The three rivers that flow down from the mountains and through central Funchal are barely trickling streams during good weather, which is, of course almost all year round. They are all covered with bougainvilleas that contribute much colour to the city.
However they become raging torrents after the monsoon type rain that can occur in the winter months, even though the average temperature is around 16 degrees C. Flooding in 1803 killed 600 people, soon after which the river walls were then heightened. Yet when ten inches of rain fell in 48 hours on 29th October 1993 the rivers still couldn't cope and overflowed, cutting Funchal sea front off with mud and debris and several people lost their lives.