Snow Falls in the Azores: A Rare Winter Wonder

Unusual Winter Conditions in the Azores

Recent low temperatures in the Azores have led to snowfall on several islands, with the most significant snowfall observed on Pico Island. João Medeiros, a resident of Terceira Island, reported witnessing the snow around 07:30 local time (08:30 in Lisbon) at the Serra de Santa Bárbara, where temperatures dipped below freezing.

"It snowed today around 07:30 at Serra de Santa Bárbara, which stands at 1,021 meters high. By 08:30, it was still snowing," said João Medeiros, who manages a Facebook group on meteorology.

Interestingly, snowfall at this altitude has also been noted in 2024, marking a rare occurrence of two consecutive years with snow. Despite being infrequent, snowfall is not unheard of in the Azores, particularly at the Pico Mountain, the highest point in Portugal at 2,351 meters, where snow is a common sight each winter.

Mountain guide Renato Goulart also captured the moment of this winter's first significant snow. "I was on the mountain at six in the morning, and around seven, snowflakes began to fall at 1,200 meters, quickly covering the Casa da Montanha and access roads," he shared with Lusa. Fortunately, the roads remained passable, and the snow melted shortly after.

At the Casa da Montanha, the temperature was recorded at three degrees below zero. Additionally, residents on the smallest island of the archipelago, Corvo, reported seeing snowflakes, as confirmed by José Manuel Silva, the Mayor of Corvo.

"I saw a lot of hail, including in the village and the Caldeirão. At nine in the morning, the temperature was two degrees. It has been a long time since we had hail like this," noted the mayor.