Funchal presents an extraordinarily complex microclimate system due to its unique position in a natural amphitheater formed by volcanic mountains reaching 1,862m altitude. The city is divided into 7 distinct microclimatic zones: Coast (0-50m altitude, 19-25°C annual averages, precipitation 550mm), Low Zone (50-200m, 18-24°C, 650mm), Middle-Low Zone (200-400m, 17-23°C, 750mm), Middle Zone (400-600m, 16-22°C, 900mm), Middle-High Zone (600-800m, 15-20°C, 1.100mm), High Zone (800-1.000m, 14-19°C, 1.300mm), and Mountain Zone (>1.000m, 12-17°C, >1.500mm). This thermal stratification creates temperature differences up to 8-12°C between lower Funchal and surrounding peaks, a phenomenon continuously documented by our weather stations distributed throughout the region.
The "Föhn" effect is particularly pronounced in Funchal, especially during East wind events (Lestada). When humid air masses encounter the island's mountain barrier, they rise orographically, cool adiabatically (0.6°C per 100m), condense on the north slope (creating clouds and precipitation), and then descend the south slope as dry and heated air. This phenomenon can raise temperatures in Funchal 6-10°C above seasonal normals, with wind gusts that can exceed 80 km/h. During these events, relative humidity can abruptly drop from 75-80% to 25-35%, creating extremely dry conditions. Our weather stations recorded record temperatures of 38.2°C during the August 2016 Lestada event, contrasting with the simultaneous 19.8°C recorded at Encumeada (1,007m), just 15km away.