Your October weather guide
WarmWeather in Funchal in October
Funchal in October is a good choice for warmth without intense heat, provided you can accept some wet weather. Daytime highs average 22.2°C, the sea is still comfortable for swimming at 22.9°C, and there are about 12 rainy days during the month. For a UK traveller, it suits a flexible holiday with time outdoors and a light raincoat handy, rather than a trip built around guaranteed sunshine.
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
- 22.2°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 25°C
- Average night-time low
- 18.5°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 16°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +7.6°C
- London averages 14.6°C in October
- Sea temperature
- 22.9°C
- year to year: 22°C to 23°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 4.4h
- 39% of 11.2 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 12
- 71 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 76%
- Days over 25°C
- 6%
- 0% over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 30.7°C
- 2017-10-14
- Record low 1991-2020
- 12.5°C
- 2018-10-31
- 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 October compares
October is the 5th warmest month of the year in Funchal. Within Portugal it is 9th of 13 (Portugal in October). Against London's average high of 14.6°C in October, Funchal is 7.6°C warmer by day and 10.1°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in October
The typical October day in Funchal peaks at 22.2°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 24.5°C or more. Roughly 1 in 17 days top 25°C and 1 in 1000 pass 30°C. Nights average 18.5°C; one night in ten drops to 16.4°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest October day here reached 30.7°C (2017-10-14) and the coldest night 12.5°C (2018-10-31).
Rain in October
Wet (more than 8 rainy days): about 12 days with 1 mm or more, 71 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest October was 2012 with 174 mm, the driest 1998 with 10 mm. Humidity averages 76%.
Sea temperature in October
The sea averages 22.9°C - warm enough to swim (22°c+). Depending on the year it ranges from 22.2°C to 23.3°C. For the warmest sea here, come in September (23.7°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 4.4 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 11.2 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 08:12 and sets about 19:35 local time in mid-October. Average cloud cover is 60%.
Is October a good time to visit Funchal?
October is not the strongest month here: warm days and frequent rain. The best months for Funchal on our scoring are July, August, September; months averaging 25°C or more: Aug.
Warm days, mild evenings and swimmable sea
Expect warmth rather than hot weather: light clothes should work well during the day, with a light layer useful after dark. Average night lows are 18.5°C, so evenings are mild, though sitting outside can still call for an extra layer. Humidity averages 76%, which may make the air feel muggy at times. Only 6% of days reach 25°C, so October is better suited to travellers who prefer comfortable warmth than those looking for strong heat. The sea averages 22.9°C, making swimming a reasonable part of your plans. Pack swimwear, but let the weather on the day decide when you use it rather than expecting every afternoon to be a swimming afternoon.
Rain is the catch, so keep plans flexible
October falls on the wet side, with about 12 days recording rain. That is enough to make waterproof outerwear and shoes that cope with wet pavements sensible additions to your bag. It does not mean those days will be complete washouts, but you should avoid making sunshine essential to enjoying the trip. There are about 4.4 hours of sunshine within 11.2 hours of daylight, so daylight and sunny weather are not the same thing here. Use brighter spells for time outside and leave room to change plans when rain arrives. If reliable sun matters more to you than mild temperatures and a warm sea, October is a compromise rather than an obvious choice.
A little perspective
Funchal through the year
October 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% |
| OctoberSelected | 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 October
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
A little more detail
Funchal in October FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Funchal hot in October?
Funchal is warm in October: the average daytime high is 22.2°C and nights average 18.5°C. Roughly 1 in 17 October days reach 25°C.
Can you swim in the sea in Funchal in October?
The sea around Funchal averages 22.9°C in October, which is warm enough for most people to swim comfortably. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 22°C to 23°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Funchal in October?
Funchal sees about 12 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 71 mm of rain in a typical October. The wettest October between 1991 and 2020 was 2012 (174 mm) and the driest was 1998 (10 mm).
How sunny is Funchal in October?
Funchal gets around 4.4 hours of sunshine a day in October out of 11.2 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Funchal compare with the UK in October?
Funchal is on average 7.6°C warmer than London by day in October (22.2°C against 14.6°C).
What is the hottest October on record in Funchal?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest October day in Funchal reached 30.7°C on 2017-10-14, and the coldest night dropped to 12.5°C on 2018-10-31.
Is Funchal much warmer than London in October?
Yes. Funchal's average daytime high is 22.2°C, compared with 14.6°C in London, a difference of 7.6°C. That makes it a clear step up in daytime warmth, although the rain means you should still pack for changeable weather.
How long is the flight from London?
The flight from London takes about 3 h 48 min, putting Funchal within short-haul reach. That makes it a practical option if you want warmer October weather without a long-haul flight, provided you are comfortable with the chance of rain.
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