São João da Madeira in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), São João da Madeira sees average daytime highs around 13°C and overnight lows near 7°C, with 433 mm of rain over about 34 wet days across the season. It is the coldest season of the year and the wettest season of the year.
Across winter, daytime highs hold fairly steady around 13°C. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 33% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels dry.
Winter is São João da Madeira's weakest season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see São João da Madeira's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 13°C
- coldest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 7°C
- Rainfall
- 433 mm
- 34 wet days
- Avg wind
- 12 km/h
- Travel score
- 3.5
- weakest season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in São João da Madeira in Winter
Across winter, daytime highs hold fairly steady around 13°C.
A typical winter day in São João da Madeira reaches about 13°C and drops to 7°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is February, the coolest January.
São João da Madeira weather by month
How the three winter months (December, January and February) compare with the rest of the year — the season's months are highlighted.
| Month | High / Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) | Wet days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 12° / 6° | 155 | 12.1 | 9.4 | 3.2 |
| Feb | 14° / 7° | 106 | 9.5 | 10.4 | 3.9 |
| Mar | 16° / 9° | 124 | 10.8 | 11.7 | 4.9 |
| Apr | 17° / 10° | 129 | 13 | 13.1 | 5.2 |
| May | 20° / 12° | 112 | 12 | 14.3 | 6.1 |
| Jun | 23° / 15° | 43 | 6.9 | 14.9 | 7.5 |
| Jul | 25° / 16° | 23 | 4.1 | 14.6 | 8.4 |
| Aug | 26° / 17° | 29 | 4.9 | 13.6 | 8.2 |
| Sep | 23° / 15° | 69 | 7.6 | 12.3 | 7.5 |
| Oct | 20° / 13° | 174 | 13.1 | 10.9 | 5.9 |
| Nov | 15° / 9° | 165 | 13.1 | 9.7 | 4.4 |
| Dec | 13° / 7° | 172 | 12.6 | 9.1 | 3.4 |
Cloud cover in Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 33% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
São João da Madeira gets around 433 mm of rain over 34 wet days across winter. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Winter
Most of winter feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Winter
Winds average 12 km/h across winter.
Sunrise & sunset in Winter
Daylight runs from about 9 h 18 min in early December to 10 h 54 min by late February. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Winter
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across winter, about 2.2 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for São João da Madeira
In winter, São João da Madeira overlaps 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.
Is winter a good time to visit São João da Madeira?
Our two travel scores rate winter for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
winter is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in São João da Madeira.
What to pack for São João da Madeira in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, São João da Madeira sees daytime highs around 13°C and nights near 7°C. Worth packing: a warm layer and rain gear. About 34 days see rain.
Sea temperature near São João da Madeira in Winter
The nearest coast averages about 14°C across winter — 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.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°C) | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 14 |
| Comfort | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Cool | Cool | Cool | Cool | Cool | Cool | Cool | Bracing |
| Sea temperature (°C) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 14 | Bracing |
| Feb | 13 | Bracing |
| Mar | 14 | Bracing |
| Apr | 14 | Bracing |
| May | 16 | Cool |
| Jun | 17 | Cool |
| Jul | 17 | Cool |
| Aug | 17 | Cool |
| Sep | 17 | Cool |
| Oct | 17 | Cool |
| Nov | 16 | Cool |
| Dec | 14 | Bracing |
UV index in São João da Madeira in Winter
Clear-sky midday UV across winter averages 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.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 2 |
| Level | Low | Moderate | High | High | High | Very high | Very high | Very high | High | Moderate | Moderate | Low |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2 | Low |
| Feb | 3 | Moderate |
| Mar | 5 | High |
| Apr | 6 | High |
| May | 7 | High |
| Jun | 9 | Very high |
| Jul | 9 | Very high |
| Aug | 8 | Very high |
| Sep | 5 | High |
| Oct | 5 | Moderate |
| Nov | 2 | Moderate |
| Dec | 2 | Low |
Air quality in São João da Madeira in Winter
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where winter 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).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 10 | 11 | 14 | 12 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 25 | 24 | 18 | 7 | 7 |
| Level | Good | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 10 | Good |
| Feb | 11 | Good |
| Mar | 14 | Moderate |
| Apr | 12 | Moderate |
| May | 8 | Good |
| Jun | 9 | Good |
| Jul | 9 | Good |
| Aug | 25 | Moderate |
| Sep | 24 | Moderate |
| Oct | 18 | Moderate |
| Nov | 7 | Good |
| Dec | 7 | Good |
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.
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
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.