Whats the weather like in Albufeira ?
Albufeira is a popular holiday destination located within the Faro district of the Algarve in the south of Portugal. The resort, which is twinned with Dunfermline in Scotland, is best known for its golden sandy beaches and mild climate, although its golf courses, marinas, restaurants and nightlife scene also attract thousands of tourists each summer.
The resort has a climate which is characteristic of your typical Mediterranean city, enjoying hot dry summers and cooler winters. During the course of the year, the temperature will usually vary between 8°C and 28°C, seldom dropping below 4°C or increasing above 33°C. Rainfall is practically non-existent during the summer months, when the skies are clear, sunshine will last 11/12 hours each day and the sea is more than warm enough for swimming in. On the other hand, winters are relatively wet, with a lot of overcast days, just 5-6 hours of sunshine each day and a sea which is generally considered too cold for swimming.
Thanks to its reliable coastal winds and slightly more northern location, Albufeira is generally milder than the southern coast of Spain, which can make it a much more appealing summer holiday destination for holidaymakers who can't stand scorching high temperatures. Not only do these coastal winds help keep the temperatures pleasant, but they also provide the ideal conditions for water sports such as sailing, kite surfing and wind surfing.
While it is highly recommended to venture inland to see the Algarve's smaller and more traditional towns, tourists should bear in mind that because of the lack of coastal breezes, interior regions are much hotter than the coast.
Spring Weather in Albufeira
Average lows of 11°C-13°C are the norm after dark. So although you'll be able to get away with wearing light and airy beach clothing during the daytime, you'll definitely need warmer clothing such as jumpers and jackets to keep you cosy on an evening out and about. Remember that the cold breeze which blows in off the sea can also make temperatures feel cooler than they actually are, so be prepared for some nippy nights.
Rain
Compared to the wet autumn and winter seasons, spring is relatively dry in Albufeira. This season starts off with 41mm of rain which falls over 11 wet days in April, and drops down to just 29mm of rain which falls over eight wet days in May.
Moderate rain is the most common type of precipitation you can expect, which usually falls in short, heavy downpours. With rain falling on around 1 to 3 days across this season, it's likely you'll get the odd wet day during your time in Albufeira, so it's best to be prepared and take an umbrella or some waterproof clothing with you. But don't let this put you off visiting Albufeira in spring - within an hour of the downpour, the sun always shines and warms the resort right up.
Sunshine Hours
Despite the rainfall, Albufeira enjoys a lot of sunshine during this season. April sees 8 hours of sunshine each day whilst May sees 10 hours of sunshine each day. This means that although you will get the odd cloudy spell and a rainstorm or two, the majority of the time, the sky will be blue and the sun will be shining, giving you plenty of opportunities to top up the tan during your holiday.
Sea Temperature
However, with an average sea temperature of just 16°C-17°C during this season, you might want to skip sunbathing at the beach and lie by a heated hotel pool instead.
Summer Weather in Albufeira
Temperature
Summer which falls in June, July, August and September is, of course, the most popular time to visit Albufeira, when temperatures are at their highest and the weather is sunniest. At this time of year, the average temperature for the resort is 22°C, which peaks at 23°C in July and August the hottest months of the year for Albufeira.
There is a significant difference between daytime and evening temperatures during summer. In the middle of the day the average highs will reach between 25°C and 28°C, whilst average lows in the evening and night time range from 15°C to 18°C. This dramatic drop in temperature can provide some much-welcomed relief from the high temperatures which reign during the daytime.
Although the almost constant sea breezes can sometimes make the evening temperatures feel cooler than they actually are, so consider packing a light jacket, just to make sure you're warm enough.
Sunshine Hours
As well as being the hottest, summer is also the sunniest season of the year in Albufeira. At this time of year, the resort enjoys an average of 11 hours of sunshine each day, which peaks at 12 daily hours in July the sunniest month of the year. With just 9 daily sunshine hours, September is the least sunny month of summer, when the season is gradually transitioning into autumn.
Whether you visit in June, July, August or September, you're guaranteed to enjoy mostly clear blue skies and more than enough sunshine to work on your tan during your summer holiday in Albufeira.
Sea Temperature
Summer is the best time to go swimming in Albufeira, when the average sea temperature is warmest. August and September see the highest average sea temperature 21°C whilst June and July see a pleasantly mild 19°C and 20°C, respectively.
Sunburn and heatstroke are common occurrences in summer in Albufeira, when holidaymakers underestimate the power of the sun, due to the cool sea breeze. The best way to avoid this is to keep out of the direct sun during the hottest part of the day (11am to 3pm), drink plenty of water, slap on the suntan cream and wear light clothing.
Rain
As you'd expect for summer in the Mediterranean, Albufeira is subject to next to no rainfall at this time of year. September is the wettest month of the season, when a meagre 15mm of rain falls across five rainy days a testament to how little rainfall the resort experiences in summer. By comparison, June sees just 16mm over five rainy days, whilst July and August see 1mm on one day and 2mm over two days, respectively.
If you are unfortunate enough to get some precipitation during your summer holiday in Albufeira, it will most likely be a short moderate rainstorm. Summer storms rarely last for more than an hour, after which the sun always shines.
Autumn Weather in Albufeira
Temperature
After a hot summer, temperatures quickly drop in Albufeira in autumn October and November which makes this season ideal for holidaymakers who want to get out and about exploring and aren't overly bothered about spending days soaking up the sun at the beach. During this season, the average temperature begins at 19°C and drops down to 15°C by the end of November.
The contrast between day and evening temperatures is not as dramatic in autumn as it is in summer. Average highs at the warmest parts of the day are 23°C-19°C, whilst average lows at the coldest parts of the night are 15°C-11°C. These cool evening temperatures can often feel colder, due to the almost constant breezes which blow in off the sea, so make sure you take a light jacket with you to keep warm.
Rain
Albufeira sees a moderate amount of rainfall in autumn. In October the resort is subject to 53mm of rain which has been reported to fall over the course of 10 days. In November the resort receives 83mm of rain which falls over 12 days.
With rain falling on around 1/3 of days throughout the season, if you're visiting Albufeira for a week or two in autumn, there's a very good chance you'll get at least one rainy day, so be prepared. Moderate rainfall is the most common type of precipitation, although thunderstorms also regularly occur at this time of year.
Sunshine Hours
The number of sunshine hours plummets in autumn down to just 7 daily hours in October and 6 daily hours in November. The mix of figures leads to a combination of overcast and sunny spells each day. So although you're unlikely to experience full days of clear blue skies and sunshine during your autumn holiday in Albufeira, you're equally unlikely to get full days of cloudy grey skies.
Sea Temperature
The sea retains a lot of its summer heat in autumn, which means that there's a chance you'll still be able to go swimming in the sea at this time of year. The average sea temperature starts off at a warm 20°C in October and falls to a mild 18°C, which some travellers will find too chilly.
If you want to enjoy the warmest, sunniest and driest weather possible, you're best off planning your holiday for the first or second week of October. Since this time of year is considered low season, you'll probably be able to bag a bargain on flights and accommodation and won't have to deal with the bustling crowds that the peak seasons attract.
Winter Weather in Albufeira
Temperature
Winter December, January, February and March is the coldest and wettest time to visit Albufeira. Although compared to most of northern Europe, the resort is relatively mild and dry across the season. At this time of year, the average temperature for the resort is 13°C, which drops to an overall low of 12°C in January the coolest month of the year for the resort.
Daytime temperatures are fairly mild with average highs ranging between 16°C and 18°C but evenings get very cold with average low temperatures ranging between just 8°C and 9°C so make sure you take enough warmer-style clothing so you will feel comfortable at night.
Rain
Although winter is Albufeira's wettest season, the amount of rainfall decreases fairly rapidly as the season develops. December is the wettest month of the year, when an average of 99mm of rain falls over 14 wet days. This is followed by January with 97mm of rainfall over 14 days, February with 69mm of rainfall over 13 days and March with 53mm of rainfall over 12 days.
With rainfall occurring on around 50% of days throughout the season, you're practically guaranteed to get at least some rainfall during your holiday, so consider packing an umbrella or a waterproof jacket.
Sunshine Hours
Just as Albufeira gets drier as winter progresses, the sun also shines more as the season develops. The resort sees just five hours of sunshine each day between December and January, whilst February sees six hours and March sees seven. With such a small number of sunshine hours each day, expect a mixture of cool, overcast days and pleasantly warmer clear and sunny days in Albufeira at this time.
If you love the sun and want to get as much sunbathing done as possible in Albufeira, leave it as late as possible to travel to the resort the final two weeks of March are the warmest, driest and sunniest.
Sea Temperature
Although you'll get to enjoy a fair amount of sunshine if you visit Albufeira in March, the sea will likely be far too cold to enjoy a swim. At 17°C, December has the warmest sea temperature of the season, whilst February has the coldest sea temperature of the year, at just 15°C. During January and March, the sea temperature is an equally cold 16°C. If you're determined to go for a swim during your winter holiday in Albufeira, make sure you book a hotel which has an indoor swimming pool or heats their outdoor pool during the coldest months.
