The Climate of the
Falkland Islands
Darwin Settlement, Falkland Islands
Climate Map
Climate map of the Falkland Islands
What is the climate of the Falkland Islands like?
The Falkland Islands consist of two main islands with a number of smaller islands, most of which are uninhabited. They are situated some 400 miles from the coast of Argentina in South America. The total land area of the islands is about half the size of Wales, or the size of the state of Connecticut. The two main islands, East Falkland and West Falkland, consist chiefly of hilly moorlands, rising to 450 to 600 meters (1,500–2,000 feet), but much of the area is low-lying.
The weather and climate of the Falklands are similar to that of northern Scotland, but with a longer and slightly more severe winter. The temperature is moderate, the average of the two midsummer months being about 10°C (49°F), and that of the two midwinter months 2°C (36°F). Extreme frost and heat is unknown, but occasional heavy snow-falls occur, and the sea in shallow inlets is covered with a thin coating of ice.
The weather is very changeable throughout the year with much cloud and rain. The sky is usually overcast, and rain falls, mostly in a drizzle and in frequent showers, on about 250 days in the year. The rainfall is not great, only about 500 millimeters (20 inches). Sleet and snow are frequent in the winter months but the snow does not lie very deep or very long, since the weather is so frequently changing. The summers are cool and during the brief, fine, settled spells temperatures never rise very high. The average number of hours of sunshine a day ranges from two to three in winter to about six in summer. Stanley is representative of conditions at or near sea level.
The prevaling winds from the west, southwest and south blow continuously. The Falklands are situated in the very stormy latitudes of the southern westerly winds or 'Roaring Forties' and gales are very frequent, particularly during the winter months.
| Climate data for Stanley (1961–1990) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 14.1 (57.4) | 14.0 (57.2) | 12.8 (55.0) | 10.3 (50.5) | 7.4 (45.3) | 5.6 (42.1) | 5.1 (41.2) | 6.0 (42.8) | 7.7 (45.9) | 9.9 (49.8) | 11.9 (53.4) | 13.4 (56.1) | 9.8 (49.6) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 9.6 (49.3) | 9.7 (49.5) | 8.6 (47.5) | 6.5 (43.7) | 4.0 (39.2) | 2.5 (36.5) | 2.0 (35.6) | 2.5 (36.5) | 3.8 (38.8) | 5.7 (42.3) | 7.3 (45.1) | 8.8 (47.8) | 5.9 (42.6) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 5.1 (41.2) | 5.4 (41.7) | 4.5 (40.1) | 2.7 (36.9) | 0.7 (33.3) | −0.5 (31.1) | −1.2 (29.8) | −1.0 (30.2) | −0.2 (31.6) | 1.5 (34.7) | 2.7 (36.9) | 4.4 (39.9) | 2.0 (35.6) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 63 (2.5) | 45 (1.8) | 52 (2.0) | 50 (2.0) | 48 (1.9) | 45 (1.8) | 41 (1.6) | 38 (1.5) | 34 (1.3) | 36 (1.4) | 39 (1.5) | 52 (2.0) | 544 (21.4) |
| Source: Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia | |||||||||||||
References
- E. A. Pearce, Charles Gordon Smith, (1990) The Hutchinson World Weather Guide, John Murray Press. ISBN 1859863426
- Timothy L. Gall, (ed.), (2003), Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations, Eleventh Edition, Thomson Gale
- Hugh Chisholm, (ed.), (1911), Encyclopædia Britannica, Eleventh edition, Cambridge University Press
The Climate of the
Falkland Islands
In summary:
The Falkland Islands have a temperate maritime climate with cool summers and cold winters. The weather is very changeable throughout the year, and there are strong westerly winds. Snow is frequent in the winter months but not lie very long