Your August weather guide
HotWeather in Algarve in August
August is a good choice for the Algarve if you want hot, dry holiday weather and can work around the midday heat. Average highs are about 29°C, nights stay around 20°C, and rain is unlikely to disrupt outdoor plans. The catch is the sea: at about 21°C, it feels bracing rather than warm. It suits travellers happy to take shade breaks and cool off in the water, rather than anyone wanting mild afternoons.
Long-term climate averages for Faro, not a forecast · 1991-2020
Algarve, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Faro.
- Average daytime high
- 29.2°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 33°C
- Average night-time low
- 19.6°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 17°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +7.8°C
- London averages 21.4°C in August
- Sea temperature
- 20.7°C
- year to year: 19°C to 22°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 11.3h
- 84% of 13.4 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 1
- 2 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 60%
- Days over 25°C
- 93%
- 39% over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 40.9°C
- 2003-08-01
- Record low 1991-2020
- 14.1°C
- 2000-08-24
- Flight from London
- ≈ 2 h 54 min
- 1686 km, short-haul (estimate for a direct flight)
Records are observed extremes within 1991-2020, not typical holiday conditions. Warm-day percentages are shares of days, not day counts.
How August compares
August is the 1st warmest month of the year in Algarve and ranks 57th of 134 destinations we compare for August - see where else is hot in August. Within Portugal it is 5th of 13 (Portugal in August). Against London's average high of 21.4°C in August, Algarve is 7.8°C warmer by day and 6.1°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in August
The typical August day in Algarve peaks at 29.2°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 32.7°C or more. About 93% of days top 25°C and 1 in 3 pass 30°C. Nights average 19.6°C; one night in ten drops to 17.2°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest August day here reached 40.9°C (2003-08-01) and the coldest night 14.1°C (2000-08-24).
Rain in August
Dry (3 rainy days or fewer): about 1 days with 1 mm or more, 2 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest August was 2007 with 20 mm, the driest 1991 with 0 mm. Humidity averages 60%.
Sea temperature in August
The sea averages 20.7°C - bracing (18-22°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 19.4°C to 21.7°C. This is the warmest the sea gets here all year.
Sunshine and daylight
Around 11.3 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 13.4 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 06:49 and sets about 20:24 local time in mid-August. Average cloud cover is 15%.
Is August a good time to visit Algarve?
Yes - it is one of the better months: hot days, little rain and long sunny days. The best months for Algarve on our scoring are July, August, June; months averaging 25°C or more: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.
Reliable heat, but leave room for shade
August is the Algarve's warmest month, so plan for heat rather than just pleasant warmth. Temperatures reach 30°C on 38% of days, while the hottest days can reach around 33°C or more. That makes mornings and later afternoons the more comfortable times for walking around, with a shaded lunch break a sensible part of the day. Light, loose clothing, sun protection and water deserve space in your day bag. If you find hot weather tiring, avoid packing your schedule with outdoor plans through midday. The average high is useful for choosing what to pack, but it is not a ceiling: allow for days when slowing down feels better than sticking to an ambitious itinerary.
Dry days and long sunshine, with cooler water
Rain is unlikely to be the deciding factor for an August trip: there are about 0 rainy days, so flexible outdoor plans make sense without building the holiday around wet-weather alternatives. Sunshine averages 11.3 hours a day, leaving plenty of scope to spend time outside without staying exposed through the hottest part. The sea is a different proposition from the air. Its August average is 20.7°C, with a year-to-year range of 19°C to 22°C, so do not assume hot afternoons mean warm swimming. It offers a cooling contrast to the heat, but travellers who dislike chilly water may prefer shorter dips. Choose August for the warmth on land, not for reliably warm water.
A little perspective
Algarve through the year
August is highlighted. See how it compares with the rest of the year.
| Month | Day | Night | Sea | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 15.3°C | 9.1°C | 15.7°C | 5.1 | 51 | 7 | 0% |
| February | 16.1°C | 9.4°C | 15.1°C | 5.7 | 48 | 6 | 0% |
| March | 18.1°C | 11.0°C | 15.3°C | 6.3 | 57 | 7 | 1% |
| April | 19.6°C | 12.3°C | 16.0°C | 6.9 | 49 | 7 | 5% |
| May | 22.5°C | 14.6°C | 17.2°C | 8.4 | 35 | 6 | 25% |
| Junebest | 26.3°C | 17.4°C | 18.9°C | 10.9 | 8 | 2 | 62% |
| Julybest | 29.1°C | 19.1°C | 20.0°C | 12.7 | 1 | 0 | 91% |
| AugustSelectedbest | 29.2°C | 19.6°C | 20.7°C | 11.3 | 2 | 1 | 93% |
| September | 26.4°C | 18.2°C | 20.6°C | 8.4 | 23 | 4 | 66% |
| October | 22.6°C | 15.8°C | 19.6°C | 5.9 | 66 | 8 | 19% |
| November | 18.5°C | 12.3°C | 18.0°C | 5.3 | 67 | 8 | 0% |
| December | 16.2°C | 10.3°C | 16.7°C | 4.6 | 77 | 8 | 0% |
Day = average daytime high, night = average night-time low, 1991-2020.Sun is hours per day; rainy days count 1 mm or more.
Day, night and sea
Monthly average temperatures, 1991-2020
- Day
- Night
- Sea
Best months here
On warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, start with these.
Keep exploring
Similar in August
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
Spain · 29°C by day · sea 22°C
Marbella
Spain · 28°C by day · sea 23°C
Gran Canaria
Spain · 29°C by day · sea 23°C
Malaga
Italy · 30°C by day
Florence
Spain · 31°C by day · sea 23°C
Costa de la Luz
A little more detail
Algarve in August FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Algarve hot in August?
Algarve is hot in August: the average daytime high is 29.2°C and nights average 19.6°C. About 93% of August days reach 25°C or more.
Can you swim in the sea in Algarve in August?
The sea around Algarve averages 20.7°C in August, which is bracing - fine for a quick dip, cool for long swims. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 19°C to 22°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Algarve in August?
Algarve sees about 1 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 2 mm of rain in a typical August. The wettest August between 1991 and 2020 was 2007 (20 mm) and the driest was 1991 (0 mm).
How sunny is Algarve in August?
Algarve gets around 11.3 hours of sunshine a day in August out of 13.4 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Algarve compare with the UK in August?
Algarve is on average 7.8°C warmer than London by day in August (29.2°C against 21.4°C).
What is the hottest August on record in Algarve?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest August day in Algarve reached 40.9°C on 2003-08-01, and the coldest night dropped to 14.1°C on 2000-08-24.
Will I need a layer in the evenings?
Average night lows are about 20°C, so light clothing is a sensible starting point. Cooler nights can fall to around 17°C or lower, though. Pack a light jumper or an extra layer if you tend to feel chilly when sitting outside.
How much warmer is the Algarve than London in August?
The Algarve's average daytime high is 29.2°C, compared with London's 21.4°C, a difference of 7.8°C. That is a noticeable step up in heat, so expect to take more shade breaks rather than keeping the same outdoor pace as at home.
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid) and NOAA Coral Reef Watch 5 km sea temperatures, 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at Faro. Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 3 km from that point. Sunshine hours are estimated from average cloud cover.Records are the highest and lowest daily values in that 30-year period, not all-time records. These are climate averages, not a forecast for your trip. How we measure holiday weather
- Hot · 25°C+
- Warm · 20°C to below 25°C
- Mild · 15°C to below 20°C
- Cool · below 15°C