The mild climate of Madeira

Madeira is one of the few places in this planet which has the friendliest climate. To make things even better, the temperate weather goes on all year round. This is the reason why both local inhabitants and tourists are able to spend so much time enjoying the outdoors.

Madeira Climate Type

The classification for the pleasant weather in Madeira is called Mediterranean climate. What does this classification mean? Mediterranean climate which is common for places within the Mediterranean Basin is actually closely related to the subtropical climate. This means that the summers are dry and warm. On the other hand, winter months are mildly cool and wet because of the increase in precipitation. The temperature in this archipelago is greatly influenced by the Gulf Stream and Current. These two bodies of water are responsible for keeping the atmosphere cooler so the overall temperature is almost always mild and pleasant.

Temperature

The main thing why people just can stop praising the weather in Madeira is because the temperature does not reach extreme points. The summer months are not horribly hot while the winter months do not bring intolerable cold. Summer months fall within July to October. With warm summers and mild winters Madeira has wonderfully climate. It is therefore in terms of climate all year round a perfect holiday destination. The average temperature is between 61 and 74 degrees Fahrenheit. The sea temparatures are the same and are ideal for watersports. August and September are usually the warmest months and January and February are the coldest. In November to March you have the most chance of rain. During your stay on Madeira you might encounter huge differences in weather. The south side (where Funchal is located) is generally sunnier and warmer than the north. 

View the current weather and weather forecast for Madeira (Funchal):

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Microclimates

On a day to day basis, the weather forecast is often about generous amount of sunshine. Rain and precipitation does not usually appear in forecasts. At the most, the sunny days could become slightly faint due to cloudy weather. Since Madeira has changing landscape all over, there are also the so-called microclimates that have to be considered. These are slight deviations from the overall Mediterranean climate that the rest of Madeira has.

The area of Funchal, the capital of Madeira usually has more sunshine. However, since there are also lighter winds within the area, the temperature in this place is still cool. This type of microclimate in Funchal is due to the effect of the central mountains. The same microclimate is experienced within the rest of the southern lowlands.

For the central part of Madeira, there is usually higher precipitation and dew in the morning. Hence, the temperature is low accompanied by a cool mist. For the south-western part, there is also high amount of sunshine, just like the southern part. However, there are stronger sea winds. The northern part is not covered by any highland. In effect, there is nothing to block the sea wind in this area. Because of this, there is also more rainfall within the area.  

Capacete and Leste

Capacete can be literally translated to peaked cap. This is the reason why June is always cloudy in Madeira. There is still sufficient sunshine but a layer of cloud covers the Funchal area and other nearby places. The umbrella of clouds goes down from the mountains in the morning and goes back in the afternoon.

Leste refers to the easterly wind that is blowing through Madeira. This comes from the Sahara. Leste can be experienced within Madeira in certain days during the summer months. People can easily identify this wind because it carries a fine red dust along with it. The temperature also rises as this blows through Madeira.