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The climate of Viseu can be defined as Mediterranean, given that the winters are mild and rainy and the summers are warm and sunny, even though the summer nights are cool.
The city is located in central-northern Portugal, about 70 km (45 mi) from the coast, and at an altitude of 440 meters (1,450 ft).
The
average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of 7.1 °C (45 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 21.7 °C (71 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Viseu - Average temperatures (1981-2010) | Month | Min (°C) | Max (°C) | Mean (°C) | Min (°F) | Max (°F) | Mean (°F) |
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| January | 2 | 12 | 7 | 36 | 53 | 44.7 |
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| February | 3 | 14 | 8.6 | 38 | 57 | 47.4 |
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| March | 5 | 17 | 11 | 41 | 62 | 51.9 |
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| April | 6 | 18 | 11.9 | 43 | 64 | 53.4 |
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| May | 9 | 21 | 14.7 | 48 | 69 | 58.5 |
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| June | 12 | 26 | 19 | 53 | 79 | 66.1 |
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| July | 14 | 30 | 21.7 | 57 | 85 | 71.1 |
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| August | 14 | 30 | 21.6 | 56 | 85 | 70.8 |
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| September | 12 | 26 | 19 | 53 | 79 | 66.2 |
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| October | 9 | 21 | 15 | 48 | 70 | 59.1 |
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| November | 6 | 16 | 10.8 | 43 | 60 | 51.4 |
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| December | 4 | 12 | 8.3 | 40 | 54 | 46.9 |
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| Year | 8 | 20.1 | 14.05 | 46.4 | 68.3 | 57.5 |
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amounts to 1,170 millimeters (46.1 inches) per year: it is therefore quite abundant. It ranges from 20 mm (0.8 in) in the driest months (July, August) to 195 mm (7.7 in) in the wettest (December). Here is the average precipitation.
Viseu - Average precipitation| Month | Millimeters | Inches | Days |
|---|
| January | 155 | 6.1 | 12 |
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| February | 135 | 5.3 | 10 |
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| March | 75 | 3 | 8 |
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| April | 105 | 4.1 | 11 |
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| May | 95 | 3.7 | 10 |
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| June | 45 | 1.8 | 5 |
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| July | 20 | 0.8 | 2 |
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| August | 20 | 0.8 | 2 |
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| September | 55 | 2.2 | 6 |
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| October | 135 | 5.3 | 10 |
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| November | 135 | 5.3 | 10 |
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| December | 195 | 7.7 | 13 |
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| Year | 1170 | 46.1 | 100 |
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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, there may also be some cold periods, with highs of 7/8 °C (45/46 °F) or lower. On the coldest nights of the year, the temperature typically drops slightly below freezing.
Snow in Viseu is quite rare, however, it is more frequent than in central and southern Portugal. For example, in 2020 it snowed on March 31 and in early December.
The coldest record is -7.5 °C (18.5 °F), recorded in February 1983.
Summer, from 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 40.5 °C (105 °F), recorded in July 1995.
On average, there are around 2,730
sunshine hours per year: therefore, the amount of sunshine is very good. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.
Viseu - Sunshine hours| Month | Average | Total |
|---|
January | 4.5 | 135 | February | 5 | 145 | March | 6.5 | 205 | April | 7.5 | 220 | May | 9 | 280 | June | 10 | 305 | July | 11.5 | 360 | August | 11 | 345 | September | 8.5 | 250 | October | 6.5 | 200 | November | 5 | 150 | December | 4.5 | 135 | Year | 7.5 | 2735 |
Best Time
The
best times to visit Viseu 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.