Algarve Climate

The Algarve climate is one of the warmest on mainland europe with average maximum termperatures of 28 degrees celcius in July and August. The coolest month is January when the average maximum temperature is a respectable 15 degrees although the Algarve is usually wonderful in the Autumn and christmas can often be lovely and sunny with warm temperatures. . Sea temperatures are between 14 degrees in February and 21degrees in September. Generally speaking the Algarve is cooler the further west you go in the summer time where as in the winter the west enjoys warmer nights than the eastern Algarve.. The area west of Lagos offers an especially welcome respite from the harsh summer heat of the interior of Portugal and the higher ground in the mountains of Monchique offer cooler temperatures in Summer time and shelter the Algarve from cold winds from the north in the winter.

The Temperature in the Algarve

The Algarve temperature graph/ chart below shows average minimum, maximum temperatures and the sea temperature in the Algarve.

The temperature in the Algarve in January ranges between 9 and 15 degrees celcius with a sea temperature of 14 degrees. In February the sea temperature in 14 degrees again bit the average high inFebruary rises to 16 degrees. The March temperature in the Algarve is slghtly warmer with a range of between 11 and 18 degrees of average although there can be warmer weather especially towards the end of March. In April the climate and weather can be excellent although in some years bad weater can still occur and average temperautres in April range from 14 to 20 degrees with a sea temperature of 17 degrees celcius.

May is the time when one can expect the temperatures in the Algarve to warm up and the weather in May is more reliable although in some years there is still a chance of rain especially in the first half of May. The temperature in May is on average in the range of 14 to 22 degrees with a water temperature of 17 degrees.

June is an ideal time to visit Portugal when the temperatures are not as high as in July and August and the sea temperature reached 19 degrees. July and August are the hottest months in the Algarve when average temperatures range between 20 and 28 degrees and the sea is a refreshing 20 to 21 degreees. The temperature in the Algrave in September is from 19 to 26 degreees on average with a sea temperature remaining at 21 degrees. In October the water temperature begins to fall slightly and air temperatures range on average between 16 and 22 degrees celcius with an increasing chance of rainfall and bad weather towards the end of October. November can still have hot days but average temperatures are decreasing to around 13 to 19 degrees although the sea temperature remains as warm as in May. The average temperature in the Algarve in December is between 10 and 16 degrees with a water temperature of 15 degrees celcius on average.

Algarve Rainfall

The graph below shows the average precipitation in mms for each month of the year.

The climate in the Algarve is noted for its hot dry summers when rainfall is almost an unheard of event. Rainfall is most common during the rest of the year yet is never the less low with an average of only 500mm of rainfall annually. Spring time is when one can expect the most rain falling generally in heavy falls during periods of rainy weather.

Algarve Sun Hours and Rainy Days

The Algarve is well known for its abundant sunshine with some 3000 hours annualy. Even in the winter months there is still an average of 6 hours of sunshine per day and more than 20 days per month without significant rainfall. As one can see from the chart below rainfall is very rare from June thru to September when the climate is hot and sunny with long sunny days. Autumn and spring are the time when the climate in the Algarve is at it's best. Spring time is ideal for walking when the countryside is green with an abundance of spring flowers where as autumn has the advantage of sea temperatures remaining warm.

Conclusion on the Climate of the Algarve

The wonderful warm climate makes the Algarve a ideal location to spend a holiday at any time of year with the spring and autumn being the most special. It also is a key reason why an increasing number of people are choosing to make the Algarve their home.