Weather in Cabo Verde

Cabo Verde Weather: Climate, Seasons, and Best Time to Visit

Cabo Verde sits in the Atlantic Ocean roughly 570 kilometers off the west coast of Africa, and its location shapes everything about its climate. The archipelago of ten islands enjoys a semi-arid tropical climate — warm and sunny almost all year, with very little rain and reliable trade winds that keep temperatures feeling more pleasant than the latitude alone would suggest. If you are planning a trip or simply curious about conditions right now, check the live forecasts for Praia weather and Mindelo weather for up-to-the-hour readings.

Two Seasons, One Warm Island Chain

Cabo Verde essentially has two seasons rather than four. The dry season runs from roughly November through June, bringing clear skies, moderate humidity, and the northeast trade winds known locally as the harmattan. This is the cooler half of the year in relative terms — evenings can feel noticeably fresh, particularly between December and February, though daytime temperatures remain warm and comfortable throughout.

The wet season arrives between August and October, coinciding with the broader West African monsoon. Rain is concentrated in these months, but even then, total annual rainfall is low by tropical standards — most islands receive modest amounts, and multi-day downpours are uncommon. The exception is the mountainous interior of Santo Antão and parts of Santiago, where orographic rainfall can be substantial and vegetation turns dramatically green.

Hottest and Coolest Months

Sea-surface temperatures and air temperatures peak between August and October, making these the hottest months of the year. The trade winds weaken during this period, which can make the heat feel more intense. By contrast, January and February are the coolest months, though "cool" in Cabo Verde is relative — daytime highs remain warm, and the islands rarely experience anything approaching cold weather. The steady breeze off the Atlantic is the great equalizer, and even in August the heat is rarely oppressive along the coast.

Island-by-Island Variation

Geography creates meaningful differences across the archipelago. The northern islands — particularly Santo Antão, São Vicente, and São Nicolau — sit directly in the path of the northeast trades and tend to be slightly cooler and breezier. São Vicente, home to the port city of Mindelo, is famously windy, which makes it a draw for windsurfers and kitesurfers especially from November through April.

The southern islands, including Santiago where the capital Praia is located, are warmer and drier on average. Santiago's interior hills catch more rainfall than the coast, creating a patchwork of micro-climates within a single island. Sal and Boa Vista — the flat, eastern desert islands — are the driest and sunniest of all, with virtually no rain and relentless trade winds that have made them the heartland of Cabo Verde's beach tourism.

Best Time to Visit Cabo Verde for Weather

For most visitors, November through June offers the most reliable conditions: consistently sunny skies, cooler and breezy days, and calm seas on the leeward coasts. December through March is peak season for good reason — it is the ideal window for beach holidays, hiking, and water sports. Travelers who want to see the islands at their greenest should consider September or October, when the rains have done their work, though this overlaps with the Atlantic hurricane season and seas can be rougher. For broader Atlantic and global context, the world weather hub provides live forecasts from every corner of the globe.

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