January Weather in Funchal, Portugal - 2024

The city of Funchal is the capital of Portugal's Madeira Archipelago and is often referred to as the "Flower City" for its scenic beauty. It is famous for its harbors, colorful gardens, and Madeira wine cellars. The city is backed by hills and is home to the historic Gothic Romanesque Infrastructure. It has also served as a fortress built in the 1600s which entails greater historic significance. Bordered by the islands and offering almost all the resorting amenities, Funchal is the place to be for a wonderful winter escape.

Weather January 2024 in Funchal Portugal:

Generally, January in Funchal will be slightly on the colder side, with an average temperature of around 59°F / 15°C. During this month the air is quite dry. You can expect around 7 rainy days, with on average 1.2 inches / 31 mm of rain during the month of January.
Comfortable with dry air with slightly cold temperatures
Bengt Nyman - CC BY 2.0

January weather in Funchal Portugal

To get a good overview of the type of weather you can expect in January in Funchal, we will look at the day and night temperature, minimum and maximum water temperature, and if January is comfortable or humid

Generally, January in Funchal will be slightly on the colder side. Historical data shows that you can expect an average temperature of around 59°F / 15°C. During this month the air is quite dry. During the night, it will cool down to around 57°F / 14°C.

Funchal has rainy days in January. You can expect around 7 rainy days, with on average 1.2 inches / 31 mm of rain during the whole month.

Average temperature
Average Sea temperature
Wintersun Comfort grade and huricane risk

The forecast for January 2024 is based on historical data and are averages. They will give a good indication what you can expect, but the daily temperature and rain will fluctuate during the month.

January weather in Funchal Portugal in more detail

To get a better feeling for the type of weather, you can expect in January in Funchal, we will look at the temperature, rain, wind, humidity, water temperature, and sun and clouds

- What will the temperature be in Funchal in January

Generally, you can expect in January an average temperature of 59°F / 15°C during the day and an average of 57°F / 14°C during the night. In January, during the warmest part of the afternoon, the temperature can often get as high as 62°F / 17°C, and at the end of the night, it can get as low as 53°F / 12°C.

When looking at the whole year, January, February, March and April are the coldest months, with an average temperature of around 59°F / 15°C. September is the hottest month, with an average temperature of around 69°F / 21°C. When comparing January with the temperature in the month before and after, this is almost equal to December, which sees an average maximum temperature of around 62°F / 17°C. And equal to February, which sees an average maximum temperature of around 59°F / 15°C.

Day and night temperature variation for Funchal during the year.
Day and night temperature variation for Funchal during the year.

But average temperatures only tell half of the story. It is also good to check the maximum and minimum temperatures. When looking at the whole year, September is the hottest month, with a temperature of around 71°F / 22°C. February, March and April are the coldest months, with a temperature of around 60°F / 16°C. When comparing January with the temperature in the month before and after, this is almost equal to December, which sees an average maximum temperature of around 64°F / 18°C. And almost equal to February, which sees an average maximum temperature of around 60°F / 16°C.

In the following graph, you can see how many cold and hot days you can expect in Funchal each month:

Day and night temperature variation for Funchal during the year.
Day and night temperature variation for Funchal during the year.

- Can you expect rain in January in Funchal?

Generally, you can expect about 7 rain days in January, with on average 1.2 inches / 31 mm of rain.

When looking at the whole year, July is the dryest month, with an average rainfall of around 0 inches / 0 mmmm. December is the wettest month, with an average rainfall of around 1.8 inches / 46 mmmm. When comparing January with the month before and after, this is a lot less than December, which sees around 1.8 inches / 46 mm of rain. And more than February, which sees around 1 inches / 25 mm of rain

Rain days for Funchal during the year.
Rain days for Funchal during the year.

If we look at the number of days with rain, July is the month with the least amount of rain days with an average of between 0 and 1 days. December is the month with the most rain days with around 9 days. When comparing January with the month before and after, this is slightly less than December, which sees around 9 days of rain. And almost equal to February, which sees an average of between 5 and 6 days of rain

- What will the water temperature be in Funchal for January

You can expect in January, the water temperature for Funchal to be between 68°F / 20°C and 64°F / 18°C.

To compare the water temperature we will use the maximum water temperature. You can expect this temperature on a more sunny day, close to the shore, when the wind does not mix the relatively warmer and colder water.

August and September And have the highest water temperature, withan average of between 75°F / 24°C and 77°F / 25°C. March has the lowest water temperature, with around 66°F / 19°C. When comparing the water temperature from January with the month before and after, January has a water temperature almost equal to December, with a water temperature of around 69°F / 21°C. And almost equal to the water temperature from February, that is an average of between 66°F / 19°C and 68°F / 20°C.

Water temperature for Funchal during the year.
Water temperature for Funchal during the year.

- Can you expect in January a lot of sunny days in Funchal

Generally, you can expect around 6 sunny days in January and around 16 partly sunny days. The remaining days will be cloudy.

When looking at the whole year, September is the month with the highest number of sunny days, with around 11 sunny days. February is the month with the lowest number of sunny days, with an average of between 5 and 6 sunny days. When comparing January with the number of sunny days in the month before and after, it is almost equal to December, with an average of between 7 and 8 sunny days. And almost equal to February, with an average of between 5 and 6 sunny days

The number of sunny, partly sunny, and cloudy days for Funchal
The number of sunny, partly sunny, and cloudy days for Funchal

We have looked at the sunny days in Funchal. Let's also look at the cloudy or overcast days. July is the month with the highest number of cloudy days, with an average of between 12 and 13 cloudy days. September and October And are the months with the lowest number of cloudy days, with an average of between 5 and 6 cloudy days. When comparing January with the number of cloudy days in the month before and after, it is almost equal to December, with around 8 cloudy days. And almost equal to February, with an average of between 7 and 8 cloudy days

- Will it be comfortable in January in Funchal?

Generally, January in Funchal will have dry air, and will feel very comfortable.

We use the humidity and temperature in Funchal to calculate the Wintersun Expert Comfort level for each month. The lower the Wintersun Expert Comfort level, the more comfortable it will be. Only for certain people, extremely dry air can feel slightly uncomfortable.

When looking at the whole year, January has the lowest humidity, with a Wintersun Expert comfort level of "comfortable" (very dry air). July has the highest humidity, with a Wintersun Expert comfort level of "comfortable" (not very humid). When comparing January with the month before and after, this is slightly less than December, which has a Wintersun Comfort level of "very comfortable" (low humidty). And almost equal to February, which has a Wintersun Comfort level of "very comfortable" (dry air)

Wintersun Expert Humidity / Comfort level for Funchal
Wintersun Expert Humidity / Comfort level for Funchal

What to do in Funchal Portugal in January

Funchal is a popular tourist location with many places worth visiting. Some of the best ones are listed below:

  • Portugal's CR7 Museum: It is that time where almost everybody is familiar with the term "CR7", a nickname given to one of the greatest players in football history. Visit this museum to find out about the great exploits of Cristiano Ronaldo, a Portuguese icon. 
  • Santa Catarina Park: The Park offers many species of flora from around the globe to the nature lovers with an enchanting lake with a small island as well. The park also offers stunning views of the Funchal Bay and has several walking paths too. The Park is a perfect place for a picnic or just relax there for a while. There are playgrounds, art rooms for children as well as sculptures of famous personalities.
  • Monte Palace Madeira: The Palace has an exotic plant collection and is famous for the black swans in the central lake and ponds of the Palace. The Monte Palace Madeira Museum with three floors in which the top two are dedicated to the contemporary Zimbabwean sculptures and others. The lower floor is dedicated to the finest private collection of minerals from all around the world. The lower floor goes by the name of "Mother Nature's Secrets".
  • Funchal Cathedral: The finest example of the Roman-Gothic architecture, it is one of the few examples of the 15th century which have survived till date. You can visit the church to say your prayers or to just simply witness this historical masterpiece.
  • Rua De Santa Maria: It has been recommended as one of the most romantic narrow cobbled streets. Rua De Santa Maria is the oldest street in the city. The street is home to many buildings of traditional architecture. The cafes and restaurants are decorated with typical art as well as traditional interiors. One of the notable things in the street would be the entrances and doors of various restaurants, cafes, or buildings in the street.

Is it humid in Funchal Portugal in January?

A lot of people ask interested in the humidity or relative humidity for Funchal Portugal in January. But the real question they want to ask is not about humidity but the amount of moisture in the air. Or better, about comfort. Will it be comfortable in January in Funchal, or will high humidity make it uncomfortable.

To answer this question, we have to look at the dew point. Relative humidity can change a lot in Funchal during the day and night, as it changes when the amount of moisture changes and, but also when the temperature changes. It is a lot less reliable for comfort. Where the dew point only varies with the amount of moisture in the air.

Looking at the dew point, we can see that for the month of January, you can expect that Funchal will have dry air, and will feel very comfortable.

January is the month with the most comfort. It will have dry air, and will feel very comfortable. July is the most uncomfortable month. It will not be very humid, and will feel comfortable. In the graph, you can see that there is some difference between the most comfortable and most uncomfortable months

Humidity level for Funchal
Humidity level for Funchal

Is January a good time to go to Funchal Portugal?

Trying to answer the question of whether January is a good time to go to Funchal is not as easy as it first seems. Some people like colder weather, and others prefer a warmer climate. Some are fine with some humidity, and others are not. If your location has air conditioning, the night temperature is less important.

These are some examples. I will try to answer the question with a more generic person in mind. The more detailed information in this article should be enough to check further if this applies to you as well.

If we look at the average temperature for Funchal in January, we can see that it will be on the colder side for most. In January, you can expect it to be slightly on the colder side, with an average temperature of around 59°F / 15°C. Due to the dry air, it will feel very comfortable. During the night, it will be around 57°F / 14°C.

The number of overcast days is more than 5, but you can still the sun with around 6 sunny days and 16 partly sunny days.

The last aspect we will look at is rain. You can expect around 7 rainy days, with on average 1.2 inches / 31 mm of rain during January. More then 5 days rain per month makes the chance higher you will see some rain during a shorter stay. But a day with rain does not mean a day you can not enjoy.

We have looked at the average day temperature, the night temperature, humidity, the number of overcast days, and the rain. We think that January in Funchal Portugal is not the most optimal destination. But that doesn't mean it is not a good time for you to go. As said before, each visitor has their own preferences when it comes to the weather.

Does it rain all day in Funchal Portugal in January?

In Funchal, it does not rain all day in January. You can expect around 7 rainy days, with on average 1.2 inches / 31 mm of rain during the month.

Another way of looking at the rain is the number of sunny days. For Funchal Portugal, there are, on average 6 sunny days and 16 partly sunny days in January. That clearly shows that it is not raining all the time.

Is January the rainiest month in Funchal Portugal?

January is not the month with the most rainy days, and not the month with the most rain.

To answer what the rainiest month is in Funchal, we will both look at the month with the most rain, and the month with the highest number of rainy days.

December is the month with the the highest number of rainiest days. On average, you can expect 9 days with rain. July is the month with the lowest number of rainy days, with aproximately 1 day.

December is the month with the most rain. This is not equal as the one with the most rainy days. On average, you can expect 1.8 inches / 46 mm of rain. July is the month with the least amount of rain. This is not the same month as the one with the lowest number of rainy days. You can expect approximately 0 inches / 0 mm of rain.

Is January the most sunniest month in Funchal Portugal?

January is not the month with the most sunny days, not the month with the most partly sunny days, and it is not the month with the lowest number of overcast days.

To answer what the sunniest month is in Funchal, we will of course look at the month with the most sunniest days, but also look at the month with the biggest number of days that are sunny or partly sunny.

September is the month with the highest number of sunny days. On average, you can expect 6 sunny days, and 16 partly suny days. February is the month with the lowest number of sunny days.

October is the month with the highest number of sunny days and partly sunny days combined. While July is the month with the lowest number of sunny days and partly sunny days combined.

The last thing we will look at is the number of overcast days. September and October are the months with the lowest number of overcast days. While July is the month with the highest number of overcast days.

More information about Funchal Portugal

Weather in Funchal Portugal in other months

What to do in Funchal Portugal for each month

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