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The climate of the Azores islands is influenced by two factors: the latitude of the islands and the Gulf Stream, a warm Atlantic ocean current, thanks to which the temperatures of the archipelago are mild throughout the year.
The climate is of a sub-tropical oceanic type, the rains are concentrated in the months between October and March, with annual averages between 700 mm and 1,600 mm. Precipitation is more intense in the westernmost islands, where values of 3,000 mm are exceeded in the highest mountains.
The islands are sometimes affected by tropical storms, which can usually hit the islands in the months from August to October, however, these storms are rather rare and occur with a frequency of one every three to four years.
In the town of Ponta Delgada on the island of São Miguel the maximum average temperatures vary between 25 ° C in August and 17 ° C in the winter months, the average minimum temperatures vary between 18 ° C in August and September and 11 am ° C of winter.
The same factors that influence the climate of the archipelago also determine the sea temperature, in fact the average temperature of the sea water, which is tempered by the Gulf Stream, varies between 16ºC in the months from February to April and 24ºC in the month of August.
WHEN TO GO TO THE AZORES ISLANDS
The best months for a visit to the Azores islands are between May and September with mild weather and less frequent rains.
THE CLIMATE OF THE AZORES: CLIMATE TABLES
PONTA DELGADA (AZORES) (79 meters) | ||||
Month | Average minimum temperature (°C) | Average maximum temperature (°C) | Precip. (mm) | Precip. days |
January | 12,2 | 16,8 | 96,9 | 19,7 |
February | 11,5 | 16,6 | 84,0 | 18,4 |
March | 12,0 | 17,0 | 87,7 | 19,5 |
April | 12,3 | 17,7 | 76,7 | 17,5 |
May | 13,6 | 19,1 | 72,0 | 12,2 |
June | 15,8 | 21,4 | 39,6 | 9,3 |
July | 17,8 | 23,9 | 26,6 | 8,9 |
August | 19,0 | 25,3 | 46,1 | 8,1 |
September | 18,4 | 24,3 | 91,9 | 12,5 |
October | 16,5 | 21,9 | 108,5 | 16,5 |
November | 14,3 | 19,4 | 108,7 | 17,9 |
December | 12,9 | 17,8 | 146,9 | 17,7 |
YEAR | 14,7 | 20,1 | 985,6 | 178,2 |
AZORES (FAIAL) | |
Month | Sea water temperature °C |
January | 16 |
February | 16 |
March | 16 |
April | 16 |
May | 17 |
June | 20 |
July | 22 |
August | 24 |
September | 23 |
October | 21 |
November | 19 |
December | 18 |
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