Your February weather guide
MildWeather in Madeira in February
Madeira in February suits a mild-weather break, not a hot beach holiday. Average daytime highs are around 17°C, compared with 8°C in London, while nights settle near 13°C. That makes time outdoors more appealing than at home, but you will still want layers and waterproofs. Expect some rain, limited sunshine and a bracing sea. Go if comfortable temperatures matter more than sunbathing; choose a warmer month if swimming and heat are the main reasons for travelling.
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
- 16.7°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 19°C
- Average night-time low
- 13.3°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 11°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +8.8°C
- London averages 7.9°C in February
- Sea temperature
- 18.1°C
- year to year: 18°C to 19°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 4.2h
- 39% of 10.8 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 8
- 57 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 76%
- Days over 25°C
- 0%
- none over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 23.0°C
- 2020-02-24
- Record low 1991-2020
- 8.3°C
- 2017-02-11
- 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 February compares
February is the 12th warmest month of the year in Madeira and ranks 60th of 134 destinations we compare for February - see where else is hot in February. Within Portugal it is 1st of 13 (Portugal in February). Against London's average high of 7.9°C in February, Madeira is 8.8°C warmer by day and 11.3°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in February
The typical February day in Madeira peaks at 16.7°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 19.1°C or more. Days over 25°C are rare. Nights average 13.3°C; one night in ten drops to 11.4°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings - it is genuinely cool after dark. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest February day here reached 23.0°C (2020-02-24) and the coldest night 8.3°C (2017-02-11).
Rain in February
Some rain (4-8 rainy days): about 8 days with 1 mm or more, 57 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest February was 2010 with 235 mm, the driest 2000 with 6 mm. Humidity averages 76%.
Sea temperature in February
The sea averages 18.1°C - bracing (18-22°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 17.6°C to 18.6°C. For the warmest sea here, come in September (23.7°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 4.2 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 10.8 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 07:52 and sets about 18:52 local time in mid-February. Average cloud cover is 61%.
Is February a good time to visit Madeira?
February is not the strongest month here: mild days. The best months for Madeira on our scoring are July, August, September; months averaging 25°C or more: Aug.
Pack for mild days and cooler evenings
February is Madeira's coolest month by daytime temperature, so think light layers rather than a suitcase built around beachwear. A warmer afternoon can reach around 19°C, but that is not the everyday expectation. A light jumper or jacket makes sense for evenings, with colder nights falling to around 11°C or below. Rain is another reason to pack practically: about 8 days have measurable rain, so bring a waterproof and leave room to rearrange outdoor plans. That does not mean those days are complete washouts, but a rigid schedule is less useful than choosing your longer outings around the weather. The appeal is mild conditions without summer heat, rather than reliably dry days.
Keep expectations modest for sunshine and swimming
The sea averages 18.1°C, which makes swimming bracing rather than comfortably warm. If you enjoy cool-water dips, it may still appeal, but do not plan the holiday around lingering in the water. Sunshine averages about 4.2 hours within 10.8 hours of daylight, so there is more time for outdoor plans than the sunshine figure alone suggests. The catch is that daylight does not guarantee sun, and a February visit is a poor fit if you need dependable sunbathing weather. It makes more sense for travellers happy to spend time outside in layers and treat sunny spells as a bonus.
A little perspective
Madeira through the year
February 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% |
| FebruarySelected | 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% |
| 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 February
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
A little more detail
Madeira in February FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Madeira hot in February?
Madeira is mild in February: the average daytime high is 16.7°C and nights average 13.3°C. Days over 25°C are rare in February.
Can you swim in the sea in Madeira in February?
The sea around Madeira averages 18.1°C in February, 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 February?
Madeira sees about 8 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 57 mm of rain in a typical February. The wettest February between 1991 and 2020 was 2010 (235 mm) and the driest was 2000 (6 mm).
How sunny is Madeira in February?
Madeira gets around 4.2 hours of sunshine a day in February out of 10.8 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Madeira compare with the UK in February?
Madeira is on average 8.8°C warmer than London by day in February (16.7°C against 7.9°C).
What is the hottest February on record in Madeira?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest February day in Madeira reached 23.0°C on 2020-02-24, and the coldest night dropped to 8.3°C on 2017-02-11.
Will Madeira feel warm compared with the UK?
Compared with London, yes: Madeira's average daytime high is 8.8°C warmer in February. That is a noticeable improvement, but it still means mild rather than hot weather. Expect to need a layer, particularly in the evening.
Which months are better if warmth is the priority?
July, August and September are stronger choices for a warm-weather holiday. February is Madeira's coolest month, so choose it for mild temperatures rather than heat. If your plans centre on sunbathing, shifting your trip makes more sense.
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 February weather. The relatively short flight is appealing, but the weather payoff is gentler temperatures, not tropical heat.
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