What's the weather like in Praia da Luz?
Portugal is a popular tourist hotspot no matter what month of the year, offering mild temperatures during the traditional winter months, and the perfect summer holiday weather during the peak summer months. Of course, in-between these two seasons you also find more temperate conditions, perfect for those who like a little of the in-between and fewer crowds.
Climate
One of Portugal's most popular resorts is Praia da Luz. Located in the famous and glittering Algarve region, the resort enjoys a typical Mediterranean climate, with long, hot summers generally from May to October, bathed in plentiful sunshine, with mild, rainy winters, which can still yield enough sunny days to offer a winter sun break.
Location
The resort sits on the western side of the region, just west of the popular town of Lagos, which is certainly worth a day's visit. The Algarve itself is located in the southernmost region of Portugal, on the Iberian Peninsula and it is a popular area with tourists.
Summer weather in Praia da Luz
Temperature
The height of summer can be classified generally as running from June to September, and this is when you can expect borderline perfection in terms of weather. The average high temperature stays in the blissful mid-20°Cs for the whole season, and August is the hottest month overall, with an average temperature of 22°C and peaks of 26°C; having said that, the other summer months are not much cooler.
Humidity
The good news is that humidity is generally low, thanks to a cooling sea breeze which keeps the heat more than comfortable, and creates perfect water-sport conditions. During the summer months you are best advised to take up the offer of air con in your hotel room, as although evening lows do dip below the 20°C mark, the warmth can make sleeping a little uncomfortable during the hottest months of the year.
Sunshine Hours
Further great news is that the sun shines in abundance during this time of year, with 13 hours a day expected on average in July and August, dropping to a not unrespectable 10 hours in September.
Rain
Rain is rare throughout the season overall, just 2mm in the middle two months and 16mm in June and September. Most importantly, sea temperatures are wonderful for swimming, averaging 24°C throughout the season, the perfect excuse for lazy days at the beach!
Autumn weather in Praia da Luz
October and November is the autumnal season in the resort and this is the perfect time to visit for those who want to avoid the highest temperatures and most of the crowds.
Temperature
The average high temperature reduces to a pleasant 22°C in October, and down to 18°C in November. As the season progresses night times can get a little nippy with temperatures dropping to 12°C and sunshine hours become a little less, so conditions are slightly less reliable, although there are still 8 hours to enjoy per day.
Rain
Rain is likely to fall a few times a week but is usually short-lived, with around 58mm of precipitation in the month of October on average, which affects 10 days out of the month to some degree. Rainfall increases during November to 90mm across 13 days, but on dry days, autumn is still a great time to enjoy walking or sporting holidays, with a few snatched hours of sunbathing.
Winter weather in Praia da Luz
Sunshine Hours
You are highly unlikely to ever see snow and ice in this part of the world during the winter months of December to February as the weather is simply mild and highly changeable from day to day. The sun still shines for an average of 5 hours per day in December.
Rain
Rain falls on an average of 13-14 days per month to some degree over this period. December is also the rainiest month of the year, with an average of 102mm of precipitation throughout the month. For this reason, if visiting at this time of the year, it is worth checking the daily forecast when planning activities.
Temperature
The average low falls to 9°C in January, but very rarely gets near freezing. January is the coldest month of the year, however the average high temperature is still a respectable 15°C, which is quite mild compared to other countries nearby at this time of year, such as parts of Spain and France. Sunshine rapidly increases to 7 hours a day again by February, but it is unlikely you'll be swimming with sea temperatures reaching their annual low of 14°C.
Spring weather in Praia da Luz
The spring period can be classified as between March and May, and this is when you will notice mild, but not too hot weather. This is the ideal time to enjoy an early summer break, and you may find some cheap deals at this time of year, before tourists start flocking the region again.
Rain
Generally speaking, spring involves warm days and cool nights, and rain slowly begins to disappear as the season progresses, dropping from 60mm a month to 30mm per month.
Sunshine Hours
Happily, sunshine hours are on the increase, and by the time May arrives, you can expect an average of 11 hours of sunshine per day on average, which is certainly enough to get out and about and enjoy the temperate weather.
Sea Temperature
On top of this, the average sea temperature is also warming up slightly, and although only reaching 18°C in May, this is warm enough for water-sports involving a wet-suit!
Temperature
Temperature-wise, you can expect an average temperature of around 14°C in March, before it creeps up to an average of 17° in May; the average high during the last month of the season can reach as high as 20°C, which proves summer is certainly on the way.