The Algarve region has a Mediterranean sub-tropical climate with moderate rainfall and plenty of sun throughout the year. This makes it an ideal year-round destination. Summers are hot and sunny, but are often refreshed by cooling breezes off the coast; the farther west you go, the windier it becomes. July and August are the hottest months of the year and can be fairly unbearable inland. The weather in the autumn and winter months is mild, and January is the coolest month of the year. The Algarve gets most of its rainfall over the winter months with rain being rare between June and September. The Atlantic Ocean is cold but slightly warmer to the east, thanks to the influence of the Mediterranean.