Your September weather guide
WarmWeather in Funchal in September
September is a good choice for Funchal if you want warm days and a sea that still feels inviting, rather than intense heat. Average daytime highs are 24.3°C, nights stay around 20°C, and the sea averages 23.7°C. That suits a holiday mixing swimming with time outdoors without planning everything around hot afternoons. The catch is that sunshine is not continuous and some rain is likely, so leave room to adjust your plans.
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
- 24.3°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 26°C
- Average night-time low
- 20.0°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 18°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +5.7°C
- London averages 18.6°C in September
- Sea temperature
- 23.7°C
- year to year: 23°C to 24°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 5.9h
- 48% of 12.2 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 8
- 28 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 74%
- Days over 25°C
- 35%
- 0% over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 31.0°C
- 2006-09-04
- Record low 1991-2020
- 15.5°C
- 2020-09-18
- 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 September compares
September is the 3rd warmest month of the year in Funchal. Within Portugal it is 12th of 13 (Portugal in September). Against London's average high of 18.6°C in September, Funchal is 5.7°C warmer by day and 8.8°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in September
The typical September day in Funchal peaks at 24.3°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 26.4°C or more. Roughly 1 in 3 days top 25°C and 1 in 333 pass 30°C. Nights average 20.0°C; one night in ten drops to 18.1°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest September day here reached 31.0°C (2006-09-04) and the coldest night 15.5°C (2020-09-18).
Rain in September
Some rain (4-8 rainy days): about 8 days with 1 mm or more, 28 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest September was 2008 with 85 mm, the driest 2000 with 5 mm. Humidity averages 74%.
Sea temperature in September
The sea averages 23.7°C - warm enough to swim (22°c+). Depending on the year it ranges from 22.9°C to 24.3°C. This is the warmest the sea gets here all year.
Sunshine and daylight
Around 5.9 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 12.2 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 07:51 and sets about 20:14 local time in mid-September. Average cloud cover is 52%.
Is September a good time to visit Funchal?
Yes - it is one of the better months: warm days, manageable rain. The best months for Funchal on our scoring are July, August, September; months averaging 25°C or more: Aug.
Warm days, with little need for heavy evening layers
Funchal in September suits travellers who like warmth but do not want extreme heat to dominate the day. Around 35% of days reach 25°C, so expect some warmer afternoons rather than consistently hot weather. Humidity averages 74%, which can make the air feel closer than the temperature alone suggests, particularly when you are active. Keep clothing light and breathable, and take breaks in the shade if midday feels sticky. Evenings are generally mild enough for light clothing, though a thin extra layer is sensible if you feel the cold. This is a better fit for comfortable warmth than for anyone seeking reliably fierce heat.
Plan for sunshine, but keep outdoor plans flexible
The main compromise is mixed weather rather than cold. September has about 8 rainy days, so a light waterproof earns its place in your luggage even if swimming is high on your agenda. Rain need not rule out the month, but do not make every plan depend on staying dry. Average sunshine is about 5.9 hours within 12.2 hours of daylight: there is ample daylight for being out, but not an expectation of clear skies throughout. Keep your schedule flexible and use brighter spells for the time you most want outdoors. September suits you better if occasional cloud and wet weather would be an inconvenience rather than a disappointment.
A little perspective
Funchal through the year
September 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% |
| SeptemberSelectedbest | 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 September
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
Spain · 25°C by day · sea 23°C
Lloret de Mar
Spain · 24°C by day · sea 24°C
Barcelona
Montenegro · 25°C by day · sea 24°C
Budva
Italy · 24°C by day · sea 24°C
Sorrento
France · 24°C by day · sea 23°C
Nice
A little more detail
Funchal in September FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Funchal hot in September?
Funchal is warm in September: the average daytime high is 24.3°C and nights average 20.0°C. Roughly 1 in 3 September days reach 25°C.
Can you swim in the sea in Funchal in September?
The sea around Funchal averages 23.7°C in September, which is warm enough for most people to swim comfortably. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 23°C to 24°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Funchal in September?
Funchal sees about 8 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 28 mm of rain in a typical September. The wettest September between 1991 and 2020 was 2008 (85 mm) and the driest was 2000 (5 mm).
How sunny is Funchal in September?
Funchal gets around 5.9 hours of sunshine a day in September out of 12.2 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Funchal compare with the UK in September?
Funchal is on average 5.7°C warmer than London by day in September (24.3°C against 18.6°C).
What is the hottest September on record in Funchal?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest September day in Funchal reached 31.0°C on 2006-09-04, and the coldest night dropped to 15.5°C on 2020-09-18.
Is the sea warm enough for swimming in September?
Yes. The sea averages 23.7°C, with a year-to-year range of 23°C to 24°C, making September a good choice if swimming matters to you. That is warm enough for a swim rather than a bracing dip, though personal comfort varies.
How much warmer is Funchal than London in September?
Funchal's average daytime high is 24.3°C, compared with 18.6°C in London, a difference of 5.7°C. That is a noticeable step up in warmth for a UK traveller, without needing to choose a destination where extreme daytime heat is the main consideration.
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