In a statement, DREM indicates that, in all meteorological stations in Madeira, the average annual temperature increased in 2023 compared to the previous year.

“In the last 48 years, at the Funchal/Observatório station, average annual temperatures have varied between 18.1 °C in the years 1976 and 1984, and 21.6 °C in 2023, the hottest year at this station since there have been records, consolidating the upward trend that has occurred, uninterruptedly, since 2019”, is highlighted in the note.

The Regional Directorate of Statistics highlights that the highest average annual temperature was recorded at the Lugar de Baixo station (21.7 °C) and the lowest at Pico do Areeiro (11.5 °C).

With regard to maximum and minimum air temperatures last year, the extremes occurred in the stations of Quinta Grande (39.1 °C in June) and Bica da Cana (-2.6 °C in February), says DREM, recalling that “the value of 39.1 °C is the current absolute maximum in Madeira, whereas the previous value was 39.0 °C, recorded in August 1976, at the extinct Sanatório do Monte station”.

The month with the highest average monthly temperature was August, and in 19 of the 21 operational meteorological stations in the region, average monthly temperatures varied between 19 °C at the Chão do Areeiro station and 25.7 °C recorded at the stations of Funchal/Observatory and Lugar de Baixo.

On the contrary, February was the coldest month in all seasons, with average monthly values ​​between 2.9 °C in Pico do Areeiro and 17.5 °C in Funchal/Lido.

Regarding the number of tropical nights (with a temperature equal to or greater than 20 °C), they increased in all seasons, with Funchal/Lido standing out with 138 days, followed by Porto Moniz season, with 135 days.

On the other hand, in 2023, “the majority of stations for which there is precipitation information for the last two years, recorded lower precipitation values ​​than 2022, with emphasis on the Santana station, where the decrease in total precipitation was greater: 1,031.7 mm in 2022 and 859.0 mm in 2023”, indicates DREM, adding that, on the contrary, four stations recorded slight increases in annual precipitation.

Last year, the highest values ​​of annual precipitation occurred at the meteorological stations of Chão do Areeiro (2,219.9 mm) and Pico do Areeiro (1,908.2 mm), while the lowest was recorded in Funchal/Lido (298.7 mm) and in Porto Santo/Airport (334.5 mm).

DREM also adds that there were more hours of sunshine, less wind, and a rise in seawater in 2023, compared to the previous year.

As for relative air humidity, it did not show “significant differences compared to the previous year”.