Climate Insights for Fogo Island

The climate in Fogo Island is cool. The average annual temperature is 4°C and approximately 1219mm of precipitation falls per year. Fogo Island receives a notable amount of rainfall throughout the year, including during its driest month. Fogo Island is in the Northern Hemisphere. Summer begins at the end of June and lasts through September. The summer months are: August, July, September. The coldest months are February, March, January, when temperatures can drop to -7°C. Fogo Island experiences heavy snowfall, typically from January through December.

Temperatures in Fogo Island vary considerably across the year, with a 24°C difference between the coldest and warmest months. August is the warmest month, though highs remain moderate at 17°C with a mean of 16°C. The coldest month is February, when overnight lows fall to -7°C and the daily average is -5°C. Daily temperature variation is modest, with an average difference of 3°C between highs and lows. The sharpest temperature change occurs between June and July, with a 6°C shift in average temperatures.

Fogo Island is a fairly wet location, receiving approximately 1219mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 102mm per month. The wettest month is November, averaging 142mm of rainfall. October and September also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is July, with just 83mm. That's 59mm less than November, the wettest month. Rainfall is relatively evenly distributed throughout the year, so there is no pronounced dry or wet season to plan around. Fogo Island receives heavy snowfall, accumulating around 262cm annually from January through December. The snowiest month is February, with approximately 53cm. Winter travel should account for significant snow cover.

Fogo Island is very windy, with an average annual wind speed of 38km/h. For context, sustained winds below 12km/h are generally light, while anything above 25km/h is considered strong. The windiest month is December, averaging 45km/h, which can feel quite blustery and may affect outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in July, with average winds dropping to 30km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. There is moderate seasonal variation in wind speed, with a 15km/h gap between the calmest and windiest months. Wind tends to be stronger during winter months, driven by seasonal pressure systems. The seasonal averages break down to 45km/h in winter, 38km/h in spring, 31km/h in summer, 40km/h in autumn.

It is currently spring in Fogo Island, which began on March 20, 2026. Fogo Island is in the Northern Hemisphere, where spring begins in March, summer in June, autumn in September, and winter in December. The warmest period peaks in August at around 17°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in February near -7°C. Summer is next, beginning on June 21, 2026 — 89 days from now.

The best time to visit Fogo Island is during August, when the weather is most comfortable for travellers. During these months, average temperatures hover around 16°C with modest rainfall averaging 85mm per month. By contrast, February can be quite cold with temperatures dropping to -7°C. Despite being the best months overall, some rain is still likely — pack a waterproof layer and plan a mix of indoor and outdoor activities.

The table below shows monthly climate averages for Fogo Island based on historical weather data. Min and max temperatures represent typical overnight lows and afternoon highs for each month, shown in degrees Celsius (°C). Precipitation is measured in millimetres (mm) and indicates the average total rainfall per month. Snow is measured in centimetres (cm) and reflects average monthly snowfall accumulation. Wind speed is the average sustained speed in kilometres per hour (km/h). All values are based on averages from over 10 years of historical weather data. The current month is highlighted for quick reference.