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Weather Overview for Faro

Faro, situated in Portugal’s famed Algarve region, enjoys a fantastic Mediterranean climate with lots of sunshine and warm temperatures. Faro’s weather has helped to make it the popular holiday destination it is today. The Algarve has the warmest average temperatures of anywhere in mainland Portugal, and is one of Europe’s sunniest places with over 3000 sunshine hours per year. Faro’s position right in the south of the country, as well as its proximity to the temperate surrounding seas help to ensure its mild winter weather.

Summer Weather:

Summer is the time for sunshine in Faro. You can expect an average of 12 hours of sunshine at peak season and almost no rainfall.

The beautiful hot sunny summer weather begins in May, and it doesn’t begin to cool until late September. Daytime temperatures rise into the low 20s in May though nights remain in the low teens. Average daytime temperatures hit 29°C in midsummer, and the temperature can easily tip into the 30s on a hot day. However, as Faro lies on the coast there are cooling sea breezes which bring welcome relief on the hottest days. In summer the temperature generally doesn’t drop below the mid to high teens. Evenings remain warm at an average low of 18°C in July and August. The daytime temperature remains in the 20s right into October.

Rainfall is very low in summer; July – the driest month – sees just 1mm of rainfall on average, and August just 4mm. June and September receive just 8mm and 14mm respectively. Showers might fall on a couple of days each month, but generally the weather is clear and dry.

As Faro is on the North Atlantic coast, water temperatures are not as high as those found in the Mediterranean. The water is warmest in August and September when it averages at 21°C. This is more than warm enough for comfortable swimming.

Autumn Weather:

Autumn has more than its fair share of good weather, although rainfall does increase. This is a good time to visit if you want to miss the crowds, or enjoy an active holiday out of the extreme heat of the summer.

Temperatures remain hot through September when daytime highs approaching 30 are not uncommon. October is still warm with days in the low 20s. November becomes a little milder, but daytime highs are still at an average of 19°C. At the end of September nights do become a bit cooler and by the end of November night time lows can drop into single figures.

Rainfall builds from October as Faro’s wet season approaches. October sees around 70mm of rain, while November gets an average of 86mm. Like in winter, much of the rainfall is accounted for by short, heavy downpours.

Winter Weather:

Winters in Faro are generally very mild. Daytime temperatures tend to get into the mid to high teens, and night time temperatures very rarely drop towards zero. January is usually the coldest month and sees an average high temperature of 16°C, and an average low of 8°C. Sunny winter days in Faro can be very pleasant, with temperatures rising up to the high teens, though you’re unlike to find yourself sunbathing in a bikini without serious goosebumps. The good winter weather makes it a popular place for people looking to escape the harsher winters of northern Europe.

December is the wettest month in Faro with 94mm average rainfall. January and February see around 70-80mm. Generally, this rain falls in short heavy bursts so winter still sees a good amount of sunshine, averaging at five or six hours per day. London manages a beastly average of one hour per day in December, so don’t be fooled by the low-sounding ‘five or six’.

There can be occasional exceptionally unsettled weather when storms roll in of the Atlantic. This can mean gale force winds and heavy rains hit the city, but storms tend to be short-lived and sunny weather normally follows.

Spring Weather:

Spring is a very agreeable time in Faro with plenty of sunshine. Average high temperatures climb to 10°C in March, 13°C in April and 17°C in May. Night times remain cold, generally staying in single figures. What makes spring so pleasant is the abundant sunshine which reaches an average of ten hours per day in May.

Average rainfall is moderate in March and April – at about 40mm. Showers fall on around eleven days each month but rarely linger. By May rainfall has dropped significantly and the hotter summer temperatures begin to arrive.

Faro, like anywhere else, can see weather that is out of the ordinary. For example, there was a rare and extreme cold snap in January 2006 that saw snow fall on beaches in the region. At the other extreme a heat wave in the summer 2004 saw forest fires hit the surrounding areas as the hot dry weather and sea breezes combined to make perfect conditions for flames to ignite.