Climate of the Falkland Islands

The climate of the Falkland Islands is cool and temperate, regulated by the large oceans which surround it.

The Falkland Islands have a maritime climate in the transition region between the tundra and subpolar zones (Köppen classifications ET and Cfc respectively).

[1] The climate is very much influenced by the cool South Atlantic ocean and its northerly Patagonian current.

In addition to parts of the Falklands, a maritime subarctic climatic zone is found in parts of coastal Iceland, Faroe Islands, northwestern coastal Norway, southern islands of Alaska and parts of the Alaskan Panhandle, the southern tip of South America and mountainous areas of Europe including the Scottish Highlands and southwestern Norway.

[4] Average monthly temperatures range from around 9 °C (48 °F) in January and February to around 2 °C (36 °F) in June and July, corresponding with summer and winter.

[7] Rainfall remains almost constant throughout the year,[4] although it is low because of the archipelago's location to the east of South America.

[5] Due to vegetation on the islands resembling a tundra, the ground remains damp as it is often impermeable to water.

[8] The climate has become drier and warmer over the past 50 years, but it is predicted that the islands will become cooler with more rain and cloud cover.