Praia

Cape Verde Weather in May

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Cape Verde in May.

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Santa Maria Sal Rei Mindelo Praia

Considering a trip to Cape Verde this May and wondering about the expected weather conditions? Find all the crucial information you need right here, addressing your question:

What to Expect in Cape Verde in May

May in Cape Verde generally has warm temperatures, with almost no precipitation.

Temperatures

The average maximum temperatures are warm and range from 23°C (73°F) in Porto Novo to 27°C (81°F) in Cidade Velha. Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 21°C (70°F) in Cidade Velha and 21°C (70°F) in Porto Novo.

To learn more about the conditions in specific areas of Cape Verde, check out the map below.

Precipitation

May is a very dry month with an average rainfall of around 0.4 mm (0.02 in) in Santa Maria. In Santa Maria, this particular month consistently records the lowest levels of rainfall, making it the driest period throughout the entire year.

Average sunshine

Plenty of sunshine can be expected in numerous places in May. Santa Maria typically receives 206 hours of sunlight, making it ideal for those seeking sunny weather.

Explore Cape Verde by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in Cape Verde - and find the best time to visit. (based on Santa Maria)

January24°C (75°F) February23°C (73°F) March23°C (73°F) April23°C (73°F) May24°C (75°F) June24°C (75°F) This monthJuly26°C (79°F) August27°C (81°F) September28°C (82°F) October28°C (82°F) November26°C (79°F) December25°C (77°F)
Best Time to Visit Cape Verde →

Best Places to Visit in Cape Verde in May

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across Cape Verde.

Conditions Temperatures Precipitation
perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in Cape Verde

What is the weather like in May for some of the most popular destinations in Cape Verde?

Temperature range in Cape Verde (May)

Precipitation variation in Cape Verde (May)

Santa Maria

In May Santa Maria generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 24°C (75°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 22°C (72°F) and almost no monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are excellent that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
23°C (73°F)
24°C (75°F)
24°C (75°F)
Min temperature
21°C (70°F)
22°C (72°F)
22°C (72°F)
Monthly sun hours
217 hours
206 hours
175 hours
Monthly rainfall
1 mm (0.04 in)
0.4 mm (0.02 in)
0.7 mm (0.03 in)
Monthly rainy days
0 days
0 days
0 days
Weather conditions
excellent
excellent
excellent
Climate in Santa Maria →

Sal Rei

In May Sal Rei generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 26°C (79°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 21°C (70°F) and almost no monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are excellent that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
25°C (77°F)
26°C (79°F)
27°C (81°F)
Min temperature
21°C (70°F)
21°C (70°F)
22°C (72°F)
Monthly sun hours
217 hours
206 hours
175 hours
Monthly rainfall
0.9 mm (0.04 in)
0.4 mm (0.02 in)
0.5 mm (0.02 in)
Monthly rainy days
a single day
a single day
a single day
Weather conditions
excellent
excellent
excellent
Climate in Sal Rei →

Mindelo

In May Mindelo generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 23°C (73°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 21°C (70°F) and almost no monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are excellent that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
23°C (73°F)
23°C (73°F)
24°C (75°F)
Min temperature
20°C (68°F)
21°C (70°F)
22°C (72°F)
Monthly sun hours
293 hours
307 hours
276 hours
Monthly rainfall
1.5 mm (0.1 in)
1.1 mm (0.04 in)
1.5 mm (0.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
2 days
3 days
3 days
Weather conditions
excellent
excellent
excellent
Climate in Mindelo →

Praia

In May Praia generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 26°C (79°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 21°C (70°F) and almost no monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are excellent that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
26°C (79°F)
26°C (79°F)
27°C (81°F)
Min temperature
20°C (68°F)
21°C (70°F)
22°C (72°F)
Monthly sun hours
287 hours
301 hours
278 hours
Monthly rainfall
0.8 mm (0.03 in)
0.5 mm (0.02 in)
0.9 mm (0.04 in)
Monthly rainy days
2 days
3 days
3 days
Weather conditions
excellent
excellent
excellent
Climate in Praia →

Vila do Maio

In May Vila do Maio generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 25°C (77°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 22°C (72°F) and almost no monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are excellent that month.

« April
May
June »
April
May
June
Max temperature
24°C (75°F)
25°C (77°F)
25°C (77°F)
Min temperature
21°C (70°F)
22°C (72°F)
22°C (72°F)
Monthly sun hours
287 hours
301 hours
278 hours
Monthly rainfall
0.8 mm (0.03 in)
0.5 mm (0.02 in)
1 mm (0.04 in)
Monthly rainy days
2 days
2 days
3 days
Weather conditions
excellent
excellent
excellent
Climate in Vila do Maio →

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Cape Verde.

In our records: Cape Verde May extremes

Notable May records observed across cities in Cape Verde in our climate database (1976 – 2026). Historic readings can vary in quality, so treat these as illustrative.

  • In our records, the warmest May day in Cape Verde reached 38°C (100°F) in Praja on May 1, 2015.

Popular cities in May

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in Cape Verde in May.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Santa Maria 24°C (75°F) 22°C (72°F) 0.4 mm (0.02 in)
Sal Rei 26°C (79°F) 21°C (70°F) 0.4 mm (0.02 in)
Mindelo 23°C (73°F) 21°C (70°F) 1.1 mm (0.04 in)
Praia 26°C (79°F) 21°C (70°F) 0.5 mm (0.02 in)
Vila do Maio 25°C (77°F) 22°C (72°F) 0.5 mm (0.02 in)
Porto Novo 23°C (73°F) 21°C (70°F) 1.7 mm (0.1 in)

Cape Verde weather in May: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Cape Verde in May?

May in Cape Verde brings excellent weather. In Santa Maria, daytime temperatures are typically around 24°C (75°F) and nighttime lows hover near 22°C (72°F).

What is the average temperature in Cape Verde in May?

In Santa Maria, the average daytime high in May is 24°C (75°F), while nighttime temperatures drop to around 22°C (72°F).

Does Cape Verde get a lot of rain in May?

May is on the drier side in Cape Verde. Santa Maria averages only about 0.4 mm (0.02 in), with most days staying dry.

Is May a Good Time to Visit Cape Verde?

Given the typically excellent weather conditions in Santa Maria, May might be a good time to visit Cape Verde.

Generally speaking, provide excellent weather in Santa Maria.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Cape Verde.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to Cape Verde? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in Cape Verde.

Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.

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