Algarve Tourism Guide - Algarve Weather

Holiday Weather Forecasts Algarve Albufeira Weather

The sunny Algarve coast is Portugal's holiday resort hotspot, with bustling Algarve resorts like Albufeira, Quarteira, and Vilamoura on the Central Algarve coast pulling in British holidaymakers year after year. The Algarve is Portugal's most southern region and separated from its neighbour region Alentejo by the low lying Serra de Monchique mountains to the west and the Serra do Caldeirao to the east. Pleasant sea breezes are cooling in peak season and take the edge off, although don't be fooled the sun's still beating down so suntan lotion all year round is a must down here! (watch the side of your neck too whilst driving your Algarve car hire - it catches you out that one!)

The legendary warm Algarve climate and warm sea temperatures is enhanced by various physical circumstances. The Algarve is sheltered and protected by mountains which separate it from the Alentejo area. Temperatures remain milder in winter on the Algarve, with rain concentrated between November and March.

Algarve weather enjoys some of the longest sunshine hours in Europe, with superb warm water temperatures of around 22 degrees centegrade in summer. Temperatures range from 15 degrees centigrade to 31 degrees centigrade and year round they rarely fall below zero! With long sunshine hours and warm sea temperatures, the Algarve tops the holiday charts for beach resort holidays. Pretty much guaranteed sunshine in the peak summer months - families will love the warm sea temperatures. Average temperatures are from 24 to 29 degrees centigrade in summer and 15 to 18 degrees centigrade in winter. Average seawater temperatures in summer are from 21 to 24 degrees centigrade, and in winter from 15 to 19 degrees centigrade. All year round watersports such as surfing on the Algarve or windsurfing the Algarve are popular largely due to such superb warm seawaters all year round!

The Algarve coast is usually divided into the barlavento or windward section which stretches from Cape St Vincent in the Far West to Albufeira. This stretch is renowned for its dramatic rock formations - the western Alglarve coastal strip landmass is literally rising, being pushed upwards by the collision of two plates! The West gets the wind, hence you'll find more favourite surfing, windsurfing and kitesurfing spots here. To the leeward or sotavento coast from Albufeira east to Vila Real de Santo Antoniao the coast is much more sheltered, with the very best of warm sea temperatures, flat endless sands and estuary/wetland scenes rather than rock formations.

Average Temperatures & Sea Temperatures Algarve

The Algarve, the most southerly region of Portugal, has the best of Portugal's climate. Cooling sea breezes make peak summer season here not too oppressive, although temperatures can climb upto 37 degrees centigrade in August. Average daily minimum temperatures on the Algarve can range from 8 to 10 degrees centigrade. Many suggest that the best time to visit the Algarve is between May and June when temperatures are up around 24 to 30 degrees centigrade - not oppressively hot, although that's hot enough. Expect very hot temperatures in July and August on the Algarve when they tend to push into the mid 30s centigrade.

Don't assume that the Algarve has day in day out sunshine out of peak season - it doesn't, it does get the rain too, mostly from November to April. Not much rain though, on average per year only around 50 days and a total of 500mm. Summers are hot and dry, whilst winters are mild. Cooling sea breezes ease the heat in peak summer, and sunshine hours are long. Sea water temperatures range from around 14 degrees centigrade in January to around 22 degrees centigrade in peak August. Good news for surfing and watersports fanatics then! The eastern more sheltered Algarve coast around the Faro, Tavira and Montegordo beaches have the best of warm sea water temperatures, and superb sheltered calm waters perfect for family holidays on the Algarve.

Monthly temperatures on the Algarve are on average as follows: January 15 degrees centigrade/59F, February 16C/61F, March 18C/64F, April 21C/70F, May 24C/75F, June 30C/86F, July 35C/95F, August 37C/99F, September 33C/91F, October 28C/82F, November 19C/66F and December 17C/63F.

The nearby Mediterranean Sea influences the Algarve climate. The following are annual averages for Algarve weather - Air temperature in summer: 24C to 29C, Air temperature in winter: 15C to 18C, Seawater temperature in summer: 21C to 24C and Seawater temperature in winter: 15C to 19C.