Hello
We are thinking about spending October in Portugal. Starting from Lisbon and going south from there.
My question is, to anyone that can help me, is the weather agreeable at that time? Reasonably warm and dry? The information that I have is for the rain to start in November, but with climate change everywhere, this may vary. Any help out there is greatly appreciated.
Thankyou,
Ernie
We spent 2 weeks in Portugal last October -- the 2 middle weeks -- and went to Lisbon, Evora and 2 places on the Algarve. We had warm sunny weather the entire time, although we were told that it was not always so nice. Even the last couple of days in Lisbon, around the 20th of October, it was in the high 20's, whereas the guidebook said it often rained at that time of year.
I assume that towards the south, you are more likely to have good weather at that time of year.
Ernie, I'm afraid you hit the nail on the head when you said about unpredictability and climate change.
I live in the mountains of Southern Spain, not that far from Portugal, and the weather here since December has been completely unlike previous years. Usually we get snow for a few days but we had no snow at all, or even weather cold enough for snow. On the other hand, we usually get a dry, warm, sunny May; this month we've had plenty of cool, showery weather with occasional heavy rain storms.
Portugal is prone to Atlantic weather fronts and so the weather is difficult to predict anyway. The best that people can do is what bjd has done: tell you what the weather has been like in the past.
If it helps you any, the parts of Portugal north of Lisbon tend to be rainier than the southern parts. Late October should be OK, but anything can happen.
I was in Lisbon last November and had to buy a whole new wardrobe of clothes, had totally packed for cool days and cooler evenings but it was in the mid to high 20’s all week. The local people said it was unseasonal.
This site will give you an idea on weather patterns around the world: www.climate-charts.com.
Don'tknow too much about southern Portugal but I've been central in the hills around Guarda and Coimbra in October and the day time temperature is comfortable, a little cool in the evening, just needs a light jacket. I'd expect the south is warmer but Autumn is always a time for storms with the changing temperatures.