Funchal weather by month

When to go to Funchal

For beach weather, look at months where the daytime average clears 25°C and rainy days stay low: August. December is the wettest month (87 mm, about 11 rainy days) and July the driest (6 mm). The sea is warmest in September at 23.7°C and coolest in March at 18.0°C.

Getting there

A direct flight from London Gatwick to Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport (FNC, 15 km from Funchal) takes roughly 3 h 48 min - short-haul (up to 4.5 h) by UK standards. Time-zone: Atlantic/Madeira.

Records and extremes, 1991-2020

The hottest day recorded in Funchal between 1991 and 2020 reached 32.9°C on 27 August 2020; the coldest fell to 7.9°C on 15 March 2011. In August one day in ten tops 27.3°C and about 1% of days pass 30°C; in February one night in ten drops to 11.4°C or below. The wettest single month of the period was December 2010 with 296 mm, against a December average of 87 mm.

Winter and spring: mild days, with layers and rain cover

December, January and February suit travellers who prefer mild daytime weather to heat, provided sunshine is not the main reason for going. December averages 18°C by day, falling to 17°C in January and February; evenings call for a jumper or light jacket. Expect showers and keep plans flexible rather than relying on uninterrupted outdoor days. March and April offer only a modest warming to 18°C, with March averaging 10 rainy days, so spring is not automatically a dry choice. May is a more useful step towards warmer weather: days reach 20°C, nights average 16°C and sunshine increases to 6 hours. Pack light layers and a waterproof throughout this period. The sea remains cool, making swimming more dependent on your tolerance than the calendar.

Summer: the clearest choice for warmth and drier days

June is a good fit if you want warmth without the highest daytime temperatures: it averages 22°C, with 4 rainy days and 8 hours of sunshine. July brings the driest weather, alongside daytime temperatures of 25°C and 9 hours of sunshine, making it the strongest choice for plans centred on being outdoors. August is slightly hotter at 26°C, and nights averaging 21°C make light evening clothing more practical than in spring. Midday is the time to seek shade if you dislike heat. Sea temperatures rise from 21°C in June to 23°C in August, so later summer is more appealing for swimming, though personal comfort will vary.

Autumn: warmer water, but a growing chance of rain

September keeps much of summer's warmth, with days around 24°C and nights at 20°C. Its main advantage is the sea, which reaches 24°C, but 8 rainy days make it less dependable for dry outdoor plans than July or August. October still offers comfortable daytime warmth at 22°C and a sea temperature of 23°C; the catch is 12 rainy days and less sunshine. November eases to 20°C by day and 16°C at night, so bring an evening layer as well as rain protection. Autumn suits travellers happy to work around wet spells, especially those who value warmer water more than long sunny days.