Madeira weather by month

When to go to Madeira

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 Madeira 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, but keep a rain layer handy

December to February suits travellers who want mild weather rather than heat. Daytime averages sit at 17°C to 18°C, but evenings call for a jumper or light jacket. December has more rainy days than January or February, so leave room to rearrange outdoor plans. Spring is a gradual improvement, not a sudden switch to summer: March and April both average 18°C by day, with March recording more rainy days than either January or February. May is the better spring choice for warmth, reaching 20°C with brighter days and milder evenings. The sea stays at 18°C through February, March and April, then reaches 19°C in May. That makes this period better suited to time outdoors in layers than holidays centred on long swims.

Summer: the strongest choice for sunshine and drier days

June is a useful compromise if you like warmth without the highest daytime temperatures: afternoons average 22°C, with relatively few rainy days. July is the driest month and has the most sunshine, making it the clearest choice for plans that depend on being outdoors. August is warmer, averaging 26°C by day and 21°C at night, so lighter evening clothing becomes more practical. Plan shade breaks around midday if you find summer warmth tiring. The sea warms from 21°C in June to 23°C in August, favouring later summer for swimming. Rain is less frequent in this season, but a dry forecast is never guaranteed by a monthly average.

Autumn: warm water, with a growing chance of rain

September is the strongest autumn choice, particularly if swimming matters: the sea reaches 24°C while daytime temperatures also average 24°C. The trade-off is a clear increase in rainy days compared with August, so allow flexibility rather than expecting uninterrupted sunshine. October remains warm enough for light daytime clothing at 22°C, and the sea retains much of its summer warmth at 23°C. However, it has more rainy days than September and noticeably less sunshine. November cools to 20°C by day, with evenings better suited to an extra layer. Autumn suits travellers happy to balance warm spells with wetter weather; choose September if you want the best balance of warmth, sunshine and sea temperature.