Cape Verde weather

Cape Verde is a fine example of island life: hot temperatures throughout the year, very little rainfall and enjoyable sea breezes from the Atlantic make this chain of volcanic islands – sometimes called Cabo Verde – a great destination for visitors holidaying at any time of the year.

Cape Verde weather averages and climate

Average daily max (°C)

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
25.2	25.1	25.7	25.8	26.3	27.3	28.4	29.8	30.3	29.8	28.3	26.4	27.4

Average relative humidity (%)

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
69	70	71	71	73	75	74	76	78	75	73	71	73

Average rainfall (mm)

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
3	7	1	5	0	3	5	15	73	16	7	10	145

Average daily sunshine (hrs)

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
6	6	7	7	7	6	5	5	6	7	7	5	6

Average wind speed (mph)

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
15.7	16.0	15.4	15.8	16.5	15.1	12.4	11.6	12.3	12.9	13.2	14.0	13.1

When is the best time to go to Cape Verde?

Cape Verde’s climate is consistent through the year, with only a rainy season in the early autumn months breaking from the norm. Given its consistent weather, Cape Verde is a destination to be enjoyed across the whole year, but February to June will provide predictably hot, long and bright days. Visitors wanting to avoid the rain will find these months to be the best time to visit as the rainfall between August and October can be unpredictable.

Spring

Cape Verde benefits from an almost consistent average temperature throughout the year, with Spring being no exception. Average daily maximum temperatures can register around 26°C, making the islands hot. The days in the Spring are longer than in the Summer and although 7 hours of sunlight each day across the season might not seem a long time, most visitors will welcome the relief of the cool evenings by the end of each day.

Summer

The Summer days in Cape Verde are hot and dry, but with only 5 hours of average sunshine per day across the season, visitors might want to make places in advance or they’ll be enjoying the evening before they’ve started their day! Holidaymakers can expect consistently hot days with average temperatures ranging from 24°C to 27°C. The warmth of the islands is almost uninterrupted by rainfall through the summer months, with only 3mm and 5mm, on average, in June and July respectively. August typically sees around 15mm of rainfall, but the chances of being caught in a Summer shower in Cape Verde are fairly low.

Autumn

As Summer closes, Cape Verde starts to experience a rainy season through autumn, with September providing almost half of the annual average rainfall for the islands. Those visiting Cape Verde through the Autumn will experience a more tropical climate and September and October are the two warmest months on the islands, providing temperatures between 26 and 28°C, with average daily maximum temperatures as high as 29°C or 30°C over the period.

Winter

By the end of the Autumn, Cape Verde’s rainy season is a distant memory as rainfall returns to a more palatable 10mm in December, falling to 3mm in January. Winter offers the coolest months in Cape Verde, but tourists will find temperatures ranging 21°C to 26°C keeping them very warm still. Like summer, the winter in Cape Verde has shorter days than the Spring or Autumn and visitors can expect around 6 hours per day across the Winter season.

Cape Verde tourist information

If it is a day of relaxation in the country you are after, Mount Fogo offers an experience like no other if you have the time. It is the highest peak of the islands, formed out of an ancient volcanic crater. The two and a half hour trek up the slopes is well worth it for the vistas at the summit. However you must be wary of changing climates, the difference from the base to the peak is substantial.

The expanse of Cape Verde is spread over ten islands central to the Atlantic Ocean, with a population at around 500,000, mainly made of Creole people. The economy is centred around service - with more and more focus on tourism and foreign investment. 2011 saw four of the islands building wind farms, which account for around 25% of the electricity to the country, making it one of the world's top countries for renewable energy. The isolated location of the islands have led to the development of several endemic species. This is particular to birds and reptiles that are at risk of becoming endangered due to human development.

In the nineteenth century, the country faced an economic crisis. Due to the country's positioning in the shipping lanes, it was able to focus on re-supplying ships. The bay of Mindeo in São Vicente became an important commercial centre with the regular passing trade, keeping Cape Verde in business.