May Weather in Ribeira Brava, Portugal - 2025

Ribeira Brava is an independent city on the isolated island of Madeira, in the Portuguese Autonomous Region. It runs along the southern coast east of Ponta do Sol. The municipality earned its name for its magnificent gushing river. The name Ribeira Brava translates to "The Angry River". During the rainy seasons, the river becomes rapidly turbulent as it makes its way to the sea. It is also notorious for inflicting havoc over 8 km (5 Miles) of the route. The beauty and charm of this town make it an ideal destination for snowbirds who are looking for a tranquil location to nest for the winter.  

May weather in Ribeira Brava Portugal

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

Generally, May in Ribeira Brava will be slightly on the colder side. Historical data shows that you can expect an average temperature of around 64°F / 18°C. As there is not a lot of humidity, it will feel comfortable. During the night, it will cool down to around 60°F / 16°C.

Ribeira Brava does not have a lot of rainy days in May. You can expect around 3 rainy days, with on average 0.3 inches / 7 mm of rain during the whole month.

May weather in Ribeira Brava Portugal in more detail

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

- What will the temperature be in Ribeira Brava in May

Generally, you can expect in May an average temperature of 64°F / 18°C during the day and an average of 60°F / 16°C during the night. In May, during the warmest part of the afternoon, the temperature can often get as high as 66°F / 19°C, and at the end of the night, it can get as low as 57°F / 14°C.

When looking at the whole year, January, February, March and April are the coldest months, with an average temperature of around 62°F / 17°C. September is the hottest month, with an average temperature of around 73°F / 23°C. When comparing May with the temperature in the month before and after, this is almost equal to April, which sees an average maximum temperature of around 62°F / 17°C. And almost equal to June, which sees an average maximum temperature of around 66°F / 19°C.

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 75°F / 24°C. February, March and April are the coldest months, with a temperature of around 64°F / 18°C. When comparing May with the temperature in the month before and after, this is almost equal to April, which sees an average maximum temperature of around 64°F / 18°C. And almost equal to June, which sees an average maximum temperature of around 69°F / 21°C.

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

- Can you expect rain in May in Ribeira Brava?

Generally, you can expect about 3 rain days in May, with on average 0.3 inches / 7 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 May with the month before and after, this is a lot less than April, which sees around 0.7 inches / 19 mm of rain. And slightly more than June, which sees around 0.1 inches / 2 mm of rain

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 May with the month before and after, this is slightly less than April, which sees an average of between 5 and 6 days of rain. And almost equal to June, which sees around 1 day of rain

- What will the water temperature be in Ribeira Brava for May

You can expect in May, the water temperature for Ribeira Brava 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 May with the month before and after, May has a water temperature almost equal to April, with a water temperature of around 66°F / 19°C. And almost equal to the water temperature from June, that is around 71°F / 22°C.

- Can you expect in May a lot of sunny days in Ribeira Brava

Generally, you can expect around 8 sunny days in May 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 May with the number of sunny days in the month before and after, it is almost equal to April, with an average of between 6 and 7 sunny days. And almost equal to June, with around 6 sunny days

We have looked at the sunny days in Ribeira Brava. 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 May with the number of cloudy days in the month before and after, it is almost equal to April, with an average of between 7 and 8 cloudy days. And slightly less than June, with an average of between 9 and 10 cloudy days

- Will it be comfortable in May in Ribeira Brava?

Generally, May in Ribeira Brava will not be very humid, and will feel comfortable.

We use the humidity and temperature in Ribeira Brava 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 May with the month before and after, this is slightly more than April, which has a Wintersun Comfort level of "very comfortable" (low humidty). And almost equal to June, which has a Wintersun Comfort level of "comfortable" (not very humid)

What to do in Ribeira Brava Portugal in May

Ribeira Brava is a very significant tourist location. There are many places to visit in the area. Some of these include:

• Madeira Ethnographic Museum: The rustic architecture of this museum dates back to the 17th century. The museum displays different relics of the economic, cultural, and social norms of Madeiran culture. You will find different antiquities in the exhibition. They are organized by theme.
• Forte de São Bento: This forte served as the defense tower for the village of Ribeira Brava. It was constructed in the 18th century. Its construction was validated by Governor Duarte Sodré Pereira to defend the village. Sometimes pirates assailed the coast which disturbed the villagers.
• Miradouro de São Sebastião: if you want to enjoy the incredible panoramic view of the village of Ribeira Brava You can visit the São Sebastião viewpoint. You can also go to the beach to enjoy one of the best beaches in the world. Beaches of Ribeira Brava are known for their crystal clear waters.
• Fajã dos Padres: This spectacular area is tucked away underneath a cliff on the southern coast of Ribeira Brava. It is not just any old coast. It is a flat piece of land seated in the shadow of Cabo Girão, the second tallest cliff in the world. This isolated spot has been colonized since the premature days of settlement on this island by the people who have cultivated banana, avocado, papayas, and guava among other things.
• Igreja Matriz de São Bento: This 15th-century church was restored and preserved over many years but it remains a beauty to behold on the inside and outside. It is considered one of the most preserved regional monuments to date. It is characterized by several styles including gothic and Flemish.

Is it humid in Ribeira Brava Portugal in May?

A lot of people ask interested in the humidity or relative humidity for Ribeira Brava Portugal in May. 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 May in Ribeira Brava, 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 Ribeira Brava 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 May, you can expect that Ribeira Brava will not be very humid, and will feel 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

Is May a good time to go to Ribeira Brava Portugal?

Trying to answer the question of whether May is a good time to go to Ribeira Brava 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 Ribeira Brava in May, we can see that it will be on slightly less than what most people like, but still ok for most. In May, you can expect it to be slightly on the colder side, with an average temperature of around 64°F / 18°C. As there is not a lot of humidity, it will feel comfortable. During the night, it will be around 60°F / 16°C.

The number of overcast days is more than 5, but you can still the sun with around 8 sunny days and 16 partly sunny days.

The last aspect we will look at is rain. You can expect around 3 rainy days, with on average 0.3 inches / 7 mm of rain during May. If it were more than five days, the location would be slightly less attractive for a shorter stay.

We have looked at the average day temperature, the night temperature, humidity, the number of overcast days, and the rain. We think that May in Ribeira Brava 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 Ribeira Brava Portugal in May?

In Ribeira Brava, it does not rain all day in May. You can expect around 3 rainy days, with on average 0.3 inches / 7 mm of rain during the month.

Another way of looking at the rain is the number of sunny days. For Ribeira Brava Portugal, there are, on average 8 sunny days and 16 partly sunny days in May. That clearly shows that it is not raining all the time.

Is May the rainiest month in Ribeira Brava Portugal?

May 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 Ribeira Brava, 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 May the most sunniest month in Ribeira Brava Portugal?

May 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 Ribeira Brava, 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 8 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 Ribeira Brava Portugal

Weather in Ribeira Brava Portugal in other months

• Weather in Ribeira Brava Portugal for January
• Weather in Ribeira Brava Portugal for February
• Weather in Ribeira Brava Portugal for March
• Weather in Ribeira Brava Portugal for April
• Weather in Ribeira Brava Portugal for June
• Weather in Ribeira Brava Portugal for July
• Weather in Ribeira Brava Portugal for August
• Weather in Ribeira Brava Portugal for September
• Weather in Ribeira Brava Portugal for October
• Weather in Ribeira Brava Portugal for November
• Weather in Ribeira Brava Portugal for December

What to do in Ribeira Brava Portugal for each month

• What to do in January in Ribeira Brava Portugal
• What to do in February in Ribeira Brava Portugal
• What to do in March in Ribeira Brava Portugal
• What to do in April in Ribeira Brava Portugal
• What to do in May in Ribeira Brava Portugal
• What to do in June in Ribeira Brava Portugal
• What to do in July in Ribeira Brava Portugal
• What to do in August in Ribeira Brava Portugal
• What to do in September in Ribeira Brava Portugal
• What to do in October in Ribeira Brava Portugal
• What to do in November in Ribeira Brava Portugal
• What to do in December in Ribeira Brava Portugal