Weather and climate in Vila Real (Portugal)

The climate of Vila Real can be described as transitional Mediterranean. In fact, winter is a bit colder than in the Mediterranean climate, while summer nights are often cool.
The city is located in northern Portugal, 85 km (53 mi) from the coast, and at an altitude of 450 meters (1,450 ft).

The winter, from December to February, is relatively cold.
There are sunny periods that alternate with periods of bad weather.
Sometimes fog can form.
However, there may also be some cold periods, with highs of 5/6 °C (41/43 °F) or lower. On the coldest nights of the year, the temperature typically drops to -3/-4 °C (25/27 °F).
Snow in Vila Real is quite rare, however, it is more frequent than in central and southern Portugal, also because to the west there is a mountain range, the Serra do Marão, which partially blocks the western currents.
The coldest record is -6.5 °C (20.5 °F), recorded in February 1956 and January 1972.

Summer, from mid-June to mid-September, is hot and sunny, with rare rains.
At times, 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 36/38 °C (97/100 °F).
The highest record is 40 °C (104 °F), recorded in July 1990.

Best Time

The best times to visit Vila Real are spring and autumn, ie from mid-May to mid-June and from mid-September to early October. In summer, it is generally not too hot, but as we have said, there can be hot periods.

Vila Real - Climate data

The average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of 6.6 °C (43.8 °F), that of the warmest month (August) is of 21.9 °C (71.4 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Precipitation amounts to 1075 millimeters (42.3 inches) per year: it is therefore quite abundant. It ranges from 15 mm (0.6 in) in the driest months (July, August) to 175 mm (6.9 in) in the wettest one (December). Here is the average precipitation.
There are on average around 2390 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.

Vila Real - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of 6.6 °C (44 °F), with a minimum of 3.2 °C (37.7 °F) and a maximum of 10 °C (49.9 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -2 °C (28 °F). However, it dropped to -5.5 °C (22.1 °F) in January 2003.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 15 °C (59 °F). However, it reached 19 °C (66.2 °F) in January 2003.
Precipitation amounts to 145 mm (5.7 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 3.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 35% of the time.
The average humidity is 84%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (4 mph).

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February is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of 8.0 °C (46 °F), with a minimum of 3.7 °C (38.7 °F) and a maximum of 12.3 °C (54.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -1 °C (30 °F). However, it dropped to -4 °C (24.8 °F) in February 2012.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 17.5 °C (64 °F). However, it reached 21.5 °C (70.7 °F) in February 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 160 mm (6.3 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 40% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (4 mph).

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March is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 10.4 °C (51 °F), with a minimum of 5.5 °C (42 °F) and a maximum of 15.2 °C (59.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 0 °C (31.5 °F). However, it dropped to -5.6 °C (21.9 °F) in March 2005.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 22 °C (71.5 °F). However, it reached 25.8 °C (78.4 °F) in March 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 85 mm (3.3 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 48% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 mph).

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April is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 12.1 °C (54 °F), with a minimum of 7 °C (44.6 °F) and a maximum of 17.1 °C (62.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 1.5 °C (35 °F). However, it dropped to -0.6 °C (30.9 °F) in April 1999.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 25.5 °C (77.5 °F). However, it reached 29.8 °C (85.6 °F) in April 2011.
Precipitation amounts to 80 mm (3.1 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 47% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 mph).

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May is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 15.6 °C (60 °F), with a minimum of 9.7 °C (49.5 °F) and a maximum of 21.6 °C (70.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 4 °C (39.5 °F). However, it dropped to 0.8 °C (33.4 °F) in May 2001.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 30 °C (85.5 °F). However, it reached 34 °C (93.2 °F) in May 2001.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 30 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 52% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 mph).

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June is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 18.9 °C (66 °F), with a minimum of 12.5 °C (54.5 °F) and a maximum of 25.3 °C (77.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 7 °C (45 °F). However, it dropped to 4.3 °C (39.7 °F) in June 2000.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33.5 °C (92.5 °F). However, it reached 37.2 °C (99 °F) in June 2017.
Precipitation amounts to 55 mm (2.2 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 5 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 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 62% of the time.
The average humidity is 64%.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 mph).

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July is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 21.6 °C (71 °F), with a minimum of 14.5 °C (58.1 °F) and a maximum of 28.7 °C (83.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 9 °C (48.5 °F). However, it dropped to 6.6 °C (43.9 °F) in July 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 35.5 °C (96 °F). However, it reached 38.3 °C (100.9 °F) in July 2013.
Precipitation amounts to 15 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 50 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 10.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 71% of the time.
The average humidity is 59%.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 mph).

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August, the warmest month of the year, is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 21.9 °C (71 °F), with a minimum of 14.9 °C (58.8 °F) and a maximum of 28.9 °C (84 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 10 °C (50 °F). However, it dropped to 7 °C (44.6 °F) in August 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 36 °C (96.5 °F). However, it reached 39 °C (102.2 °F) in August 2018.
Precipitation amounts to 15 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 10.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 75% of the time.
The average humidity is 58%.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 mph).

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September is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 19.5 °C (67 °F), with a minimum of 13.3 °C (56 °F) and a maximum of 25.8 °C (78.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 8.5 °C (47.5 °F). However, it dropped to 6.7 °C (44.1 °F) in September 2000.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33 °C (91 °F). However, it reached 38.5 °C (101.3 °F) in September 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm (2 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 62% of the time.
The average humidity is 63%.
The average wind speed is 5 kph (3 mph).

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October is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 14.9 °C (59 °F), with a minimum of 10.2 °C (50.4 °F) and a maximum of 19.5 °C (67.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 5 °C (41 °F). However, it dropped to 1.2 °C (34.2 °F) in October 2012.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 26 °C (79 °F). However, it reached 31.6 °C (88.9 °F) in October 2017.
Precipitation amounts to 115 mm (4.5 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 50% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 5 kph (3 mph).

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November is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 9.5 °C (49 °F), with a minimum of 6 °C (42.7 °F) and a maximum of 13.1 °C (55.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 1 °C (33.5 °F). However, it dropped to -2.1 °C (28.2 °F) in November 2001.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 19 °C (66.5 °F). However, it reached 22 °C (71.6 °F) in November 2007.
Precipitation amounts to 110 mm (4.3 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 45% of the time.
The average humidity is 82%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (3 mph).

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December is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of 6.9 °C (44 °F), with a minimum of 3.6 °C (38.5 °F) and a maximum of 10.1 °C (50.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -1.5 °C (29.5 °F). However, it dropped to -3.7 °C (25.3 °F) in December 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 15 °C (59 °F). However, it reached 16.7 °C (62.1 °F) in December 2018.
Precipitation amounts to 175 mm (6.9 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 10 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 3 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 35% of the time.
The average humidity is 85%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 5 kph (3 mph).