Santiago Island Weather in May

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

Thinking about venturing to Santiago Island, Cape Verde this May and curious about the weather conditions to expect? This page holds all the key information you seek, responding to your question:

What to Expect in Santiago Island in May

Santiago Island, Cape Verde is a region in Cape Verde. May in Santiago Island generally has warm temperatures, with almost no precipitation.

Temperatures

The average maximum temperatures are warm and range from 24°C (75°F) in Tarrafal to 27°C (81°F) in Cidade Velha. Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 21°C (70°F) in Cidade Velha and 22°C (72°F) in Tarrafal.

For specific regional insights in Santiago Island, Cape Verde, refer to the map provided below.

Precipitation

May is a very dry month with an average rainfall of around 0.5 mm (0.02 in) in Praia. Based on climate data from the last 30 years, Praia typically sees the least rain in this month, making it the driest month of the year.

Average sunshine

Most destinations offer generous amounts of sunshine this May. For example, Praia gets approximately 301 hours of sunlight, perfect for anyone wanting bright, sunny days.

Explore Santiago Island by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in Santiago Island — and find the best time to visit. (based on Praia)

Best Places to Visit in Santiago Island in May

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

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 Santiago Island

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

Temperature range in Santiago Island (May)

Precipitation variation in Santiago Island (May)

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 perfect that month.

May
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

Tarrafal

In May Tarrafal 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 perfect that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
24°C (75°F)
24°C (75°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
1.6 mm (0.1 in)
1 mm (0.04 in)
1.4 mm (0.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
2 days
3 days
3 days
Weather conditions

Assomada

In May Assomada 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 perfect that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
25°C (77°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
1.2 mm (0.05 in)
0.7 mm (0.03 in)
1 mm (0.04 in)
Monthly rainy days
2 days
3 days
4 days
Weather conditions

Cidade Velha

In May Cidade Velha generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 27°C (81°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 21°C (70°F) and almost no monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

May
April
May
June
Max temperature
26°C (79°F)
27°C (81°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)
0.4 mm (0.02 in)
0.7 mm (0.03 in)
Monthly rainy days
2 days
3 days
3 days
Weather conditions

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Santiago Island, 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 Santiago Island in May.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Praia 26°C (79°F) 21°C (70°F) 0.5 mm (0.02 in)
Tarrafal 24°C (75°F) 22°C (72°F) 1 mm (0.04 in)
Assomada 26°C (79°F) 21°C (70°F) 0.7 mm (0.03 in)
Cidade Velha 27°C (81°F) 21°C (70°F) 0.4 mm (0.02 in)

Santiago Island weather in May: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Santiago Island, Cape Verde in May?

May in Santiago Island, Cape Verde brings perfect weather. In Praia, daytime temperatures are typically around 26°C (79°F) and nighttime lows hover near 21°C (70°F).

What is the average temperature in Santiago Island, Cape Verde in May?

Daytime temperatures in Praia peak at roughly 26°C (79°F) in May, dropping to about 21°C (70°F) overnight.

Does Santiago Island, Cape Verde get a lot of rain in May?

May is on the drier side in Santiago Island, Cape Verde. Praia averages only about 0.5 mm (0.02 in), with most days staying dry.

Is May a Good Time to Visit Santiago Island, Cape Verde?

Given the typically perfect weather conditions in Praia, May might be a good time to visit Santiago Island, Cape Verde.

On average, the best time to visit Santiago Island, Cape Verde is in with generally perfect weather in Praia.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Santiago Island.

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.

Bucket list

Need travel inspiration? Check out our bucket list articles and be inspired.