Madeira Weather Forecast & Information
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Madeira weather forecast for Funchal
© BBC in association with the Met Office
Click this for other location forecast
Giving, Porto Santo forecast
Ponta Delgada forecast
Faial forcast
Madeira Weather Averages
| Monthly Average Weather for Funchal | ||||||||||||
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| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Avg °C | 18 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 22 | 19 |
| Avg °F | 64 | 66 | 66 | 68 | 70 | 72 | 75 | 77 | 77 | 73 | 72 | 66 |
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| Symbols used for Monthly Average Weather for Funchal | |
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Sunshine |
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Sunshine & showers |
These temperatures give only a rough guide to Madeiran weather
The temperatures given in the table above are only a rough guide to the weather in Funchal. Do not treat them as a guaranteed forecast. The figures are given in degrees Celsius and Fahrenheit. They represent the temperature you might expect during the afternoon for any given month.
When rain is more likely in Madeira
The symbols in the table show the periods that you are more likely to get rain in Madeira. Of course, this is only a rough guide - nothing is guaranteed to forecast future rainfall.
Global warming may change Madeira weather in the future
The figures are based on historical data. Global warming and the climate change that may or may not result from increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are not taken into account. Scientists are at odds with each other when it comes to future weather trends resulting from global warming.
Presently, Madeira enjoys a sub-tropical climate. During the course of a year, there is not a large variation in temperature. Hence, during the winter months, the weather is not too cold. During the summer months, the weather is not too hot.
Madeira Maximum & Minimum Weather Averages
| Monthly Max/Min Average for Funchal | ||||||||||||
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| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Max °C | 19 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 22 | 20 |
| Min °C | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 14 |
| Max °F | 66 | 66 | 67 | 68 | 70 | 72 | 76 | 78 | 78 | 75 | 72 | 67 |
| Min °F | 56 | 55 | 56 | 57 | 57 | 62 | 65 | 67 | 67 | 64 | 61 | 57 |
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| Symbols used for Monthly Max/Min for Funchal | |
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Sunshine & showers |
These temperatures cover data from many years
The maximum and minimum average monthly temperatures for Funchal are given in the table above. These figures are given in degrees Celsius and Fahrenheit. These figures represent the temperatures recorded day by day in Funchal over many years. The figures are then amalgamated to give an average high and low temperature for each month. You should be wary of treating this table as a guaranteed forecast.
Maximum daytime temperature and minimum nighttime temperature
For any given day, the maximum temperature is likely to occur during the day, usually sometime in the late afternoon. Similarly, the minimum temperature is likely to occur during the hours of darkness, usually a short time before dawn.
Remember, these figures represent average temperatures
As an illustrated example of what the figures in the table above mean, look at the month of May. This is recorded as having an average maximum temperatures of 21°C. This means that for all the daily readings taken in Funchal, in May, over many years, the average maximum temperature is calculated to be 21°C. Remember, this figure represents an average. It does not mean that the highest temperature ever recorded in Funchal in May was 21°C. The highest temperature ever recorded in Funchal in May was actually much higher than 21°C.
Average temperatures may vary during some months
Also, remember that the figures represent average monthly temperatures. During some months, the average temperature and weather varies during the month. So returning to our example of the average monthly maximum temperature for May, we see this is recorded as 21°C. However, during a normal month of May in Funchal, the temperatures toward the end of May are likely to be higher than the temperatures at the start of May. Hence, all other things being equal, you would expect the average daily maximum temperature for Funchal to be slightly lower than 21°C during the first week of May. Similarly, all other things being equal, you would expect the average daily maximum temperature for Funchal to be slightly higher than 21°C during the last week of May. Any month by month forecast tends to obscure these trends.
Average temperatures may vary from year to year
Do not forget that these figures represent readings taken over many years. For any particular month, the temperature and weather varies from year to year. Some months will have a higher average temperature during some years and will have a lower average temperature during other years. That is just the inherent nature of averages.
Even during the sunniest of days, if you travel upward toward the higher altitudes, you could well encounter low cloud and mist.
Nobody can forecast future Madeira weather with certainty
Finally, note that future weather conditions cannot be forecast with certainty. Nothing can guarantee the weather during any given future month.
Daily Madeira Sunshine Averages
| Monthly Average Number of Hours Sunshine | |||||||||||
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| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 5 | 5½ | 6 | 6½ | 7 | 6½ | 8 | 8 | 7½ | 6½ | 5 | 5 |
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The number of hours bright sunshine to expect in Madeira
The average daily number of hours sunshine for each month for Funchal are given in the table above. These figures are averaged out from data collected in Madeira over many years. They are a rough guide to how much bright sunshine per day you can expect in any given month. Do not place undue reliance on the data nor treat it as a guaranteed forecast.
As a general rule, you can expect slightly more bright sunshine on the nearby island of Porto Santo than you would expect in Funchal. This is due to the extremely flat terrain that is to be found on Porto Santo.
Click here for a Porto Santo weather forecast
Remember, these figures are averages
The figures given are averages. Whilst the Madeiran weather is less changeable than found elsewhere in Europe, these figures cannot forecast exactly how many hours of bright sunshine Funchal will receive in the future. In any given month, some days will likely receive more hours of bright sunshine than other days. Forecasting weather is very far from being an exact science.
Madeira Monthly Rainfall Averages
| Monthly Rainfall Averages for Funchal | ||||||||||||
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| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Avg in mm | 96 | 85 | 68 | 39 | 20 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 33 | 75 | 100 | 96 |
| Days with rain | 11 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 9 | 10 | 12 |
The average monthly rainfall in Funchal
The figures given in the table represent the likely amount of rainfall, in millimetres, in Funchal. The data is averaged out from figures collected in Funchal over many years. In any given future year, the actual amount of rainfall is likely to differ from the long-term average. This is the inherent nature of averages. It would not be wise to treat these figures as a guaranteed forecast.
Generally, Summer means less rain
The figures are calculated from actual past readings. It can be clearly seen from these historical statistics that the months of November, December, January and February are generally the wettest months of the year in Madeira. Similarly, it can be seen that the months of June, July and August are generally the driest months of the year in Funchal.
One pleasant consequence of Madeira's weather is that even when it rains, especially during the summer months, sunshine is never far away. Therefore, rainbows are often to be seen.
Daily rainfall includes rain at night
The average number of days per month that have rainfall is also shown in the table above. When viewing these figures please remember that rainfall occurs during the night as well, and if it does, this will be counted as a day with rain. During one week, 19th to 26th January 1999, we found that it rained 6 nights in a row in Garajau. However, during the daytime, every day that week was rain free. Thus, to all intents and purposes, anyone having a holiday that week would have enjoyed a rain free time. However, in the above figures, this week is counted as having rained on 6 days.
Weather Forecast Around Madeira
| Weather Forecast Around Madeira | |
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Map showing weather forecast points
The weather varies in different parts of the Madeira islands. The four point weather forecast in the table above will give you an overview of the differences you might expect.
Perhaps the greatest difference is between the main island of Madeira and Porto Santo. Porto Santo tends to hotter and a lot drier than the main island. There is usually a breeze on Porto Santo as well, which is not the case on the main island of Madeira.
Generally, the weather in the south tends to be warmer than the north. The forecast generally reflects this.
The island has mountainous volcanic terrain. The temperature can drop rapidly as you go higher. This makes any weather forecast largely reliant on your travelling intentions. Thus, the coastal strip tends to be warmer than the higher inland. Monte, just a short distance up from Funchal can often be a few degrees cooler from the city centre, particularly in winter.
The Atlantic waves on the north coast tends to be larger and more turbulent than those of the southern coast.
Usually a weather forecast will not include other information that may interest you. For example, sunsets in Madeira can often be spectacular, especially when viewed along the coast. So, make sure you have your camera handy at the end of the day.
Madeira Features
Porto da Cruz Lido
Situated on the north east coast of the island, Porto da Cruz has a relatively new lido complex.
Facilities include changing areas, showers and toilets. Refreshments are also handily placed nearby.
The pool area itself is large and has naturally heated seawater.
In the shadow of Eagle Rock, it is the perfect spot on a hot summer day.
The Fort Pico in Funchal
This fort offers an excellent tourist diversion for a lazy hour or two.
With no admittance fee, tourist friendly opening hours and simply wonderful views over Madeira's capital city and bay, it should be high up on anyone's holiday agenda.Although the fortification is more than three hundred and fifty years old, this is certainly not a dilapidated ruin. Indeed, today, the complex is a working building, housing the primary communications centre for the present day Funchal Navy.
So, if you want a picnic spot with wonderful views or simply wish to sample one aspect of the island's history, the Fort Pico makes a worthwhile destination.
