The Climate of
Madeira
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View over Funchal
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What is the climate of Madeira like?
The Madeira group of islands, occupied and settled by the Portuguese in the 15th century, consists of the two inhabited islands and several small uninhabited islands. They are an autonomous region of Portugal. The islands are situated about 725 km (450 mi) west of the coast of Morocco.
The main island of Madeira is volcanic and mountainous, with its highest peaks rising to over 1,800 meters (6,000 feet). Its mild winters and generally warm, sunny summers have made it a popular holiday resort.
The climate of Madeira is similar to that found around the Mediterranean or in coastal California, but the ocean waters moderate the temperature so that the island never suffer extremes of heat or cold. The climate can be divided into three main seasons: a warm and dry season spanning from May to September with average daily temperatures ranging from 20 to 26°C (68 to 79°F), a warm and wet season from October to November with average daily temperatures ranging from 17 to 25°C (62 to 77°F) and a slightly cooler wet season from December to April with average daily high temperatures ranging from 13 to 22°C (56 to 71°F).
The winter months are quite wet, particularly at higher levels, and stormy and cloudy conditions may last for a few days at a time. Annual rainfall averages 630 millimeters (25 inches) in Funchal, but the Madeira Natural Park, in the mountains, can get as much as 2,800 millimeters (110 inches) of rain a year. There are also spells of fine, settled weather in winter, with mild to cool temperatures. There is little cloudy weather from May until September but occasional light rain may fall and fog can occur. In general the island has a sunny climate with an average of five to six hours' sunshine a day in winter and as much as seven to eight in summer. Days can be cloudy and cool as late as April at sea level and for much longer in the mountains.
The climate of Funchal is representative of conditions at sea level on Madeira.
| Climate data for Funchal (1981-2010) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 19.7 (67.5) | 19.7 (67.5) | 20.4 (68.7) | 20.6 (69.1) | 21.6 (70.9) | 23.4 (74.1) | 25.1 (77.2) | 26.4 (79.5) | 26.4 (79.5) | 24.9 (76.8) | 22.6 (72.7) | 20.7 (69.3) | 22.6 (72.7) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 16.7 (62.1) | 16.6 (61.9) | 17.2 (63.0) | 17.5 (63.5) | 18.6 (65.5) | 20.6 (69.1) | 22.2 (72.0) | 23.2 (73.8) | 23.2 (73.8) | 21.8 (71.2) | 19.6 (67.3) | 17.9 (64.2) | 19.6 (67.3) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 13.7 (56.7) | 13.4 (56.1) | 13.9 (57.0) | 14.4 (57.9) | 15.6 (60.1) | 17.7 (63.9) | 19.2 (66.6) | 20.0 (68.0) | 20.0 (68.0) | 18.6 (65.5) | 16.6 (61.9) | 15.0 (59.0) | 16.5 (61.7) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 74.1 (2.92) | 83.0 (3.27) | 60.2 (2.37) | 44.0 (1.73) | 28.9 (1.14) | 7.2 (0.28) | 1.6 (0.06) | 2.0 (0.08) | 32.9 (1.30) | 89.5 (3.52) | 88.8 (3.50) | 115.0 (4.53) | 627.2 (24.69) |
| Source: Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera | |||||||||||||
References
- E. A. Pearce, Charles Gordon Smith, (1990) The Hutchinson World Weather Guide, John Murray Press. ISBN 1859863426
- Timothy L. Gall, (ed.), (2003), Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations, Eleventh Edition, Thomson Gale
- Hugh Chisholm, (ed.), (1911), Encyclopædia Britannica, Eleventh edition, Cambridge University Press
The Climate of
Madeira
In summary:
Madeira has a subtropical Mediterranean climate with even temperatures all year round. The average annual temperature is 20°C (67°F).
There is a dry season spanning from May to September. Annual rainfall averages 630 mm (25 in) in Funchal at sea-level, but increases with altitude.