São João da Madeira weather in December

In December, São João da Madeira sees average daytime highs of 13°C and overnight lows near 7°C, with 172 mm of rain across 12.6 wet days and about 9.1 hours of daylight. It is the 11th-warmest and 2nd-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 13°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 31% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 9 h 18 min at the start of December to 9 h 06 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is São João da Madeira's 12th-clearest and 1st-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see São João da Madeira's year-round climate.

Daytime high
13°
11th warmest
Overnight low
3rd coldest
Rainfall
172 mm
12.6 wet days
Daylight
9 h 06 min
7:58 AM – 5:02 PM
Cloud cover
60%
12th clearest
Wind
12 km/h
1st windiest
Solar energy
1.69 kWh/m²
Travel score
3.4
out of 10

São João da Madeira is city seat of São João da Madeira municipality.

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in December

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 13°C through the month.

A typical December day in São João da Madeira reaches about 13°C in the afternoon and slips back to 7°C overnight — a 6°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 10°C and 15°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 2°C cooler than November and on par with January.

10°15°20°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
1148
2148
3138
4138
5138
6138
7138
8138
9138
10138
11137
12137
13137
14137
15137
16137
17137
18137
19137
20137
21137
22137
23137
24137
25137
26137
27137
28137
29137
30137
31137

São João da Madeira weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 11th-warmest and 2nd-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan12° / 15512.19.43.2
Feb14° / 1069.510.43.9
Mar16° / 12410.811.74.9
Apr17° / 10°1291313.15.2
May20° / 12°1121214.36.1
Jun23° / 15°436.914.97.5
Jul25° / 16°234.114.68.4
Aug26° / 17°294.913.68.2
Sep23° / 15°697.612.37.5
Oct20° / 13°17413.110.95.9
Nov15° / 16513.19.74.4
Dec13° / 17212.69.13.4

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 31% of the time in December, the cloudiest month of the year.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 11% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 58%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
14357
24258
34258
44258
54258
64258
74258
84258
94258
104258
114357
124357
134357
144357
154456
164357
174456
184456
194357
204357
214357
224258
234258
244258
254258
264258
274159
284258
294258
304159
314159

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

São João da Madeira gets around 172 mm of rain over 12.6 wet days in December. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 41% and peaks near 44% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
140
240
339
439
539
638
738
838
938
1039
1139
1239
1339
1439
1539
1639
1740
1840
1940
2041
2141
2242
2342
2443
2543
2643
2744
2844
2944
3044
3144

Humidity in December

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of December feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

By dew point, December lands in the dry band about 97% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)
1955
2964
3964
4964
5964
6964
7964
8973
9973
10973
11973
12973
13973
14973
15973
16973
17982
18982
19982
20973
21973
22973
23973
24973
25973
26973
27973
28973
29973
30973
31973

Wind in December

Winds average 12 km/h in December, the windiest month of the year.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 12 km/h on the calmest days to 13 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
112calm
212calm
312calm
412calm
512calm
612calm
712calm
812calm
912calm
1012calm
1112calm
1212light breeze
1312light breeze
1412light breeze
1512light breeze
1612light breeze
1712light breeze
1812light breeze
1912light breeze
2012light breeze
2113light breeze
2213light breeze
2313light breeze
2413light breeze
2513light breeze
2613light breeze
2713light breeze
2813light breeze
2913light breeze
3013light breeze
3113light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 9 h 18 min at the start of December to 9 h 06 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 12 minutes over December. Sunrise moves from 7:45 AM to 8:04 AM, and sunset from 5:02 PM to 5:10 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.37:455:02
29.37:465:02
39.27:475:02
49.27:485:02
59.27:495:01
69.27:505:01
79.27:515:01
89.27:525:01
99.17:535:01
109.17:535:01
119.17:545:01
129.17:555:02
139.17:565:02
149.17:565:02
159.17:575:02
169.17:585:02
179.17:585:03
189.17:595:03
199.18:005:03
209.18:005:04
219.18:015:04
229.18:015:05
239.18:025:05
249.18:025:06
259.18:025:06
269.18:035:07
279.18:035:07
289.18:035:08
299.18:045:09
309.18:045:09
319.18:045:10

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 1.69 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.69 kWh/m² to a high of 7.27 kWh/m² in July across the year — December's 1.69 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

00.511.522.5151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
11.8Dim
21.8Dim
31.8Dim
41.8Dim
51.8Dim
61.8Dim
71.7Dim
81.7Dim
91.7Dim
101.7Dim
111.7Dim
121.7Dim
131.7Dim
141.7Dim
151.7Dim
161.7Dim
171.7Dim
181.7Dim
191.7Dim
201.7Dim
211.7Dim
221.7Dim
231.7Dim
241.7Dim
251.7Dim
261.7Dim
271.7Dim
281.7Dim
291.7Dim
301.7Dim
311.7Dim
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for São João da Madeira

In seasonPeak

In December, São João da Madeira sits inside its rainy season season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.

São João da Madeira's rainy season runs October–May, when most of the year's rain falls.

Rainy season
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is December a good time to visit São João da Madeira?

Our two travel scores rate December for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).

3.4
Sightseeing
11th-best month of the year
0.0
Beach & pool
11th-best month of the year

December is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in São João da Madeira.

What to pack for São João da Madeira in December

From December's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In December, São João da Madeira sees daytime highs around 13°C and nights near 7°C. Worth packing: a warm layer and rain gear. About 13 days see rain.

a warm layerrain gear

Sea temperature near São João da Madeira in December

The nearest coast averages about 14°C in December — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea at the nearest coast (about 27 km away) is warmest in September at about 17°C and coldest in February near 13°C.

The water stays below 20°C all year — cool enough that most swimmers want a wetsuit.

12°14°16°18°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcool
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan14Bracing
Feb13Bracing
Mar14Bracing
Apr14Bracing
May16Cool
Jun17Cool
Jul17Cool
Aug17Cool
Sep17Cool
Oct17Cool
Nov16Cool
Dec14Bracing

UV index in São João da Madeira in December

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 2. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in São João da Madeira peaks around July 12 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 20 at about 2 (low).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 8 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highHighModerateLowJul 12UV 9Dec 20UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Low
Feb3Moderate
Mar5High
Apr6High
May7High
Jun9Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug8Very high
Sep5High
Oct5Moderate
Nov2Moderate
Dec2Low

Air quality in São João da Madeira in December

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where December falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in São João da Madeira is worst in August — around 25 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 3.4× the cleanest month (November, 7 µg/m³).

Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodModerateGoodAug 2425 µg/m³Nov 237 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan10Good
Feb11Good
Mar14Moderate
Apr12Moderate
May8Good
Jun9Good
Jul9Good
Aug25Moderate
Sep24Moderate
Oct18Moderate
Nov7Good
Dec7Good
Location & terrain

Where is São João da Madeira?

São João da Madeira sits at 40.9°N, 8.5°W, 228 m above sea level, in Portugal. The nearest listed city is Feira, 5.0 km away.

Topography around São João da Madeira

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of São João da Madeira.

Within 3 km, the terrain around São João da Madeira has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 182 m around an average of 217 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 937 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,402 m.

The land around São João da Madeira is covered by trees (48%) and artificial surfaces (33%) within 3 km, trees (62%) within 16 km, and trees (43%), grassland (25%) and water (22%) within 80 km.

3 km
182 m
16 km
937 m
80 km
1,402 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswaterwetland
December weather nearby: Feira 5.0 km · Ovar 12 km · Espinho 17 km · Arouca 21 km · Vilar de Andorinho 24 km · Valadares 24 km · Santo Ovídio 25 km · Oliveira do Douro 26 km

Portugal travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 1
Exercise Normal Precautions
Power plugs
Type C / E / F
230 V · 50 Hz
Prices
≈ 60% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$32,082
2025
Happiness
6.0 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
95%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
0.7
per 100k, 2022
Road deaths
8.2
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
High
World Bank
English
Very high
EF EPI 612
Religion
Catholic 68%not applicable 13%no religion 12%no response 2%

Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.

Data sources

Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for São João da Madeira (40.9007°, -8.4902°, elevation 228 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google. Sea temperatures are the NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly climatology (public domain), sampled at the nearest ocean point. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).