What is the weather like in Portugal today
Executive summary
Portugal in February is broadly mild for winter: daytime highs typically sit in the low-to-mid teens Celsius while nights fall to single digits, with a mix of bright days and frequent showers depending on region (national averages: roughly 9–16°C daytime range; 5 hours of sunshine per day; ~110 mm monthly rainfall in parts) [1] [2]. Available sources are climatological summaries for February 2026 rather than a live “today” snapshot, so they describe what weather is typical for the month and for regions rather than real‑time conditions [3] [4].
1. How to read the headline: mild but variable across the country
February’s typical temperatures for Portugal as a whole center around the mid‑teens by day and single digits at night — averages offered include an overall mean near 13.7°C and common daytime peaks of 15–16°C in central/southern areas like Lisbon and the Algarve, while northern coastal cities such as Porto tend to be a degree or two cooler with daytime maxima near 14°C [5] [6] [7].
2. Regional snapshot: Lisbon, Porto, central zones and the south
Lisbon's February climatology shows daytime highs roughly 14–16°C and lows around 9–10°C, with sea temperatures about 14–15°C — pleasant for sightseeing but too cool for regular beach swimming [8] [6]. Porto and northern coastal areas are cooler and wetter, with typical February highs around 14°C and more rainy days (Porto monthly rainfall estimates and more frequent showers) [7] [9]. Central Portugal averages about 15°C by day and 8°C at night, with roughly ten rainy days and around 84 mm of precipitation in February in that zone [10].
3. Sunshine, rain and what “mild” really means
February is not a dry, guaranteed-sunny month: many sources note roughly five hours of bright sunshine per day in Lisbon and comparable averages across populated regions while long‑term records place the month at about half the daylight hours being sunny — and national monthly rainfall totals vary (Lisbon/Portugal averages c.110 mm, Porto higher around 167 mm in some datasets) [2] [6] [7]. Several sites break the month into thirds and show variability: some 10‑day windows can be noticeably brighter (up to ~9 hours) while other spells deliver multiple rainy days, so expecting intermittent sun and some damp or chilly periods is realistic [5] [8].
4. The limits of the reporting and competing narratives
All cited material is climatological and travel‑oriented — compilations of historical averages and modelled monthly normals rather than live forecasts — so they tell what February weather tends to be, not what is happening this exact calendar day [3] [4]. Many travel and hotel sites emphasise sunshine and “mild” conditions to promote tourism, which can underplay the frequency of showers or regional differences; conversely, some long‑range pages stress cooler, damp conditions to encourage off‑season bookings for quieter attractions [11] [12] [1].
5. Practical takeaways for planning
Expect comfortable daytime weather for walking and sightseeing with layers for cooler nights and occasional rain: pack a light waterproof, sweaters, and a jacket for northern or inland excursions; beach swimming remains unlikely for most travelers without a wetsuit because sea temperatures hover around 14–15°C [10] [5] [2]. For a precise “today” reading, the climatological sources recommend checking up‑to‑the‑minute local forecasts or meteorological services, since monthly averages cannot substitute for short‑term weather systems [4] [13].