What is the weather like in Cape Verde in 2026?

From about November through July, rainfall stays scarce on the coasts and most weeks stay bright. Daytime averages often sit near the mid-twenties Celsius, with cooler nights in January and February when trades feel sharpest. Sea temperatures stay swimmable for most people, cooler in late winter and warmer into autumn.

August through October are the warmest months and the short rainy season. Showers concentrate on a handful of days rather than weeks of continuous rain: Does it rain a lot in Cape Verde. Humidity rises, hiking trails on Santo Antão or Fogo can turn muddy after a band, and outdoor café weeks still work between bursts: Social life in Cape Verde.

The Barlavento (windward) group to the north includes Sal, Boa Vista, and São Vicente. Flat Sal and Boa Vista coasts stay near desert scrub; Santa Maria kite weeks from about December through March ride the strongest trade winds. Mindelo on São Vicente feels breezy harbour weather more than rainforest humidity.

The Sotavento (leeward) group to the south includes Santiago (with Praia), Fogo, and Brava. Mountain slopes catch more moisture, so Santiago interiors, Fogo’s volcanic flanks, and Santo Antão’s valleys (Barlavento but high relief) look greener after the short rains than a Santa Maria beachboardwalk. Island choice is a climate filter, not only a rent filter: Where to live in Cape Verde.

From about December through March, Harmattan (locally often called Lesta or dry mist) can push Saharan dust across the archipelago. Skies haze, diving visibility drops, and sensitive lungs feel it. Pack a light jacket for windy January evenings in Mindelo or Santa Maria even when the daytime map still looks tropical.

Air conditioning and Electra power still decide indoor comfort when the wind drops, especially in Praia flats without a strong sea breeze: How expensive is Cape Verde. Late harbour music nights in Mindelo stay outdoor-first most months: Nightlife in Cape Verde.

Cape Verde sits near where some Atlantic tropical systems begin, yet the islands are not a Caribbean-style hurricane landfall corridor. Late-season tropical depressions or early-stage storms can brush the south more often than a full major hurricane, so treat watches as light planning filters rather than a Dominica-level risk story. Residence paperwork still needs a stable lodging address whichever island you pick: Apply for a residence permit in Cape Verde.