Your April weather guide
MildWeather in Madeira in April
Madeira in April is a good choice for mild days outdoors, but not for a reliably hot beach holiday. Daytime highs average around 18°C, nights fall to around 14°C, and there are about 9 rainy days across the month. For a UK traveller, the appeal is gentler warmth rather than summer heat. Go if you are happy to pack layers and adjust plans around rain; choose a different month if warm sea swimming is central to your holiday.
Long-term climate averages for Funchal, not a forecast · 1991-2020
Madeira, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Funchal.
- Average daytime high
- 18.2°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 20°C
- Average night-time low
- 14.1°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 12°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +4.7°C
- London averages 13.5°C in April
- Sea temperature
- 18.4°C
- year to year: 18°C to 19°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 5.2h
- 41% of 12.8 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 9
- 52 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 75%
- Days over 25°C
- 0%
- none over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 26.5°C
- 2013-04-21
- Record low 1991-2020
- 9.0°C
- 2018-04-30
- 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 April compares
April is the 8th warmest month of the year in Madeira and ranks 84th of 134 destinations we compare for April - see where else is hot in April. Within Portugal it is 10th of 13 (Portugal in April). Against London's average high of 13.5°C in April, Madeira is 4.7°C warmer by day and 9.0°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in April
The typical April day in Madeira peaks at 18.2°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 20.4°C or more. Roughly 1 in 333 days top 25°C. Nights average 14.1°C; one night in ten drops to 12.1°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings - it is genuinely cool after dark. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest April day here reached 26.5°C (2013-04-21) and the coldest night 9.0°C (2018-04-30).
Rain in April
Wet (more than 8 rainy days): about 9 days with 1 mm or more, 52 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest April was 2008 with 149 mm, the driest 1992 with 7 mm. Humidity averages 75%.
Sea temperature in April
The sea averages 18.4°C - bracing (18-22°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 17.9°C to 18.8°C. For the warmest sea here, come in September (23.7°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 5.2 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 12.8 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 07:38 and sets about 20:37 local time in mid-April. Average cloud cover is 60%.
Is April a good time to visit Madeira?
April is not the strongest month here: mild days and frequent rain. The best months for Madeira on our scoring are July, August, September; months averaging 25°C or more: Aug.
Comfortable for exploring, bracing for swimming
April’s average daytime high is 4.7°C above London’s, so the difference should feel useful without making this a hot-weather trip. Light clothing may be comfortable in sunshine, but keep a jumper handy rather than packing only summer clothes. Evenings call for an extra layer, with the coldest nights reaching around 12°C or lower. The sea averages 18.4°C, which is bracing rather than comfortably warm. A brief dip may appeal if you tolerate cool water, but long, leisurely swims are less inviting. This month suits travellers who prefer being active in mild weather over spending their holiday in swimwear.
Leave room for rain and changing plans
Rain is a meaningful part of the April outlook, so a lightweight waterproof deserves space in your bag. About 5.2 hours of sunshine within 12.8 hours of daylight leaves plenty of daylight for outdoor plans, but does not promise clear skies throughout. Keep your schedule flexible enough to use brighter spells rather than relying on a particular day staying dry. The monthly averages cannot tell you how rain will fall during your stay, so check the forecast before committing to weather-dependent plans. April is a reasonable compromise for mild temperatures, provided you accept that wet weather may interrupt time outdoors.
A little perspective
Madeira through the year
April 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% |
| AprilSelected | 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 April
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
A little more detail
Madeira in April FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Madeira hot in April?
Madeira is mild in April: the average daytime high is 18.2°C and nights average 14.1°C. Roughly 1 in 333 April days reach 25°C.
Can you swim in the sea in Madeira in April?
The sea around Madeira averages 18.4°C in April, 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 Madeira in April?
Madeira sees about 9 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 52 mm of rain in a typical April. The wettest April between 1991 and 2020 was 2008 (149 mm) and the driest was 1992 (7 mm).
How sunny is Madeira in April?
Madeira gets around 5.2 hours of sunshine a day in April out of 12.8 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Madeira compare with the UK in April?
Madeira is on average 4.7°C warmer than London by day in April (18.2°C against 13.5°C).
What is the hottest April on record in Madeira?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest April day in Madeira reached 26.5°C on 2013-04-21, and the coldest night dropped to 9.0°C on 2018-04-30.
Is Madeira hot in April?
No - April is mild rather than hot, with an average daytime high of 18.2°C. The warmer days reach 20.4°C or more, but you should not plan around summer heat. Pack for comfortable daytime outings and cooler evenings.
How long is the flight from London?
The flight from London takes about 3 h 48 min, making Madeira a short-haul option for a mild-weather break. April offers warmer average days than London, but the flight does not take you to reliably hot or dry conditions.
Would another month be better for a weather-focused holiday?
July, August and September are the stronger choices overall for weather in Madeira. April makes more sense if mild conditions suit your plans and you can accept rain, rather than making warmth and swimming the main reasons to travel.
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