Your December weather guide
MildWeather in Funchal in December
Funchal in December suits a mild-weather break, not a hot beach holiday. Daytime highs average 18°C and nights stay around 15°C, so it is noticeably gentler than London without feeling summery. The catch is rain: about 11 days have measurable rainfall, making flexible plans more useful than a packed outdoor itinerary. Go for comfortable temperatures and time outside between showers, rather than reliable sunshine or long swims.
Long-term climate averages for Funchal, not a forecast · 1991-2020
Funchal, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Funchal.
- Average daytime high
- 17.8°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 20°C
- Average night-time low
- 14.9°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 13°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +10.1°C
- London averages 7.7°C in December
- Sea temperature
- 19.9°C
- year to year: 19°C to 20°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 3.5h
- 35% of 9.9 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 11
- 87 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 78%
- Days over 25°C
- 0%
- none over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 22.8°C
- 2018-12-07
- Record low 1991-2020
- 9.4°C
- 2017-12-27
- Flight from London
- ≈ 3 h 48 min
- 2466 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 December compares
December is the 9th warmest month of the year in Funchal. Within Portugal it is 2nd of 13 (Portugal in December). Against London's average high of 7.7°C in December, Funchal is 10.1°C warmer by day and 12.2°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in December
The typical December day in Funchal peaks at 17.8°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 19.9°C or more. Days over 25°C are rare. Nights average 14.9°C; one night in ten drops to 12.9°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings - it is genuinely cool after dark. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest December day here reached 22.8°C (2018-12-07) and the coldest night 9.4°C (2017-12-27).
Rain in December
Wet (more than 8 rainy days): about 11 days with 1 mm or more, 87 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest December was 2010 with 296 mm, the driest 2011 with 5 mm. Humidity averages 78%.
Sea temperature in December
The sea averages 19.9°C - bracing (18-22°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 19.3°C to 20.4°C. For the warmest sea here, come in September (23.7°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 3.5 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 9.9 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 08:02 and sets about 18:03 local time in mid-December. Average cloud cover is 64%.
Is December a good time to visit Funchal?
December is not the strongest month here: mild days and frequent rain. The best months for Funchal on our scoring are July, August, September; months averaging 25°C or more: Aug.
Mild enough for exploring, cool for swimming
December is comfortable for being out and about if you dress in layers. A light top may be enough during a brighter spell, but keep a jumper handy for shade and evenings. London’s average daytime high is around 8°C, so Funchal offers a noticeable lift in warmth rather than proper heat. Even the warmer days tend towards 20°C; do not build your plans around hot afternoons. The sea averages 19.9°C, which is bracing rather than comfortably warm. It may suit travellers who enjoy cooler water, but if leisurely swimming is the main reason for going, December is a compromise.
Leave room for rain and limited sunshine
Rain is the main reason to keep your schedule loose. Pack a waterproof jacket and shoes you are happy wearing on wet pavements, and leave outdoor plans movable rather than tied to a particular day. Average sunshine is about 3.5 hours within 9.9 hours of daylight, so daylight should not be mistaken for clear skies. Make use of brighter spells when they arrive, and plan your longer outings during daylight rather than leaving them until late afternoon. December works best for travellers who can enjoy mild conditions despite cloud and rain; it is a weaker choice if dependable sunshine is essential.
A little perspective
Funchal through the year
December 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 | 16.8°C | 13.7°C | 18.7°C | 3.7 | 53 | 8 | 0% |
| February | 16.7°C | 13.3°C | 18.1°C | 4.2 | 57 | 8 | 0% |
| March | 17.5°C | 13.6°C | 18.0°C | 4.8 | 60 | 10 | 0% |
| April | 18.2°C | 14.1°C | 18.4°C | 5.2 | 52 | 9 | 0% |
| May | 19.9°C | 15.6°C | 19.3°C | 6.2 | 30 | 8 | 2% |
| June | 22.5°C | 17.9°C | 20.9°C | 7.6 | 17 | 4 | 8% |
| Julybest | 24.6°C | 19.7°C | 22.2°C | 8.8 | 6 | 2 | 41% |
| Augustbest | 25.6°C | 20.7°C | 23.3°C | 8.3 | 7 | 3 | 68% |
| Septemberbest | 24.3°C | 20.0°C | 23.7°C | 5.9 | 28 | 8 | 35% |
| October | 22.2°C | 18.5°C | 22.9°C | 4.4 | 71 | 12 | 6% |
| November | 19.5°C | 16.3°C | 21.4°C | 3.8 | 71 | 11 | 0% |
| DecemberSelected | 17.8°C | 14.9°C | 19.9°C | 3.5 | 87 | 11 | 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 December
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
A little more detail
Funchal in December FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Funchal hot in December?
Funchal is mild in December: the average daytime high is 17.8°C and nights average 14.9°C. Days over 25°C are rare in December.
Can you swim in the sea in Funchal in December?
The sea around Funchal averages 19.9°C in December, which is bracing - fine for a quick dip, cool for long swims. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 19°C to 20°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Funchal in December?
Funchal sees about 11 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 87 mm of rain in a typical December. The wettest December between 1991 and 2020 was 2010 (296 mm) and the driest was 2011 (5 mm).
How sunny is Funchal in December?
Funchal gets around 3.5 hours of sunshine a day in December out of 9.9 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Funchal compare with the UK in December?
Funchal is on average 10.1°C warmer than London by day in December (17.8°C against 7.7°C).
What is the hottest December on record in Funchal?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest December day in Funchal reached 22.8°C on 2018-12-07, and the coldest night dropped to 9.4°C on 2017-12-27.
Will I need warm clothes in the evening?
Bring a jumper or light jacket. Nights average 14.9°C, while the coldest 10% fall to 12.9°C or below. Layers give you more flexibility than packing only summer clothes, particularly if you plan to spend evenings outside.
How long is the flight from London?
The flight from London is about 3 h 48 min, putting Funchal within short-haul reach. That makes it a practical option for milder December weather without a long flight, provided you are not expecting tropical heat.
Should I choose December or wait until summer?
Choose December if mild temperatures matter more than reliable sunshine and you can work around rain. July, August and September are the stronger weather choices overall. For a trip centred on warmth, December is not the best fit.
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 Funchal. Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 4.5 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