Weather on Sal, Cape Verde by month
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Sal (Cape Verde, Cabo Verde) is warm all year: around 24 to 29 °C during the day and 20 to 25 °C at night, with sea water between 22 and 28 °C. The trade wind blows from the north east and is strongest from January to May. Below you find the weather for every month, the wind in knots and, separately, the waves at Ponta Preta.
Temperature, sea water and wind per month
| Month | Day °C | Night °C | Average °C | Sea °C | Wind (knots) | Days with 4 Bft or more | Wind from | Sea at Santa Maria |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 24.8 | 20.4 | 22.2 | 23.5 | 12.5 (4 Bft) | 64 % | NE | calm, good for swimming |
| Feb | 24.2 | 19.8 | 21.5 | 22.7 | 13.5 (4 Bft) | 75 % | NE | calm, good for swimming |
| Mar | 24.3 | 19.6 | 21.5 | 22.5 | 13.0 (4 Bft) | 73 % | NNE | calm, good for swimming |
| Apr | 24.9 | 20.2 | 22.1 | 22.9 | 12.5 (4 Bft) | 70 % | NNE | calm, good for swimming |
| May | 25.3 | 21.0 | 22.8 | 23.7 | 12.3 (4 Bft) | 72 % | NNE | calm, good for swimming |
| Jun | 26.2 | 21.8 | 23.7 | 24.2 | 11.3 (4 Bft) | 54 % | NNE | calm, good for swimming |
| Jul | 27.3 | 22.9 | 24.8 | 25.7 | 8.6 (3 Bft) | 19 % | NNE | calm, good for swimming |
| Aug | 28.7 | 24.4 | 26.3 | 27.2 | 8.2 (3 Bft) | 15 % | NNE | calm, good for swimming |
| Sep | 29.3 | 25.2 | 26.9 | 27.7 | 9.5 (3 Bft) | 27 % | NE | calm, good for swimming |
| Oct | 29.4 | 24.8 | 26.7 | 27.9 | 10.2 (3 Bft) | 39 % | NE | calm, good for swimming |
| Nov | 28.0 | 23.4 | 25.3 | 26.6 | 11.0 (4 Bft) | 46 % | NE | calm, good for swimming |
| Dec | 26.0 | 21.7 | 23.4 | 24.8 | 11.9 (4 Bft) | 58 % | NE | calm, good for swimming |
| Year | 26.5 | 22.1 | 23.9 | 24.9 | 11.2 (4 Bft) | 51 % | NE | calm, good for swimming |
Calm sea for swimming, all year
The beach of Santa Maria lies on the sheltered south coast of Sal, out of the trade wind and the north swell. The water there is calm in every month and good for swimming, also for children. On the east coast at Kite Beach and on the west coast at Ponta Preta, the sea is rougher.
Wind over the year
The wind blows from the north east almost every day. From January to May it averages 12 to 13.5 knots (4 Bft), ideal for kitesurfing. From July to September the wind is lighter, around 8 to 9.5 knots (3 Bft), and it feels warmer. For the live wind and wave forecast see Windguru for Sal, Ponta Preta and Santa Maria.
Waves at Ponta Preta (November to March)
Ponta Preta, west of Santa Maria, is the famous wave spot of Sal. From November to March north west swell arrives from the Atlantic. The table shows the swell on the open sea in metres; on the reef the sets can be bigger. The waves at Ponta Preta are for experienced surfers and kiters only.
| Month | Average daily highest swell (m) | 9 out of 10 days below (m) | Period (s) | Days with 1.5 m or more | Days with 2.5 m or more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov | 1.4 | 2.0 | 11 | 38 % | 2 % |
| Dec | 1.4 | 2.0 | 11 | 37 % | 3 % |
| Jan | 1.5 | 2.1 | 11 | 48 % | 7 % |
| Feb | 1.4 | 2.3 | 11 | 33 % | 6 % |
| Mar | 1.7 | 2.3 | 11 | 65 % | 4 % |
Source: calculated by Huefter from Open-Meteo data: ERA5 reanalysis (Copernicus/ECMWF) 2015 to 2024 for air and wind, Open-Meteo marine model 2022 to 2025 for sea water and swell. Day and night are the average daily highest and lowest temperature. Wind is the daily average at 10 metres. Swell is offshore, measured on the open sea near Ponta Preta.
Best time to visit Sal
For swimming and sun every month is good. Kitesurfers come from December to May for the wind, surfers come from November to March for Ponta Preta, and from July to October the sea is at its warmest. See also the beaches of Sal, kitesurfing on Sal and things to do on Sal. Questions? Send us a message on WhatsApp: +238 597 56 78.