Temperature and rainfall

The region has a continental climate, although it is still influenced by the Atlantic Ocean. As a result, the Alentejo is noticeably greener than Extremadura, the neighbouring region in Spain. Annual rainfall averages 625 mm (ranging from 350 to 800 mm), with approximately 80% falling during the winter half of the year.
For the past eight years, we have recorded the daily rainfall at the Herdade. These observations show that, even during the rainy season (November–April), the chance of experiencing a day with heavy rainfall (more than 10 mm) during a one-week stay is only about 2%. On such days, it typically pours for a few hours, after which there is often sunshine again—sometimes even enough to dry the laundry.
The probability of having virtually no rain for seven consecutive days is, on average, 95%. Even in March, the wettest month, the probability is still around 80%. (A day with "virtually no rain" is defined as receiving less than 2 mm of rainfall.)
The average daytime/night-time temperatures in December, January, and February are 13°C / 7°C, while in July and August they are 30°C / 16°C. During winter, night-time temperatures occasionally fall below freezing, but snowfall is extremely rare. The last snowfall occurred in 2009, when patches of snow around the Herdade remained on the ground for about seven hours.
Winter days are often pleasantly warm thanks to the brilliant sunshine and the almost imperceptible breeze—it can even be T-shirt weather in the middle of the afternoon.
In July and August, daytime temperatures occasionally exceed 35°C, and on rare occasions even 40°C. During the hottest hours of the day, the swimming pool offers welcome relief, or you can enjoy a traditional siesta inside the house, where the thick stone walls keep the rooms pleasantly cool. These periods of extreme heat are often accompanied by a strong, dry wind. Even so, the nights usually remain comfortably cool, with temperatures between 15°C and 20°C.