Pico do Arieiro sunrise forecast
Seven mornings ahead: will the summit sit above a sea of clouds, inside it, or under a clear sky?
Pico do Arieiro (1,818 m) is the one Madeiran summit you can drive to: the ER202 climbs from Poiso to a car park a few steps below the top, and most visitors arrive 30 to 40 minutes before sunrise to watch the light come up over the ridges. The famous sea of clouds is not a given. It needs a temperature inversion, which usually forms after a calm night: cool air settles over the coast and traps the cloud below the peaks while the summit stays in clear air.
Best morning this week
Friday, October 30
Sunrise 07:23 · 9° feels like 8° · Gusts 10 km/h
The four verdicts
- Sea of cloudsSummit clear, low cloud over the coast: the classic view
- ClearClear at every level: a fine sunrise, but no cloud sea
- MixedPatchy cloud at both levels: a gamble
- In cloudCloud or rain at the summit: little or no view
The next seven mornings
Monday, October 26Today
Mixed- Sunrise
- 07:20
- At the summit
- 9°feels like 5°
- Gusts
- 25 km/h
Cloud coming and going: summit 79%, coast 0%.
Funchal at the same hour: 20°
Tuesday, October 27
Clear- Sunrise
- 07:21
- At the summit
- 7°feels like 5°
- Gusts
- 13 km/h
Little cloud at the summit (0%) or on the coast (0%); high cloud (91%) may dull the colours.
Funchal at the same hour: 19°
Wednesday, October 28
In cloud- Sunrise
- 07:22
- At the summit
- 8°feels like 7°
- Gusts
- 11 km/h
Summit wrapped in cloud (75%).
Funchal at the same hour: 20°
Thursday, October 29
In cloud- Sunrise
- 07:22
- At the summit
- 9°feels like 7°
- Gusts
- 17 km/h
Summit wrapped in cloud (65%).
Funchal at the same hour: 21°
Friday, October 30
Clear- Sunrise
- 07:23
- At the summit
- 9°feels like 8°
- Gusts
- 10 km/h
Little cloud at the summit (0%) or on the coast (0%); high cloud (73%) may dull the colours.
Funchal at the same hour: 20°
Saturday, October 31
In cloud- Sunrise
- 07:24
- At the summit
- 10°feels like 9°
- Gusts
- 32 km/h
Summit wrapped in cloud (81%).
Funchal at the same hour: 20°
Sunday, November 1
In cloud- Sunrise
- 07:25
- At the summit
- 9°feels like 7°
- Gusts
- 45 km/h
Summit wrapped in cloud (81%).
Funchal at the same hour: 21°
Before you go
- It is 10 to 15 degrees colder than in Funchal, and the wind adds to it. Bring a proper jacket, a hat and something warm to sit on.
- The summit car park fills up before sunrise on clear mornings. Arrive early or expect to park along the road below and walk up.
- The PR1 trail from Arieiro to Pico Ruivo needs a reservation on simplifica.madeira.gov.pt. Book before you drive up.
- Check for closures before you plan the walk: the path shuts after storms and in high winds. Trail closures
- For the rest of the island, see the weather page. Madeira weather