Cape Verde

• Cabo Verde’s air temperatures stay warm and stable all year, typically floating between 24°C and 30°C (75°F to 86°F), softened by ocean breezes.
• Microclimates emerge from the islands’ topography: flatter islands like Sal and Boa Vista feel consistently sun-drenched, while higher peaks on Santo Antão and Fogo introduce a refreshing drop in warmth.
• The extended dry season from November to July brings the most comfortable heat, whereas the brief wet season (August to October) adds mugginess and occasional heavy but short-lived showers.

Thanks to its mid-Atlantic position, Cabo Verde basks in a tropical yet remarkably mild temperature regime. There is no traditional winter chill or searing inland heat, because the surrounding ocean acts as a great thermostat, keeping daily highs from rising far above 30°C (86°F) and overnight lows from dipping below 20°C (68°F) in most coastal areas. The northeast trade winds, including the occasional Saharan harmattan winds laden with fine dust, reinforce this stable warmth and can produce a hazy horizon, particularly from December through March. As you review the WeatherBox temperature map, you will notice just how uniform the warm band appears across the archipelago; most coastal strips register the same narrow range month after month. Even so, a subtle seasonal shift emerges in late summer, when the sea surface warms slightly and the air becomes stickier, signalling the island chain’s brief rainier chapter.

Regional temperature differences are gentle but worth knowing, because they can shape your itinerary. The low-lying eastern islands of Sal, Boa Vista, and Maio, with their vast sand dunes and windswept beaches, reflect the classic Cabo Verde climate: long sunny days, steady onshore breezes, and some of the country’s highest sunshine hours. These islands can feel notably hotter when the midday sun beats down on the bare landscape, but the breeze keeps it bearable. In contrast, the western islands pile up dramatic relief. On Santo Antão’s lush ribeira valleys and Fogo’s volcanic cone, temperatures drop with altitude. You may encounter a pleasant elevation cooling that brings daytime readings closer to 20°C (68°F) on the high slopes, a welcome respite from the lowland warmth, particularly if you are exploring the cobbled trails or the Cha das Caldeiras crater. The WeatherBox temperature map helps visualise these mild thermal contrasts between sun-baked littorals and the cooler highlands. During the wetter months, any region can receive a sudden downpour, but the rains favour the higher, windward-facing mountainsides, leaving the flatter islands largely dry even in August. Sunshine still dominates, and the rain rarely lasts more than a few hours, often clearing to give way to gloriously clear skies for photographing the volcanic landscapes.

For travel planning, the climate is wonderfully straightforward. The long dry season, peaking from November to June, delivers the kind of dependable warmth and blue skies that make beach days, kite sports, and coastal rambles effortless. Humidity is low, the trade winds keep the air fresh, and conditions are optimal for enjoying the powdery sands of Santa Maria or the salt pans of Pedra de Lume without the weight of oppressive heat. This is also the ideal window for walking Santo Antão’s terraced paths, when the trails are dry and the cooler mountain air gives you an extra spring in your step. The wet season (August to early October) sees the thermometer nudge up only slightly, but elevated humidity and occasional heavy, warm tropical showers can make midday exploration feel steamy. Even then, you will find plenty of crisp, bright intervals between the downpours. Pack accordingly: lightweight, breathable fabrics and robust sun protection are essential year-round, while a light fleece or long-sleeved layer serves well for cooler highland evenings and air-conditioned transfers. If your visit falls in the wetter months, a compact rain jacket adds little weight but provides peace of mind during sudden cloudbursts. Cabo Verde’s climate is, in the end, an invitation to explore at almost any time, but knowing the seasonal shift helps you tailor your expectations. For more detailed temperature data and month‑by‑month insight to refine your trip, explore the full range of charts and tools on WeatherBox.

• Cabo Verde’s climate is predominantly hot desert (BWh) and hot semi-arid (BSh) , shaped by the cool Canary Current and dry Saharan winds.
• Flat eastern islands such as Sal and Boa Vista see sparse rainfall, while mountainous western islands like Santiago and Santo Antão capture more moisture, creating lush highland pockets.
• A short rainy season from August to October delivers occasional tropical showers, but sunshine dominates year-round with steady temperatures and refreshing trade winds.

Cabo Verde, a volcanic archipelago adrift in the Atlantic off West Africa, sits firmly within the tropical dry belt. The climate here is defined by two main Köppen classifications: BWh (hot desert) on the flatter, sun-scoured islands and BSh (hot semi-arid) where higher terrain squeezes extra moisture from the sky. Our Köppen climate classification map on WeatherBox lays out this divide clearly. Year-round, the cool Canary Current hugs the coastlines, keeping sea surface temperatures pleasant, while the north-easterly trade winds deliver a near-constant breeze that takes the edge off the tropical sun. Rainfall is scarce and famously fickle. Most of the country sees well under 300 millimetres (12 inches) annually, and the air often carries a faint haze of Sahara dust, especially during the winter harmattan months. The result is a landscape of stark, windswept beauty where sunshine hours stubbornly stay high even when clouds gather.

Geography orchestrates the regional contrasts. The flat eastern islands, Sal, Boa Vista, and Maio, wear the BWh hot desert label with pride, their barren dunes, salt flats, and rocky plains receiving barely a trickle of rain. Here, you can expect parched conditions for days spent on golden beaches under gloriously clear skies. Move west, and the terrain rises dramatically. Santo Antão, São Nicolau, Santiago, and Fogo fall under BSh hot semi-arid influences, where steep volcanic peaks catch the trade winds and wring out life-giving moisture. The north-eastern slopes of Santo Antão are famously lush, with terraced ribeira valleys that turn green during the brief rainy season. Fogo’s massive stratovolcano creates its own cooler highland microclimate, though the lower slopes stay intensely dry. The short rainy season typically runs from August into October, triggered by the northward drift of the Intertropical Convergence Zone. When tropical downpours arrive, they can be heavy and dramatic, quickly flooding dry riverbeds, but they seldom linger, so the islands soon revert to their sun-drenched default.

For travel planning, Cabo Verde’s dry, breezy character means the optimal window stretches from November to July. During these months, the dry season delivers crystal-clear skies, comfortable humidity, and steady trade winds, ideal for strolling on the dazzling sands of Sal or wandering the cobbled lanes of Cidade Velha. The August-to-October rainy season is suboptimal but rarely a dealbreaker: you might face spells of high humidity and sudden downpours that briefly disrupt outdoor plans, yet whole days lost to rain are uncommon. Pack light, breathable fabrics, broad-spectrum sun protection, and a lightweight rain jacket if your trip falls in the wetter months. A light sweater is welcome for breezy evenings and cooler highland visits, especially around Fogo’s upper slopes. Sea temperatures hover in the comfortable mid-20s Celsius (mid-70s Fahrenheit), inviting year-round swimming and snorkelling. Before you book, explore our detailed temperature, rainfall, and humidity charts on WeatherBox. Whether you are chasing the stark volcanic drama of Fogo or the sweeping windswept dunes of Boa Vista, Cabo Verde offers a warm, sun-soaked escape that rarely disappoints.