Climate - Marion Island (South Africa)

The climate of the Prince Edward Islands is subpolar oceanic, rainy and windy all year round.
The two islands, called Marion Island and Prince Edward Island, are located in the Indian Ocean, at the 46th parallel, and belong to the municipality of Cape Town (South Africa). We are in the area where the westerly winds blow intense.
Marion Island is the largest, and in the interior there are mountains up to 1,230 meters (4,035 feet) high, while on the island of Prince Edward the altitude reaches 660 meters (2,165 feet). On Marion Island, above 1,000 meters (3,300 feet), there are perennial snows, which however are retreating due to global warming (until a few decades ago there was a real glacier).
However, it can sometimes snow at sea level even in midsummer.
In winter it often snows, but the snow tends to melt because, during the day, the temperature almost always exceeds freezing.

Marion Island - Climate data

In Marion Island, the average temperature of the coldest month (August) is of 4.4 °C (39.9 °F), that of the warmest month (February) is of 9.2 °C (48.6 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
In Marion Island, precipitation amounts to 2400 millimeters (94.5 inches) per year: it is therefore abundant. It ranges from 170 mm (6.7 in) in the driest months (October, November) to 230 mm (9.1 in) in the wettest one (May). Here is the average precipitation.
In Marion Island, there are on average around 1360 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.

Marion Island - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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In January, the weather in Marion Island is usually mild. The average temperature is of 8.7 °C (48 °F), with a minimum of 4.9 °C (40.9 °F) and a maximum of 12.4 °C (54.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 1 °C (33.5 °F). However, it dropped to -1.5 °C (29.3 °F) in January 2005.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 18 °C (64 °F). However, it reached 24.8 °C (76.6 °F) in January 2005.
Precipitation amounts to 220 mm (8.7 in), distributed over 21 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 25 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 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 27 kph (17 mph).

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In February, the warmest month of the year, the weather in Marion Island is usually mild. The average temperature is of 9.2 °C (49 °F), with a minimum of 5.4 °C (41.8 °F) and a maximum of 13 °C (55.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 1.5 °C (34.5 °F). However, it dropped to -0.1 °C (31.8 °F) in February 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 18.5 °C (65 °F). However, it reached 21.9 °C (71.4 °F) in February 1996.
Precipitation amounts to 195 mm (7.7 in), distributed over 18 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 34% of the time.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 26 kph (16 mph).

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In March, the weather in Marion Island is usually quite mild. The average temperature is of 8.4 °C (47 °F), with a minimum of 4.8 °C (40.7 °F) and a maximum of 12 °C (53.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 1 °C (33.5 °F). However, it dropped to -2.5 °C (27.5 °F) in March 2009.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 17.5 °C (63.5 °F). However, it reached 22.5 °C (72.5 °F) in March 2002.
Precipitation amounts to 215 mm (8.5 in), distributed over 19 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 3.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 30% of the time.
The average humidity is 80%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 27 kph (17 mph).

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In April, the weather in Marion Island is usually quite mild. The average temperature is of 7.4 °C (45 °F), with a minimum of 3.8 °C (38.9 °F) and a maximum of 11 °C (51.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 0 °C (32 °F). However, it dropped to -1.7 °C (28.9 °F) in April 2009.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 16 °C (61 °F). However, it reached 23.4 °C (74.1 °F) in April 2018.
Precipitation amounts to 220 mm (8.7 in), distributed over 20 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 3 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 28% of the time.
The average humidity is 82%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 27 kph (17 mph).

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In May, the weather in Marion Island is usually quite cold. The average temperature is of 6.2 °C (43 °F), with a minimum of 2.7 °C (36.9 °F) and a maximum of 9.6 °C (49.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -1 °C (30.5 °F). However, it dropped to -2.4 °C (27.7 °F) in May 1993.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 14.5 °C (58.5 °F). However, it reached 25.6 °C (78.1 °F) in May 2018.
Precipitation amounts to 230 mm (9.1 in), distributed over 22 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 2.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 28% of the time.
The average humidity is 82%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 29 kph (18 mph).

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In June, the weather in Marion Island is usually quite cold. The average temperature is of 5.0 °C (41 °F), with a minimum of 1.8 °C (35.2 °F) and a maximum of 8.3 °C (46.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around -2 °C (28 °F). However, it dropped to -3.6 °C (25.5 °F) in June 2013.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 12.5 °C (55 °F). However, it reached 18.2 °C (64.8 °F) in June 2004.
Precipitation amounts to 205 mm (8.1 in), distributed over 23 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 35 minutes. June 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere.
There are on average 2 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 22% of the time.
The average humidity is 83%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 29 kph (18 mph).

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In July, the weather in Marion Island is usually quite cold. The average temperature is of 4.7 °C (40 °F), with a minimum of 1.4 °C (34.6 °F) and a maximum of 7.9 °C (46.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -2.5 °C (27 °F). However, it dropped to -4.6 °C (23.7 °F) in July 2004.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 12.5 °C (55 °F). However, it reached 21 °C (69.8 °F) in July 1994.
Precipitation amounts to 195 mm (7.7 in), distributed over 23 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 2 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 24% of the time.
The average humidity is 82%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 31 kph (20 mph).

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In August, the coldest month of the year, the weather in Marion Island is usually quite cold. The average temperature is of 4.4 °C (40 °F), with a minimum of 1.2 °C (34.1 °F) and a maximum of 7.6 °C (45.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -3 °C (26.5 °F). However, it dropped to -5.4 °C (22.3 °F) in August 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 11.5 °C (52.5 °F). However, it reached 19.9 °C (67.8 °F) in August 1997.
Precipitation amounts to 185 mm (7.3 in), distributed over 22 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 3 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 29% of the time.
The average humidity is 82%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 30 kph (19 mph).

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In September, the weather in Marion Island is usually quite cold. The average temperature is of 4.4 °C (40 °F), with a minimum of 1.1 °C (33.9 °F) and a maximum of 7.8 °C (46.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -3.5 °C (25.5 °F). However, it dropped to -6.9 °C (19.6 °F) in September 2004.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 12.5 °C (54.5 °F). However, it reached 19.1 °C (66.4 °F) in September 1997.
Precipitation amounts to 185 mm (7.3 in), distributed over 21 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 3.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 29% of the time.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 30 kph (19 mph).

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In October, the weather in Marion Island is usually quite cold. The average temperature is of 5.6 °C (42 °F), with a minimum of 2.1 °C (35.8 °F) and a maximum of 9 °C (48.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -2 °C (28.5 °F). However, it dropped to -3.5 °C (25.7 °F) in October 1991.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 14 °C (57 °F). However, it reached 19.5 °C (67.1 °F) in October 2017.
Precipitation amounts to 170 mm (6.7 in), distributed over 19 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 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 29 kph (18 mph).

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In November, the weather in Marion Island is usually quite mild. The average temperature is of 6.6 °C (44 °F), with a minimum of 2.9 °C (37.2 °F) and a maximum of 10.2 °C (50.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -0.5 °C (31 °F). However, it dropped to -3.9 °C (25 °F) in November 2004.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 15 °C (59.5 °F). However, it reached 20.1 °C (68.2 °F) in November 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 170 mm (6.7 in), distributed over 19 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 0 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 35% of the time.
The average humidity is 80%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 28 kph (17 mph).

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In December, the weather in Marion Island is usually quite mild. The average temperature is of 7.7 °C (46 °F), with a minimum of 4 °C (39.3 °F) and a maximum of 11.3 °C (52.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 0 °C (32 °F). However, it dropped to -1 °C (30.2 °F) in December 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 16.5 °C (61.5 °F). However, it reached 21.9 °C (71.4 °F) in December 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 205 mm (8.1 in), distributed over 20 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 50 minutes. So the days are long. December 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 33% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 29 kph (18 mph).