Weather and climate in Castelo Branco (Portugal)

The climate of Castelo Branco is Mediterranean, with mild, relatively rainy winters and hot, sunny summers.
The city is located in the central part of Portugal, in the east, near the border with Spain, at an altitude of 385 meters (1,250 ft).

The winter, from December to February, is quite mild.
There are sunny periods that alternate with periods of bad weather.
Sometimes fog can form.
However, given the altitude and the distance from the sea, there may also be some cold periods, with highs of 7/8 °C (45/46 °F) or lower.
Snow in Castelo Branco is very rare. Snowfalls occurred in February 1983 and January 2010.
The coldest record is -5 °C (23 °F), recorded in March 2005.

Summer, from June to mid-September, is hot and sunny, with very rare rains. We are in the hot zone of Portugal, the eastern one, which receives the least influence from the ocean.
Rarely, there may be cool periods, in which the night temperature can drop to 10 °C (50 °F) or even below. However, from mid-June to early September, there can be very hot periods, in which the temperature reaches 38/40 °C (100/104 °F).
The highest record is 43.5 °C (110.3 °F) and was set in August 2018.

Best Time

The best times to visit Castelo Branco are spring and autumn, ie from mid-April to mid-June and from mid-September to early October. In summer, as we have said, there can be periods of scorching heat.

Castelo Branco - Climate data

The average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of 8.7 °C (47.7 °F), that of the warmest month (August) is of 25.2 °C (77.4 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Precipitation amounts to 760 millimeters (29.9 inches) per year: so, it is at an intermediate level. It ranges from 10 mm (0.4 in) in the driest months (July, August) to 130 mm (5.1 in) in the wettest one (December). Here is the average precipitation.
There are on average around 2795 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.

Castelo Branco - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 8.7 °C (48 °F), with a minimum of 4.8 °C (40.6 °F) and a maximum of 12.6 °C (54.7 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 0.5 °C (33.5 °F). However, it dropped to -2.4 °C (27.7 °F) in January 2003.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 18 °C (64 °F). However, it reached 22.1 °C (71.8 °F) in January 2008.
Precipitation amounts to 110 mm (4.3 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 51% of the time.
The average humidity is 80%. Hence, the air is normally humid.

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February is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 10 °C (50 °F), with a minimum of 5.5 °C (41.9 °F) and a maximum of 14.5 °C (58.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 2 °C (35.5 °F). However, it dropped to -2 °C (28.4 °F) in February 2012.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 20.5 °C (68.5 °F). However, it reached 23.2 °C (73.8 °F) in February 2020.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 56% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.

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March is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 12.4 °C (54 °F), with a minimum of 7.3 °C (45.1 °F) and a maximum of 17.6 °C (63.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 3 °C (37.5 °F). However, it dropped to -4.8 °C (23.4 °F) in March 2005.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 23.5 °C (74.5 °F). However, it reached 27.5 °C (81.5 °F) in March 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 35 mm (1.4 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 65% of the time.
The average humidity is 61%.

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April is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 14.2 °C (58 °F), with a minimum of 8.9 °C (48 °F) and a maximum of 19.6 °C (67.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 4 °C (39 °F). However, it dropped to 1 °C (33.8 °F) in April 2020.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 27 °C (80.5 °F). However, it reached 30.5 °C (86.9 °F) in April 1997.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 58% of the time.
The average humidity is 62%.

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May is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 17.6 °C (64 °F), with a minimum of 11.6 °C (52.9 °F) and a maximum of 23.6 °C (74.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 6 °C (42.5 °F). However, it dropped to 2.9 °C (37.2 °F) in May 2001.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 32 °C (89 °F). However, it reached 35.5 °C (95.9 °F) in May 2001.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 25 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 60% of the time.
The average humidity is 59%.

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June is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 22.1 °C (72 °F), with a minimum of 15.2 °C (59.4 °F) and a maximum of 29 °C (84.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 9.5 °C (49.5 °F). However, it dropped to 7.3 °C (45.1 °F) in June 2002.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 36.5 °C (98 °F). However, it reached 41.3 °C (106.3 °F) in June 2017.
Precipitation amounts to 25 mm (1 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 0 minutes. So the days are long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 10.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 70% of the time.
The average humidity is 49%.

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July is generally a warm to hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 24.7 °C (76 °F), with a minimum of 17.1 °C (62.8 °F) and a maximum of 32.3 °C (90.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 12 °C (54 °F). However, it dropped to 8.9 °C (48 °F) in July 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 38.5 °C (101.5 °F). However, it reached 41.6 °C (106.9 °F) in July 2017.
Precipitation amounts to 10 mm (0.4 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 35 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 11.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 79% of the time.
The average humidity is 41%.

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August, the hottest month of the year, is generally a warm to hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 25.2 °C (77 °F), with a minimum of 17.7 °C (63.9 °F) and a maximum of 32.8 °C (91 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 12.5 °C (55 °F). However, it dropped to 9.3 °C (48.7 °F) in August 2011.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 39 °C (102 °F). However, it reached 43.5 °C (110.3 °F) in August 2018.
Precipitation amounts to 10 mm (0.4 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 11 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 79% of the time.
The average humidity is 43%.

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September is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 22.2 °C (72 °F), with a minimum of 15.9 °C (60.6 °F) and a maximum of 28.4 °C (83.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 11.5 °C (52.5 °F). However, it dropped to 8.9 °C (48 °F) in September 2000.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 35 °C (95 °F). However, it reached 41.4 °C (106.5 °F) in September 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 35 mm (1.4 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 68% of the time.
The average humidity is 53%.

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October is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 17.4 °C (63 °F), with a minimum of 12.4 °C (54.3 °F) and a maximum of 22.3 °C (72.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 6.5 °C (44 °F). However, it dropped to 3.8 °C (38.8 °F) in October 2018.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 29 °C (84 °F). However, it reached 34.5 °C (94.1 °F) in October 2017.
Precipitation amounts to 105 mm (4.1 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 57% of the time.
The average humidity is 69%.

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November is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 11.8 °C (53 °F), with a minimum of 7.8 °C (46 °F) and a maximum of 15.7 °C (60.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 4 °C (39.5 °F). However, it dropped to -0.6 °C (30.9 °F) in November 2013.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 21.5 °C (71 °F). However, it reached 24.9 °C (76.8 °F) in November 2007.
Precipitation amounts to 120 mm (4.7 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 51% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.

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December is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 9.1 °C (48 °F), with a minimum of 5.4 °C (41.7 °F) and a maximum of 12.8 °C (55 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 1.5 °C (35 °F). However, it dropped to -2.5 °C (27.5 °F) in December 2009.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 17.5 °C (64 °F). However, it reached 19.5 °C (67.1 °F) in December 1996.
Precipitation amounts to 130 mm (5.1 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 25 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 42% of the time.
The average humidity is 83%. Hence, the air is normally humid.