La Palma vs Ponta Delgada: which is sunnier?
🇪🇸 Spain vs 🇵🇹 Portugal · 1,253 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
La Palma is the sunnier overall: about 3,075 hours of sunshine a year to Ponta Delgada's 2,421. La Palma has the higher Sunshine Score in 12 of 12 months — a clean sweep.
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
At a glance
| La Palma | Ponta Delgada | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 3,075 | 2,421 |
| Sunniest month | June (97/100) | July (90/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 87/100 | 62/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 97/100 | 89/100 |
| Rain / year | 242 mm | 658 mm |
| Warmest sea | 25°C / 77°F | 25°C / 77°F |
| Peak midday UV | 10 (very high) | 8 (very high) |
La Palma vs Ponta Delgada month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Palma | Ponta Delgada | La Palma | Ponta Delgada | La Palma | Ponta Delgada | La Palma | Ponta Delgada | |
| January | 85 | 61 | 19° | 17° | 27 | 67 | 21° | 18° |
| February | 84 | 55 | 19° | 16° | 32 | 61 | 21° | 18° |
| March | 85 | 54 | 19° | 16° | 23 | 67 | 21° | 17° |
| April | 86 | 55 | 19° | 16° | 16 | 55 | 22° | 17° |
| May | 96 | 71 | 20° | 18° | 6 | 41 | 23° | 19° |
| June | 97 | 88 | 22° | 20° | 4 | 26 | 24° | 21° |
| July | 97 | 90 | 23° | 22° | 2 | 17 | 24° | 23° |
| August | 96 | 88 | 24° | 24° | 5 | 27 | 25° | 25° |
| September | 95 | 84 | 24° | 23° | 10 | 52 | 25° | 24° |
| October | 92 | 79 | 24° | 21° | 29 | 77 | 24° | 23° |
| November | 89 | 74 | 22° | 19° | 43 | 67 | 23° | 20° |
| December | 89 | 56 | 21° | 17° | 45 | 101 | 22° | 19° |
The sunnier month by month: Jan La Palma · Feb La Palma · Mar La Palma · Apr La Palma · May La Palma · Jun La Palma · Jul La Palma · Aug La Palma · Sep La Palma · Oct La Palma · Nov La Palma · Dec La Palma.
When to pick which
- November–February: La Palma (average score 87/100 vs 62). La Palma is the warmer, around 20°C daytime highs vs 17°C. See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: La Palma (average score 89/100 vs 60). La Palma is the warmer, around 19°C daytime highs vs 17°C.
- June–August: La Palma (average score 97/100 vs 89). Daytime highs are similar (23°C vs 22°C).
- September–October: La Palma (average score 94/100 vs 82). La Palma is the warmer, around 24°C daytime highs vs 22°C.
Sea temperature
Both seas peak at 25°C / 77°F. Swimmable water (21°C+): La Palma all year, Ponta Delgada about 5 months a year. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.
Full month-by-month guides: La Palma weather by month · Ponta Delgada weather by month · Best time to visit Spain · Best time to visit Portugal.
More comparisons: La Palma vs Gran Canaria · La Palma vs Tenerife · La Palma vs Funchal · Ponta Delgada vs Funchal · Ponta Delgada vs Praia da Vitória · all head-to-heads