The average humidity is 63%.
The average wind speed is of
18.1 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
17.6 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
February is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of
6.9 °C, with a minimum of
2.8 °C and a maximum of
11 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-1.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-4.5 °C in February 1999.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
17.5 °C. However, it reached
23.9 °C in February 2004.
Precipitation amounts to
65.7 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 46% of the time.
The average humidity is 63%.
The average wind speed is of
16.8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
16.6 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
March is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
10 °C, with a minimum of
5.6 °C and a maximum of
14.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
0 °C. However, it dropped to
-1.4 °C in March 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
21.5 °C. However, it reached
27.5 °C in March 2010.
Precipitation amounts to
105.1 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 47% of the time.
The average humidity is 63%.
The average wind speed is of
15.8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
16.7 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
April is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
15 °C, with a minimum of
10.3 °C and a maximum of
19.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
3.5 °C. However, it dropped to
1.5 °C in April 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
26 °C. However, it reached
29 °C in April 1998.
Precipitation amounts to
107.3 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 49% of the time.
The average humidity is 62%.
The average wind speed is of
14.2 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
17.8 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
May is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
19.6 °C, with a minimum of
15 °C and a maximum of
24.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
10 °C. However, it dropped to
6.3 °C in May 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
29 °C. However, it reached
32.3 °C in May 2019.
Precipitation amounts to
129.5 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 48% of the time.
The average humidity is 64%.
The average wind speed is of
12.3 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
19.9 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.
June is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
23.2 °C, with a minimum of
19.4 °C and a maximum of
27 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
15 °C. However, it dropped to
13.5 °C in June 2000.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
32.5 °C. However, it reached
35.6 °C in June 2011.
Precipitation amounts to
228.7 mm, distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 25 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 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 35% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
10.7 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
22.6 °C. Therefore, the sea can be considered barely acceptable for swimming.
July is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
27.5 °C, with a minimum of
23.8 °C and a maximum of
31.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
20 °C. However, it dropped to
16.8 °C in July 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
35 °C. However, it reached
37 °C in July 1994.
Precipitation amounts to
223.5 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 5 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 43% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
11.1 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
25.7 °C. Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.
August, the hottest month of the year, is generally a very hot month. The average temperature is of
28.6 °C, with a minimum of
24.6 °C and a maximum of
32.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
21 °C. However, it dropped to
19.1 °C in August 2009.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
35.5 °C. However, it reached
37.4 °C in August 2018.
Precipitation amounts to
99 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%.
The average wind speed is of
11.6 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
27.6 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
September is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of
25 °C, with a minimum of
21 °C and a maximum of
29.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
16 °C. However, it dropped to
12.5 °C in September 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
33.5 °C. However, it reached
36.2 °C in September 2020.
Precipitation amounts to
148.9 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 44% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%.
The average wind speed is of
13.1 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
26.6 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
October is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
19.4 °C, with a minimum of
15.1 °C and a maximum of
23.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
9.5 °C. However, it dropped to
5.3 °C in October 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
29 °C. However, it reached
33.3 °C in October 2019.
Precipitation amounts to
113 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 50% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is of
14.4 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
24.3 °C. Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.
November is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
13.8 °C, with a minimum of
9.6 °C and a maximum of
18.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
4 °C. However, it dropped to
1.5 °C in November 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
23.5 °C. However, it reached
27.6 °C in November 2020.
Precipitation amounts to
71.3 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 46% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is of
15.4 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
22.1 °C. Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.
December is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
8.7 °C, with a minimum of
4.8 °C and a maximum of
12.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
0.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-2.1 °C in December 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
18 °C. However, it reached
25.2 °C in December 2018.
Precipitation amounts to
61.8 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 55 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 42% of the time.
The average humidity is 65%.
The average wind speed is of
17.8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
19.7 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.