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Although Portugal is the only country in Europe to fall within both the Atlantic and Mediterranean climatic zones, it is the influence of the Atlantic which is strongest. Here in the Algarve , winters are considerably milder than in the North of the country and often the equivalent of a typical British spring (or even summer). Winter temperatures average about 16º C with about 6 hours of sunshine per day.
The region's rainfall occurs mainly between the months of October and March. The summers are long and dry with an average of 12 hours of sunshine per day, and it is common not to see a single shower of rain between mid-June and September. Over the past few years average summer temperatures have been between 28-30º C (the highest temperatures being well in excess of 40º C). |
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Even so, the Algarve is noted for its capricious winds which, although warm during the summer months, seem to arise from nowhere and regularly overturn parasols along with the tables attached to them – so be warned!
Summer evenings are generally warm but occasionally turn a little chilly, especially if you've spent all day at the beach, so it is advisable to keep as sweatshirt or light pull-over with you just in case. In short, to sum up the typical summer weather forecast, one could quote the “Fast Show” (British TV comedy programme) - “Sorchio!” |