Your December weather guide
MildWeather in Madeira in December
Madeira in December suits a mild-weather break, not a hot beach holiday. Average afternoons reach about 18°C and nights stay around 15°C, so spending time outside is appealing without summer heat. The catch is rain: about 11 days are wet, making flexible plans and a waterproof more useful than a suitcase built around swimming. Go if you want gentler temperatures than a UK winter and can accept limited sunshine alongside the mild air.
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
- 17.8°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 20°C
- Average night-time low
- 14.9°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 13°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +10.1°C
- London averages 7.7°C in December
- Sea temperature
- 19.9°C
- year to year: 19°C to 20°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 3.5h
- 35% of 9.9 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 11
- 87 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 78%
- Days over 25°C
- 0%
- none over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 22.8°C
- 2018-12-07
- Record low 1991-2020
- 9.4°C
- 2017-12-27
- 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 December compares
December is the 9th warmest month of the year in Madeira and ranks 58th of 134 destinations we compare for December - see where else is hot in December. Within Portugal it is 1st of 13 (Portugal in December). Against London's average high of 7.7°C in December, Madeira is 10.1°C warmer by day and 12.2°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in December
The typical December day in Madeira peaks at 17.8°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 19.9°C or more. Days over 25°C are rare. Nights average 14.9°C; one night in ten drops to 12.9°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings - it is genuinely cool after dark. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest December day here reached 22.8°C (2018-12-07) and the coldest night 9.4°C (2017-12-27).
Rain in December
Wet (more than 8 rainy days): about 11 days with 1 mm or more, 87 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest December was 2010 with 296 mm, the driest 2011 with 5 mm. Humidity averages 78%.
Sea temperature in December
The sea averages 19.9°C - bracing (18-22°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 19.3°C to 20.4°C. For the warmest sea here, come in September (23.7°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 3.5 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 9.9 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 08:02 and sets about 18:03 local time in mid-December. Average cloud cover is 64%.
Is December a good time to visit Madeira?
December 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 being outside, but pack layers
December's daytime average is about 10°C above London's, a noticeable improvement if your priority is avoiding winter chill rather than finding heat. A light top may suit milder afternoons, but bring a jumper or light jacket for evenings and cooler spells. The coldest nights fall to around 13°C or below, so packing only summer clothes would be a mistake. Even the warmer days are more about comfortable outdoor time than hot-weather lounging: the warmest share reaches around 20°C or more. You do not need to organise the whole day around avoiding midday heat, which makes the month a reasonable choice for travellers who dislike high temperatures.
Leave room in your plans for rain
Rain is the main compromise, rather than cold. With about 11 rainy days, it makes sense to keep outdoor plans movable and carry a waterproof instead of relying on dry weather throughout your stay. There are about 3.5 hours of sunshine within 9.9 hours of daylight, so daylight should not be confused with clear skies. Plan outdoor time for the brighter parts of the forecast and keep something less weather-dependent in reserve. Shoes that can cope with getting wet are a practical choice. December works better for someone happy to adjust each day than for someone whose holiday depends on prolonged sunshine.
A little perspective
Madeira through the year
December 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% |
| 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% |
| DecemberSelected | 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 December
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
A little more detail
Madeira in December FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Madeira hot in December?
Madeira is mild in December: the average daytime high is 17.8°C and nights average 14.9°C. Days over 25°C are rare in December.
Can you swim in the sea in Madeira in December?
The sea around Madeira averages 19.9°C in December, which is bracing - fine for a quick dip, cool for long swims. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 19°C to 20°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Madeira in December?
Madeira sees about 11 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 87 mm of rain in a typical December. The wettest December between 1991 and 2020 was 2010 (296 mm) and the driest was 2011 (5 mm).
How sunny is Madeira in December?
Madeira gets around 3.5 hours of sunshine a day in December out of 9.9 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Madeira compare with the UK in December?
Madeira is on average 10.1°C warmer than London by day in December (17.8°C against 7.7°C).
What is the hottest December on record in Madeira?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest December day in Madeira reached 22.8°C on 2018-12-07, and the coldest night dropped to 9.4°C on 2017-12-27.
Is the sea warm enough for swimming in December?
At an average of 19.9°C, the sea is bracing rather than comfortably warm. Swimming may appeal if you tolerate cooler water, but it is not a strong reason to choose December. Expect the water to feel cool rather than summery.
How long is the flight from London?
The flight from London takes about 3 h 48 min, making Madeira a short-haul option for milder December weather. That is a useful trade-off if you want warmer afternoons without a long flight, provided you are not expecting tropical heat.
Would another month be better for a warmer holiday?
July, August and September are the better choices overall if warmth is your priority. December is mild but wet, so it makes more sense for a break from UK winter temperatures than for a holiday centred on heat and sunshine.
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