Today's weather for Madeira, Madeira Islands9th Sep 2010 10:30

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Weather Overview for Madeira

Madeira’s climate consists of hot dry summers and mild winters with rainfall. In general April to September is dry, and October to March wet.

The warm ocean currents around the island help dictate the climate and mean an absence of extreme hot or cold temperatures. The cooling winds that hit the island also help to keep summer temperatures more comfortable. Humidity is not usually a problem on the island, being quite stable year round between 64-68%.

 The island’s weather is affected by the winds which prevail in the region. The main wind to affect the weather on Madeira is the north east trade wind that comes down from the Portuguese coast. Also playing a significant role is the hot wind that blows from North Africa.

In general this is what you can expect from the different types of year:

Summer:

Summer is the most popular time to visit Madeira thanks to the great weather, which is almost always hot and sunny.

June to September can be classed as the summer period, although the months either side can still be very warm. Generally in summer the average daily high is around the mid 20s, but temperatures up to and above 30°C are not uncommon. At the other end of the scale, the temperature doesn’t tend to drop below the high teens, even at night. So summer temperatures are generally very comfortable; cooling sea breezes usually ensure relief from scorching weather.

There are however times when it can get very hot on Madeira, and temperatures touching 40°C have been recorded.  This happens when the ‘Leste’ wind blows across from North Africa. Although this wind only prevails a few times a year, it is well known for its ability to bring scorching temperatures in the mid-30s and above.

Rainfall is very low throughout summer. June averages just 5mm, while July and August frequently go without any rainfall whatsoever. There is more towards the end of September and that month averages 25mm.

Autumn:

The weather remains warm throughout autumn, although there is an increased chance of rain and storms. October and November still see daily highs averaging around 23°C and lows around 17°C - better than the height of English summer! Temperatures in the high 20s are not unheard of, and it is generally a great time to visit the island as it’s quieter - and cheaper - than peak summer.

Average rainfall is close to 80mm during October while it is a little higher in November, the wettest month of the year. On average there’ll be about a week of rainy days during the month. This is quite low in comparison to the volume of rain as rainfall tends to be restricted to heavy downpours rather than the constant drizzle we are so used to in the UK!  Late autumn and winter is the time when storms are most likely to hit, bringing heavy rain and strong winds for a couple of days.

Winter:

It is hard to describe this period as ‘winter’, since daytime temperatures are frequently around 20°C and rarely fall below 10°C. This makes Madeira a popular destination for northern Europeans seeking a bit of winter sun. There is still a healthy average of 5 to 6 sunshine hours a day during winter.

Rainfall is quite high in December – at around 85mm. Again, though, averages show only 7 rainy days per month as most rain is accounted for by short but heavy storms. Rainfall is January and February is just a little lower at about 70mm.

Spring:

Spring starts off quite wet but the dry summer weather quickly takes over as well as the arrival of hotter temperatures.

March sees around 80mm of rainfall and is the end of the wet season on the island. Temperature in March is still warm – highs averaging 19°C and lows 13°C. April is around the same temperature but sees more sunshine and lower rainfall. May sees average highs climb into the 20s, and the start of the long hot sunny summer days.

Micro-climates:

The mountainous nature of the main island of Madeira leads to a number of micro climates where different parts can experience quite different weather. Funchal, where most of the weather data for the island is recorded is usually slightly sunnier and dryer than other regions as it is well sheltered by the high mountains to the north. The north and east parts are slightly wetter and cooler on average as they face most of the weather brought by the Trade winds that blow from the north east. The mountains shelter the south and west from these winds. At times when the weather front blows from the west, however, you may see a lot of rain around the south and the west while the rest of the island is dry and sunny.

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