Madeira

What's the weather like in Madeira in December?

Madeira may be ruled by Portugal, but it’s closer to Africa. It’s just off the northwest coast, meaning the archipelago has a wonderful climate with warm weather all year round. This makes it a great option if you're looking for a dose of winter sun.

Climatic influences

The Gulf Stream brings warm waters to Madeira, which will keep you nice and warm in December. It’s usually a bit warmer and drier in the south and west due to the mountains that shelter these parts of Madeira from north easterly winds. Funchal’s one such spot that benefits from this. The Sahara Desert can blow in hot winds from time to time, which pushes up temperatures quite a lot.

Averages

The average high in Madeira during December’s 20ºC, cooling to 11ºC at night. The average sea temperature’s 20ºC, while humidity’s low. Average rainfall’s 81mm over 16 rainy days, although you can still expect five hours of sunshine from the ten hours of daylight each day. UV levels will be moderate. Sunset’s just after 6pm.