The Falkland Islands lie on the boundary of the Subarctic maritime climate and Temperate maritime climate zones (Köppen Cfc and Cfc) that is very much influenced by the proximity of the Andes, the cool South Atlantic ocean with its northerly Patagonian current and the Antarctic Peninsula land mass some 600 nautical miles (1,100 km; 700 mi) to the south giving the islands a narrow annual temperature range. The January average maximum temperature is about 13°C (55°F), and the July maximum average temperature is about 4°C (39°F). The average rainfall in Stanley is 604 millimetres (23.8 in), East Falkland as a whole 534 millimetres (21.0 in) and West Falkland as a whole 555 millimetres (21.9 in) with the flat areas, and in particular Lafonia being much drier than the mountainous areas. Humidity and winds are however constantly high. Snow and sleet are frequent in winter, although snowfall is rarely deep. Gales are very frequent, particularly in winter.
Weather conditions are known to be extremely changeable, with it not being unusual to face all four seasons in one afternoon. The reason for this is the many wind directions resulting in many air masses mixing at the Drake Passage, which is often an area of low pressures.
Whilst being located as far south as the U.K is north, the absence of a warming current like the Gulf Stream means temperatures are particularly colder than comparable areas in North West Europe. Weather forecasts are given by a local branch of the UK's Met Office
