#1Hot
Boa Vista
- Day
- 26.0°C
- Sea
- 24.1°C
- Sun
- 5.5h
- Rain days
- 0
Your December weather guide
Weather in Cape Verde in December
December is a good month for Cape Verde if you want warm days, mild evenings and little rain rather than intense heat. Country averages of 25°C by day, 22°C at night and 24°C in the sea make it a comfortable choice for time outdoors and swimming. Boa Vista is the warmer option; Sal suits travellers who prefer slightly cooler afternoons. The main catch is that sunshine is not continuous, so do not expect clear skies throughout every day.
Long-term climate averages, not a forecast · 1991-2020
- Average daytime high
- 24.9°Cacross 2 destinations
- Average night-time low
- 22.1°Cafter dark
- Sea temperature
- 24.1°Cwarm enough to swim
- Rainy days
- 1days1 mm or more
Cape Verde, month by month
Turn up the warmth
Warmest places in Cape Verde in December
Ranked by average daytime high. The full comparison is in the table below.
#2Warm
Sal
- Day
- 23.7°C
- Sea
- 24.1°C
- Sun
- 5.5h
- Rain days
- 1
Cape Verde destinations ranked for December
All 2 places we track in Cape Verde, ordered by daytime high.
December climate overview
Daytime highs across Cape Verde in December run from 23.7°C (Sal) to 26.0°C (Boa Vista). In Boa Vista about 80% of December days reach 25°C. Nights average 22.1°C; the coldest 10% of nights in Sal fall to 21°C or below.
Rainfall in December
Expect around 1 rainy days (1 mm or more) in December, with Boa Vista the driest (0 days) and Sal the wettest (1 days). The wettest December at Boa Vista between 1991 and 2020 was 2013 with 42 mm; the driest was 1997 with 0 mm.
Sea temperature
The sea averages 24.1°C around Cape Verde in December - warmest at Boa Vista (24.1°C). That is comfortable for swimming.
Sunshine and daylight
Around 5.5 hours of sunshine a day on average, out of 11.0 hours of daylight (sunshine estimated from cloud cover).
December against the rest of the year in Cape Verde
December is the 7th warmest month of the twelve in Cape Verde. It is 1.8°C cooler than November and 1.3°C cooler in January. The hottest month here is September (28°C) and the coolest February (23°C).
Which part of Cape Verde in December?
- Most sunshine: Boa Vista, 5.5 h a day.
- Driest: Boa Vista, about 0 rainy days.
- Warmest sea: Boa Vista, 24°C.
- Hottest: Boa Vista, 26°C by day.
- Coolest (better for walking and cities): Sal, 24°C.
What to pack for Cape Verde in December
Based on the averages: summer clothes for the day; swimwear - the sea is 24°C.
Similar weather elsewhere in December
Within 1.5°C of Cape Verde's December daytime average: Dubai (26°C, sea 24°C), Playa del Carmen (26°C, sea 27°C), Cancun (26°C, sea 27°C), Varadero (26°C, sea 26°C), Abu Dhabi (25°C, sea 24°C). See the full ranking for December.
Boa Vista for warmth, Sal for gentler afternoons
Choose Boa Vista if daytime warmth is your priority. Its December average reaches 26°C, compared with 24°C on Sal, and 80% of days in Boa Vista exceed 25°C. That makes it the better fit if you want reliably warm afternoons without choosing a month of intense heat. Sal is a sensible alternative if you prefer things a little cooler while spending time outdoors. There is little to separate them after dark or in the water: both average 22°C at night and 24°C in the sea. Rain is also a small consideration, with Boa Vista averaging 0 rainy days and Sal averaging 1.
What to pack and how to plan your days
Pack light daytime clothing, swimwear and sun protection, with a light layer if you tend to feel cool after dark. Evenings average 22°C, so the change from daytime warmth is modest rather than sharp. The sea average of 24°C makes swimming a reasonable part of your plans, though comfort in the water is personal. Average sunshine of 5.5 hours leaves room for sunny outdoor time without promising uninterrupted blue skies. Rain is unlikely to shape the holiday, given the country average of 0 rainy days, but that is not a guarantee of completely dry weather. Keep midday plans flexible if you prefer avoiding the warmest conditions.
A little more detail
Cape Verde in December FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Where is the hottest place in Cape Verde in December?
Boa Vista is the warmest of the 2 places we track in Cape Verde in December with an average high of 26.0°C; Sal is the coolest at 23.7°C.
Is the sea warm in Cape Verde in December?
The sea averages 22°C or more at Boa Vista (24°C), Sal (24°C) in December.
How much warmer is Cape Verde than London in December?
Cape Verde averages 25°C by day in December, while London averages 8°C. For a traveller, that means a shift towards light daytime clothing and weather suited to spending time outdoors, rather than needing winter layers.
Is the sea warm enough for swimming in December?
The sea averages 24°C around both Boa Vista and Sal, making December a reasonable choice for swimming if that temperature suits you. Neither destination has a temperature advantage in the water, so choose based on your preferred daytime warmth.
Does it rain much in Cape Verde in December?
December is a low-rain choice: the country average is 0 rainy days, with Boa Vista also at 0 and Sal at 1. Rain is unlikely to dominate your plans, although these averages do not promise an entirely dry stay.
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid), 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at 2 destination points.Records are the highest and lowest daily values in that 30-year period, not all-time records. These are climate averages, not a forecast for your trip. How we measure holiday weather
- Hot · 25°C+
- Warm · 20°C to below 25°C
- Mild · 15°C to below 20°C
- Cool · below 15°C