Your March weather guide
MildWeather in Funchal in March
Funchal in March is a good choice for mild days outdoors, but not for a hot beach holiday. Average afternoons reach around 18°C, nights fall to about 14°C, and there are roughly 10 rainy days during the month. For a UK traveller, the appeal is gentler weather rather than dependable sunshine. Go if you are happy to pack layers and adjust your plans around rain; choose a warmer month if swimming and heat are the priority.
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
- 17.5°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 20°C
- Average night-time low
- 13.6°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 12°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +7.0°C
- London averages 10.5°C in March
- Sea temperature
- 18.0°C
- year to year: 18°C to 19°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 4.8h
- 41% of 11.8 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 10
- 60 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 77%
- Days over 25°C
- 0%
- none over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 26.1°C
- 2017-03-10
- Record low 1991-2020
- 7.9°C
- 2011-03-15
- 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 March compares
March is the 10th warmest month of the year in Funchal. Within Portugal it is 10th of 13 (Portugal in March). Against London's average high of 10.5°C in March, Funchal is 7.0°C warmer by day and 10.3°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in March
The typical March day in Funchal peaks at 17.5°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 19.9°C or more. Roughly 1 in 500 days top 25°C. Nights average 13.6°C; one night in ten drops to 11.5°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings - it is genuinely cool after dark. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest March day here reached 26.1°C (2017-03-10) and the coldest night 7.9°C (2011-03-15).
Rain in March
Wet (more than 8 rainy days): about 10 days with 1 mm or more, 60 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest March was 1996 with 178 mm, the driest 2012 with 2 mm. Humidity averages 77%.
Sea temperature in March
The sea averages 18.0°C - bracing (18-22°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 17.5°C to 18.7°C. For the warmest sea here, come in September (23.7°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 4.8 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 11.8 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 07:18 and sets about 19:15 local time in mid-March. Average cloud cover is 59%.
Is March a good time to visit Funchal?
March 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.
Comfortable for walking, cool for swimming
The daytime warmth suits walking around without having to plan everything around midday heat. A light top may feel enough during warmer spells, but keep a jumper handy and bring a jacket for evenings. The average night-time low of 13.6°C is not a promise of mild conditions every night: the coldest nights can fall to 11.5°C or below. The sea averages 18°C, so swimming is a bracing prospect rather than a comfortable default. March therefore suits travellers who want to spend time outdoors without strong heat, provided they do not expect long, relaxed swims or reliably warm evenings in light clothing.
Leave room in your plans for rain
Rain is the main catch, with about 10 rainy days making a waterproof jacket a sensible part of your luggage. That does not mean every wet day is a write-off, but it does argue against a schedule that depends entirely on dry weather. There are about 4.8 hours of sunshine within 11.8 hours of daylight, so do not confuse the available daylight with uninterrupted sun. Keep outdoor plans flexible and make use of brighter spells when they arrive. March works best if you can accept some damp weather in return for mild temperatures; it is less suitable if dependable sunshine is the deciding factor.
A little perspective
Funchal through the year
March 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% |
| MarchSelected | 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% |
| December | 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 March
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
A little more detail
Funchal in March FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Funchal hot in March?
Funchal is mild in March: the average daytime high is 17.5°C and nights average 13.6°C. Roughly 1 in 500 March days reach 25°C.
Can you swim in the sea in Funchal in March?
The sea around Funchal averages 18.0°C in March, which is bracing - fine for a quick dip, cool for long swims. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 18°C to 19°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Funchal in March?
Funchal sees about 10 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 60 mm of rain in a typical March. The wettest March between 1991 and 2020 was 1996 (178 mm) and the driest was 2012 (2 mm).
How sunny is Funchal in March?
Funchal gets around 4.8 hours of sunshine a day in March out of 11.8 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Funchal compare with the UK in March?
Funchal is on average 7.0°C warmer than London by day in March (17.5°C against 10.5°C).
What is the hottest March on record in Funchal?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest March day in Funchal reached 26.1°C on 2017-03-10, and the coldest night dropped to 7.9°C on 2011-03-15.
How much warmer is Funchal than London in March?
Funchal's average daytime high is 17.5°C, compared with 10.5°C in London - a difference of 7°C. That is a useful step up for time outdoors, but it is still mild weather rather than summer heat, with layers needed as temperatures drop.
Is the sea warm enough to swim in March?
At an average of 18°C, the sea is bracing. It may suit travellers who are comfortable swimming in cooler water, but it is not a strong reason to choose March if you want comfortable, lingering swims.
Should I choose March or a later month?
Choose March if mild weather suits you and rain is an acceptable trade-off. For a better overall weather choice, favour July, August or September. March is less convincing when dependable sunshine and warmth are central to your holiday.
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