Madeira weather · February
Weather in Madeira in February
A monthly average blurs the two Madeiras together: a drier south, a wetter and greener north. The numbers below are the island averaged out. On the day you actually walk, one coast is clear and the other is under cloud.
February looks a lot like January: mild on the coast, cold on the peaks, green everywhere. It is one of the least crowded months of the year, so popular trails that feel like a procession in August can be nearly empty on a weekday morning.
Madeira temperatures, rain and sea in February, coast to summit
| Where | Day / night | Rain | Rainy days | Sun/day | Peak wind | Sea |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funchal / south coast | 18.7 / 13.6 °C | 73 mm | 9 | 9 h | 15 km/h | 19.6 °C |
| Porto Moniz / north coast | 18.5 / 14 °C | 94 mm | 12 | 10 h | 16 km/h | — |
| Pico do Arieiro (1,818 m) | 7.2 / 1.4 °C | 100 mm | 12 | 9 h | 12 km/h | — |
10-year monthly averages (2016-01-01 to 2025-12-31), historical archive. See all months
Why Madeira's weather differs by coast and altitude
The three rows above are the point: in the same February week, Funchal and the summits behave like different countries. Madeira's mountains split every weather system in two, so "weather in Madeira" is really the weather of whichever coast and altitude you stand on. The pattern is explained in our microclimate guide; for a specific day, live per-trail conditions beat any monthly average.
Hiking in Madeira in February
Waterfalls and levadas are at full power from winter rain, and the laurisilva is at its mossiest. Keep plans flexible: pick the sunny coast on the day rather than committing a week ahead, and treat the exposed ridge between Pico do Arieiro and Pico Ruivo with respect when wind or cloud moves in.
Good starting points this month: waterfall hikes and forest & laurisilva trails. Regulated classics like PR1 need advance booking via SIMplifica.
What February is like in Madeira
Carnival usually lands in February, filling Funchal with parades for a few days. Up high, clear post-frontal days give some of the best long-distance visibility of the year.
Common questions
How warm is Madeira in February?
On the south coast around Funchal, February days average about 18.7 °C and nights about 13.6 °C. The mountains are a different world: at Pico do Arieiro (1,818 m) the average daytime high is around 7.2 °C. Pack for both if you plan to hike high.
Does it rain a lot in Madeira in February?
Funchal averages roughly 73 mm across about 9 rainy days in February, a middling month for rain on the south coast. The north coast and the mountains always catch more. Rain is usually local: when one coast is wet, the other is often dry, which is why a single island-wide forecast misleads.
Can you swim in the sea in Madeira in February?
The Atlantic around Funchal averages about 19.6 °C in February, which is brisk, for determined swimmers. The natural lava pools at Porto Moniz and Seixal are the classic post-hike swim spots.
Is February a good month for the levada walks?
Yes. Levada walks work all year because most sit in sheltered valleys and forest, and Madeira has no real off-season. What changes in February is which side of the island has the better day, so check live per-trail conditions on the morning rather than trusting a single island-wide forecast.
Nearby months: January · March
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