The climate of Braga can be defined as Mediterranean, given that the winters are mild and rainy and the summers are warm and sunny, even though the rains are particularly abundant.
The city is located in northern Portugal, 190 meters (625 ft) above sea level and 30 km (18 mi) from the ocean.
The
average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of 9 °C (48 °F), that of the warmest months (July, August) is of 21.4 °C (70.5 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Braga_ - Average temperatures (1981-2010) | Month | Min (°C) | Max (°C) | Mean (°C) | Min (°F) | Max (°F) | Mean (°F) |
|---|
| January | 4 | 14 | 9 | 40 | 57 | 48.2 |
|---|
| February | 5 | 15 | 9.9 | 41 | 59 | 49.7 |
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| March | 7 | 18 | 12.3 | 45 | 64 | 54.1 |
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| April | 8 | 18 | 13.1 | 46 | 65 | 55.6 |
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| May | 10 | 21 | 15.8 | 51 | 70 | 60.4 |
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| June | 14 | 25 | 19.4 | 56 | 78 | 67 |
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| July | 15 | 28 | 21.4 | 59 | 82 | 70.4 |
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| August | 15 | 28 | 21.4 | 58 | 82 | 70.4 |
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| September | 13 | 26 | 19.4 | 56 | 78 | 66.8 |
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| October | 11 | 21 | 15.8 | 51 | 70 | 60.5 |
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| November | 8 | 17 | 12.2 | 46 | 62 | 54 |
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| December | 6 | 14 | 10.2 | 43 | 58 | 50.4 |
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| Year | 9.6 | 20.4 | 15 | 49.3 | 68.7 | 59 |
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amounts to 1,465 millimeters (57.7 inches) per year: it is therefore abundant. It ranges from 25 mm (1 in) in the driest month (July) to 230 mm (9.1 in) in the wettest (December). Here is the average precipitation.
Braga_ - Average precipitation| Month | Millimeters | Inches | Days |
|---|
| January | 195 | 7.7 | 14 |
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| February | 160 | 6.3 | 12 |
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| March | 100 | 3.9 | 10 |
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| April | 125 | 4.9 | 12 |
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| May | 120 | 4.7 | 12 |
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| June | 60 | 2.4 | 7 |
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| July | 25 | 1 | 4 |
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| August | 30 | 1.2 | 4 |
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| September | 80 | 3.1 | 6 |
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| October | 165 | 6.5 | 11 |
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| November | 175 | 6.9 | 12 |
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| December | 230 | 9.1 | 14 |
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| Year | 1465 | 57.7 | 116 |
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, from December to February, is mild.
There are many sunny days, in which the air is mild during the day, but it can get cold at night. On the coldest nights of the year, the temperature drops slightly below freezing. Also, in periods of good weather, fog can form at night and in the early morning.
However, there are also periods of bad weather, with wind and rain.
Snow in Braga is is rare but not impossible. Snowfalls with accumulation on the ground occurred in February 1983, January 1987 and January 2009. The lowest record is -6.3 °C (20.7 °F), recorded in December 2001.
Summer, from mid-June to mid-September, is warm and sunny, with rare rains.
Given the short distance from the ocean, which remains cool even in summer, there can be quite cool periods, with highs of 20/22 °C (68/72 °F), especially in June and early July. However, from mid-June to early September, there can be very hot periods, in which the temperature reaches 37/38 °C (99/100 °F) or even more.
The heat record is 42.2 °C (108 °F), recorded in August 2016.
On average, there are around 2,540
sunshine hours per year: therefore, the amount of sunshine is good. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.
Braga_ - Sunshine hours| Month | Average | Total |
|---|
January | 4 | 125 | February | 4.5 | 125 | March | 6 | 190 | April | 7 | 215 | May | 8.5 | 260 | June | 9.5 | 290 | July | 10.5 | 325 | August | 10 | 315 | September | 8 | 240 | October | 6 | 185 | November | 4.5 | 140 | December | 4 | 125 | Year | 7 | 2540 |
The
sea temperature ranges between 14 °C (57 °F) and 19 °C (66 °F). So, it never becomes warm for swimming. Here are the average sea temperatures at Viana do Castelo.
Viana do Castelo - Sea temperature| Month | Celsius (°C) | Fahrenheit (°F) |
|---|
January | 14.5 | 58 | February | 14 | 57 | March | 14 | 57 | April | 14.5 | 58 | May | 15.5 | 60 | June | 17 | 63 | July | 18.5 | 65 | August | 19 | 66 | September | 18.5 | 65 | October | 17.5 | 64 | November | 16.5 | 61 | December | 15 | 59 | Year | 16.2 | 61.1 |
Best Time
The
best time to visit Braga runs from June to September, since it is the warmest and the least rainy period of the year. July and August are the warmest months, but the heat is rarely excessive, and in addition, they are the driest. However, in September too, the rains are still quite rare, at least in the first half. 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.
Those who want to avoid hot periods (which are quite rare, but possible) can choose the period from early May to mid-June and from mid-September to early October, although it rains more often.