Madeira Islands Weather in December

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in the Madeira Islands, Portugal in December.

Are you planning a trip a to the Madeira Islands, Portugal in December and wondering what kind of weather to expect? This page has all the details you need.

What to Expect in the Madeira Islands in December

The Madeira Islands, Portugal is a region in Portugal. December in the Madeira Islands generally has pleasant temperatures, with precipitation levels ranging from moderate to high.

Temperatures

You can expect pleasant maximum daytime temperatures of around 19°C (66°F) and nighttime temperatures around 16°C (61°F) in Funchal.

To explore the conditions in the Madeira Islands, Portugal in more detail, check the map below.

Precipitation

In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Porto Santo with an average of 51 mm (2 in) to high rainfall in Paul do Mar with 107 mm (4.2 in). Going by our weather data, it is the wettest month of the year in Funchal.

Average sunshine

Sunshine is fairly consistent across many areas. Funchal receives about 152 hours of sunlight in December, providing a good balance between sunny spells and cloud cover. If you're after more sunshine hours, take a look at our weather planner for other sun-rich destinations worldwide.

Explore the Madeira Islands by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in the Madeira Islands - and find the best time to visit. (based on Funchal)

Best Places to Visit in the Madeira Islands in December

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across the Madeira Islands.

perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in the Madeira Islands

What is the weather like in December for some of the most popular destinations in the Madeira Islands, Portugal?

Temperature range in the Madeira Islands (December)

Precipitation variation in the Madeira Islands (December)

Funchal

In December Funchal generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 19°C (66°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 16°C (61°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are very good that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
21°C (70°F)
19°C (66°F)
18°C (64°F)
Min temperature
17°C (63°F)
16°C (61°F)
15°C (59°F)
Monthly sun hours
166 hours
152 hours
161 hours
Monthly rainfall
63 mm (2.5 in)
76 mm (3 in)
52 mm (2 in)
Monthly rainy days
11 days
12 days
12 days
Weather conditions

Caniço

In December Caniço generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 19°C (66°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 16°C (61°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are very good that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
21°C (70°F)
19°C (66°F)
18°C (64°F)
Min temperature
17°C (63°F)
16°C (61°F)
15°C (59°F)
Monthly sun hours
166 hours
152 hours
161 hours
Monthly rainfall
62 mm (2.4 in)
78 mm (3.1 in)
51 mm (2 in)
Monthly rainy days
11 days
12 days
12 days
Weather conditions

Calheta

In December Calheta generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 19°C (66°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 16°C (61°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are good that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
20°C (68°F)
19°C (66°F)
18°C (64°F)
Min temperature
17°C (63°F)
16°C (61°F)
15°C (59°F)
Monthly sun hours
166 hours
152 hours
161 hours
Monthly rainfall
78 mm (3.1 in)
101 mm (4 in)
63 mm (2.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
12 days
12 days
Weather conditions

Arco da Calheta

In December Arco da Calheta generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 19°C (66°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 15°C (59°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are very good that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
20°C (68°F)
19°C (66°F)
18°C (64°F)
Min temperature
17°C (63°F)
15°C (59°F)
14°C (57°F)
Monthly sun hours
166 hours
152 hours
161 hours
Monthly rainfall
76 mm (3 in)
98 mm (3.9 in)
61 mm (2.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
12 days
12 days
Weather conditions

Porto Santo

In December Porto Santo generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 20°C (68°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 18°C (64°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are excellent that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
22°C (72°F)
20°C (68°F)
19°C (66°F)
Min temperature
19°C (66°F)
18°C (64°F)
16°C (61°F)
Monthly sun hours
151 hours
133 hours
135 hours
Monthly rainfall
47 mm (1.9 in)
51 mm (2 in)
38 mm (1.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
11 days
12 days
12 days
Weather conditions

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in the Madeira Islands, in Portugal.

Popular cities in December

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in the Madeira Islands in December.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Funchal 19°C (66°F) 16°C (61°F) 76 mm (3 in)
Porto Santo 20°C (68°F) 18°C (64°F) 51 mm (2 in)
Caniço 19°C (66°F) 16°C (61°F) 78 mm (3.1 in)
Calheta 19°C (66°F) 16°C (61°F) 101 mm (4 in)
Arco da Calheta 19°C (66°F) 15°C (59°F) 98 mm (3.9 in)
Machico 19°C (66°F) 16°C (61°F) 78 mm (3.1 in)

The Madeira Islands weather in December: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in the Madeira Islands, Portugal in December?

Expect very good weather across the Madeira Islands, Portugal in December. The popular destination of Funchal averages 19°C (66°F) by day and 16°C (61°F) at night during this month.

What is the average temperature in the Madeira Islands, Portugal in December?

Funchal averages a daytime maximum of 19°C (66°F) in December, with overnight lows close to 16°C (61°F).

Does the Madeira Islands, Portugal get a lot of rain in December?

Rain is generally moderate to light in the Madeira Islands, Portugal during December, with Funchal averaging close to 76 mm (3 in).

Is December a Good Time to Visit the Madeira Islands, Portugal?

In our view, December might not be the best time to travel to the Madeira Islands, Portugal with often very good weather in Funchal.

Generally speaking, May, June, July, August, September, October and November provide excellent weather in Funchal.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in the Madeira Islands.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to Portugal? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in Portugal.

Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.

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Need travel inspiration? Check out our bucket list articles and be inspired.