Madeira average temperature January

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People leaving a northern winter often doubt that January can be warm anywhere in Europe. In Funchal it is: the Madeira average temperature January brings is a daytime high of 20.0 °C and a night-time low of 14.3 °C, by the IPMA normals for the Funchal Observatory. Rain averages 67.1 mm over the month and sunshine about 161 hours, the second greyest month after December. It is winter sun, not beach heat, and the green of the hills shows the rain that falls higher up.

Air, sea and rain in January

The madeira january weather average temperature is a high of 20.0 °C (68.0 °F) and a low of 14.3 °C (57.7 °F), almost the same as December's 21.0 °C and 15.5 °C.

The madeira sea temperature january average at the Pontinha pier in Funchal harbour is about 18.3 °C, the normal for the month; in January 2026 it measured 18.7 °C. That is cool for a long swim, but the water is still warmer than the night air.

Rain is 67.1 mm, less than December's 94.8 mm and a little less than February's 72.4 mm. It comes in spells rather than every day, so a showery morning often turns into a bright afternoon. Check the IPMA forecast for the day's plan.

The mountains, and what to pack

The madeira january temperature in the mountains is another season. At Queimadas, above Santana on the north side, the station's normals give a high of 12.4 °C and 301.1 mm of rain in January, more than four times the rain in Funchal. A levada or a mountain walk needs a warm layer and a waterproof.

For the madeira average temperature january february compare, the two months are nearly identical in Funchal: February averages 19.9 °C by day and 13.9 °C at night, with slightly more rain.

The Christmas season runs until 10 January in the 2026-27 programme. Epiphany hymns are sung at Praça do Povo on 5 January at 19:00, and the Bolo-Rei is eaten on 6 January.

Pack light layers, a jacket for the evenings and a rain shell. Compare December, February and the whole year on the Funchal weather page.

Planning a January stay

January suits walkers, garden lovers and anyone after mild days rather than a tan. Mornings are often the clearest time for the viewpoints, and a showery afternoon is the time for the museums, the Mercado dos Lavradores, open Monday to Friday from 07:00 to 19:00 and on Saturday to 14:00, or a Madeira wine lodge. The Funchal-Monte cable car runs daily from 09:00, with the last boarding at 17:45, and the gardens at Monte are at their greenest after the winter rain. East of Funchal the island is drier: Machico averages about 710 mm of rain a year, so a wet day in the mountains can still be a fine one on the coast towards the Ponta de São Lourenço.

The gardens at Monte are at their greenest after the winter rain.

Common questions

Is January warm in Madeira?

In Funchal, mild: highs of 20.0 °C and lows of 14.3 °C on average. The mountains are much colder.

How warm is the sea in January?

About 18.3 °C at Funchal, the normal for the month; 18.7 °C was measured in January 2026.

Does it rain much in January?

Funchal averages 67.1 mm, in spells. The north side and the mountains get far more.