In December 2024
Average seawater temperature at Molhe da Pontinha was 20.9 °C, which is 1.4 °C higher than the normal value for this month
The Regional Directorate of Statistics of Madeira (DREM) has released today a summary of the main meteorological data for December 2024, while simultaneously updating the respective Dashboard. This information¹ is provided by the Delegation of the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA, I.P.) in the Autonomous Region of Madeira (ARM).
Air Temperature
In December 2024, the highest average air temperature (20.1 °C) was recorded at the Lugar de Baixo station, while the lowest average temperature was recorded at Pico do Areeiro (6.2 °C).
Compared to the climatological normals² for December, all six stations for which this data was available recorded higher values. The average temperature at Lugar de Baixo (20.1 °C) exhibited the greatest deviation from the normal value for this month (+2.4 °C).
Regarding absolute maximum and minimum temperatures recorded in December, the highest extreme was 29.9 °C, registered at Porto Moniz station on 17th December, while the lowest extreme was -0.5 °C, recorded at Pico do Areeiro station on 3rd December.
Precipitation
In December 2024, the highest total precipitation was recorded at the Chão do Areeiro meteorological station (294.8 mm). However, the highest daily precipitation value was observed at Pico do Areeiro (56.3 mm on 24th December).
When compared to the climatological normal for December 1961–1990, most stations showed negative anomalies, except for the Porto Santo/Airport station, which recorded a total of 72.0 mm, corresponding to a positive deviation of +2.1 mm. Despite registering the highest total precipitation, the Chão do Areeiro station also reported a significant negative anomaly of -152.9 mm (normal value: 447.7 mm).
An analysis of days with precipitation (rain, rainy and very rainy days) revealed that the maximum number of days with rain (days with 0.1 mm or more of precipitation) was recorded at Santana and Santo da Serra stations (27 days). The maximum number of rainy days (days with 1.0 mm or more of precipitation) was also recorded at Santo da Serra and Chão do Areeiro (21 days). Chão do Areeiro further recorded 11 very rainy days (days with 10 mm or more of precipitation).
Relative Humidity
In December 2024, the average monthly values of relative humidity ranged from 58% at Quinta Grande to 95% at São Jorge. The minimum daily value (5%) was recorded at Quinta Grande station on 24th December, while the maximum value (100%) was observed at eight stations on different days of the month.
Wind
In December 2024, among the stations equipped with anemometers, the highest average wind intensity was recorded at Selvagem Grande (31.9 km/h), while the lowest average was recorded at Lido (4.2 km/h). The highest wind gust was observed at Ponta do Pargo on 16th December, reaching 131 km/h.
Sunshine Duration
The sunshine duration (number of hours of clear sky) in December was 141.8 hours at Funchal/Observatory station (normal value: 134.4 hours), 109.1 hours at Santa Catarina/Airport³, and 111.1 hours at Porto Santo/Airport (normal value: 132.9 hours).
Seawater Temperature
In December, the average seawater temperature measured at Molhe da Pontinha (Funchal) was 20.9 °C (+1.4 °C compared to the normal value for this month). The highest average temperature was recorded on 2nd December (21.8 °C), while the lowest (20.1 °C) was observed on 21st, 23rd, and 25th December.
Notes:
¹ Daily data and cumulative monthly values refer to observations made between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.
² The 1971-2000 normals were used for the Porto Santo/Airport and Funchal/Observatory stations. For the other stations, the 1961-1990 normals were applied.
³ No normal values for sunshine duration exist for the Santa Catarina/Airport station.
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