Algarve Weather . . .

The Algarve experiences mild winters compared with northern Portugal and even more so when compared to other countries in Northern Europe like the United Kingdom and Germany. However, because of the Atlantic influence you may experience wet days and chilly evenings between November and March.

As almost anywhere in the world the weather in the Algarve can vary from year to year. In general though the climatic changes are not dramatic except for the occasional thunderstorm. The Algarvian climate is generally warm during the day sitable for short sleeves, however at night you will find the need to put on additional clothing.

Maximum temperatures can be several degrees higher than those shown in the chart below, especially in inland areas. Therefore it is advisable to take care when in the sun whether you are on a beach or around the pool. Many tourists can be caught out and end up badly sunburnt due to the fact that the sea breeze can appear to reduce the actual temperature considerably. The sun in the Algarve is hot, and will burn you quickly so be warned!

Because the Algarve is not in the Mediterranean, and actually has a coastline surrounded by the Atlantic. It means the sea temperature is not as warm as other tourist destinations in the Mediterranean. The main advantage in having an Atlantic coastline is the lack of pollution. A large number of Algarvian beaches have been awarded the EU 'Blue Flag' for sea water quality. Scuba divers should be aware that there can be substantial temperature differences in Algarvian waters due to cold underlying Atlantic waters below the warmer Mediterranean surface layer.

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