CLIMATE
Portugal has Europe’s most benign climate, and in particular winters are warmer than elsewhere. However, some British people arrive here expecting sunshine 365 days per year, 24 hours per day. It should be remembered that Portugal is not in the tropics, and it can be quite cold sometimes. Also, it does know how to rain! Average annual rainfall in the Coimbra area is 35”, about the same as southern England, but it is more concentrated into the two rainy seasons. The slow, monotonous drizzle so familiar in Britain is relatively uncommon here.
The climate is temperate and maritime, which means it is unpredictable. However, a pattern seems to have established itself in recent years, which is more or less as follows:
Mid-October – late January - erratic; can be very rainy with warm dry spells, or prolonged sunshine with cold nights. Average daytime temp. in January (the coldest month) is 14ºc. It can reach 21ºc, or down to 7ºc. At nights it usually falls to 3 or 4ºc, but rarely below freezing.
February to mid-April – mini summer; temps can reach 29ºc, although nights still quite cold. A wonderful time here, with all the spring colours.
Mid-April to end of May – mini winter; can be surprisingly cool, maybe lots of rain but also with very hot sunny periods. This rain is necessary to see us through the summer. (that’s why this area is always green). My preferred time to visit Britain.
June – mid-October – almost continual sunshine; average daytime temperature 29ºc. Oddly, there is always one ‘iffy’ week every year, when temp. may fall to 22ºc with some cloud and a little rain. There are usually hot spells, when temp. may reach 36ºc or more, but they are rarely prolonged. Nights are normally balmy and very pleasant. Naturally, temperatures start to fall late Sept./early October).
Compared to other regions of Portugal
The north west (Minho, Oporto) is notoriously wet; rainfall is comparable to North Wales or West Scotland. Oporto is celebrated for morning fog. It is on average a few degrees cooler than central Portugal.
The north east (Douro, Bragança) is by far the coldest region, with temperatures in winter often below those in London. Snow is regular. This is because it is far inland and also quite elevated. But it is quite dry and gets very hot in summer.
Eastern Portugal (along the Spanish border) is quite dry, with very cold winters and hot summers. It is more rugged and remote than western Portugal
Southern Portugal (The Algarve & Alentejo) does have significantly less rainfall, and temperatures are on average a few degrees higher. The inland Alentejo in particular roasts in summer (temps can reach 46ºc!), but may also be quite cold in winter. The Algarve has undoubtedly the best winter climate in Portugal. Average rainfall is about 17” per year, and temps over 40ºc are not uncommon in summer. But that is why it is such an arid region.
