Your March weather guide
WarmWeather in Sal in March
Yes, Sal in March suits a largely dry break with warm rather than hot weather. Daytime highs average about 22°C, nights stay near 20.5°C, and there are around 7.1 hours of sunshine a day. It is a good fit for spending time outdoors without relying on strong heat. The catch is that March is Sal's coolest month, and the sea is bracing rather than reliably comfortable for a long swim.
Long-term climate averages for Santa Maria, not a forecast · 1991-2020
Sal, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Santa Maria.
- Average daytime high
- 21.9°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 24°C
- Average night-time low
- 20.5°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 19°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +11.4°C
- London averages 10.5°C in March
- Sea temperature
- 21.8°C
- year to year: 21°C to 23°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 7.1h
- 60% of 11.9 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 0
- 1 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 77%
- Days over 25°C
- 5%
- 0% over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 30.4°C
- 2020-03-12
- Record low 1991-2020
- 16.3°C
- 2018-03-01
- Flight from London
- ≈ 6 h 12 min
- 4338 km, mid-haul (estimate for a direct flight)
Records are observed extremes within 1991-2020, not typical holiday conditions. Warm-day percentages are shares of days, not day counts.
How March compares
March is the 12th warmest month of the year in Sal and ranks 50th of 134 destinations we compare for March - see where else is hot in March. Within Cape Verde it is 2nd of 2 (Cape Verde in March). Against London's average high of 10.5°C in March, Sal is 11.4°C warmer by day and 17.2°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in March
The typical March day in Sal peaks at 21.9°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 24.0°C or more. Roughly 1 in 19 days top 25°C and 1 in 1000 pass 30°C. Nights average 20.5°C; one night in ten drops to 19.2°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest March day here reached 30.4°C (2020-03-12) and the coldest night 16.3°C (2018-03-01).
Rain in March
Dry (3 rainy days or fewer): about 0 days with 1 mm or more, 1 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest March was 1998 with 11 mm, the driest 1991 with 0 mm. Humidity averages 77%.
Sea temperature in March
The sea averages 21.8°C - bracing (18-22°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 21.0°C to 22.6°C. For the warmest sea here, come in September (26.6°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 7.1 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 11.9 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 06:39 and sets about 18:42 local time in mid-March. Average cloud cover is 40%.
Is March a good time to visit Sal?
It is a reasonable choice: warm days. The best months for Sal on our scoring are July, October, November; months averaging 25°C or more: Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov.
Comfortable warmth, but not a hot-weather holiday
Pack light daytime clothes, with a light layer for evenings if you feel the cold. The average night low sits close to the daytime high, so there is little temperature change after sunset. Days reaching 25°C make up just 5% of March days: do not book expecting regular hot afternoons. That makes the month better suited to travellers who prefer moderate warmth than those whose main aim is intense heat. Humidity averages 77%, so the air can still feel humid despite the modest temperatures. Keep sun protection handy for time outdoors, and take shade at midday when you need it.
Very little rain, with a cooler sea
Rain is unlikely to be the main compromise in March. With about 0 rainy days, outdoor plans have little reason to revolve around wet weather, though that is not a guarantee of a rain-free stay. Sunshine fills a good part of the day rather than all of it, so dry weather does not mean uninterrupted blue sky. The sea averages 21.8°C, with a year-to-year range of 21°C to 23°C. That puts swimming on the bracing side: it may suit you if you enjoy cooler water, but shorter dips are a more sensible expectation if you chill easily. Choose March for dry, moderate warmth rather than warm-water swimming.
A little perspective
Sal through the year
March is highlighted. See how it compares with the rest of the year.
| Month | Day | Night | Sea | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 22.4°C | 21.0°C | 22.7°C | 5.9 | 5 | 1 | 6% |
| February | 21.9°C | 20.5°C | 21.9°C | 6.4 | 2 | 0 | 5% |
| MarchSelected | 21.9°C | 20.5°C | 21.8°C | 7.1 | 1 | 0 | 5% |
| April | 22.2°C | 20.8°C | 22.2°C | 6.7 | 1 | 0 | 7% |
| May | 22.7°C | 21.4°C | 22.5°C | 7.6 | 0 | 0 | 10% |
| June | 23.4°C | 22.2°C | 22.9°C | 8.3 | 0 | 0 | 13% |
| Julybest | 24.7°C | 23.3°C | 24.1°C | 7.1 | 2 | 1 | 30% |
| August | 26.3°C | 24.8°C | 25.9°C | 6.4 | 16 | 3 | 88% |
| September | 26.9°C | 25.5°C | 26.6°C | 6.5 | 30 | 5 | 99% |
| Octoberbest | 26.6°C | 25.2°C | 26.6°C | 6.3 | 16 | 2 | 93% |
| Novemberbest | 25.4°C | 24.1°C | 25.8°C | 5.3 | 4 | 1 | 56% |
| December | 23.7°C | 22.5°C | 24.1°C | 5.5 | 3 | 1 | 14% |
Day = average daytime high, night = average night-time low, 1991-2020.Sun is hours per day; rainy days count 1 mm or more.
Day, night and sea
Monthly average temperatures, 1991-2020
- Day
- Night
- Sea
Best months here
On warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, start with these.
Keep exploring
Similar in March
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
Morocco · 22°C by day
Marrakech
United States · 21°C by day
Las Vegas
Australia · 24°C by day · sea 23°C
Sydney
Spain · 22°C by day · sea 19°C
Gran Canaria
Spain · 20°C by day
Seville
A little more detail
Sal in March FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Sal hot in March?
Sal is warm in March: the average daytime high is 21.9°C and nights average 20.5°C. Roughly 1 in 19 March days reach 25°C.
Can you swim in the sea in Sal in March?
The sea around Sal averages 21.8°C in March, which is bracing - fine for a quick dip, cool for long swims. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 21°C to 23°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Sal in March?
Sal sees about 0 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 1 mm of rain in a typical March. The wettest March between 1991 and 2020 was 1998 (11 mm) and the driest was 1991 (0 mm).
How sunny is Sal in March?
Sal gets around 7.1 hours of sunshine a day in March out of 11.9 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Sal compare with the UK in March?
Sal is on average 11.4°C warmer than London by day in March (21.9°C against 10.5°C).
What is the hottest March on record in Sal?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest March day in Sal reached 30.4°C on 2020-03-12, and the coldest night dropped to 16.3°C on 2018-03-01.
How much warmer is Sal than London in March?
Sal's average daytime high is 21.9°C, compared with 10.5°C in London, a difference of 11.4°C. That is a clear step up in warmth for a UK traveller, even though March is the coolest month on Sal.
How long is the flight from London?
The flight from London takes about 6 hours 12 minutes, making Sal a mid-haul choice. For that travel time, March offers largely dry weather and moderate warmth, but it is less convincing if strong heat or a warm sea is essential.
Is March the best month to go to Sal?
March suits travellers who prioritise dry weather and moderate temperatures. July, October and November rate better overall. If heat is your deciding factor, bear in mind that March ranks as Sal's coolest month rather than treating it as a hot-weather bet.
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid) and NOAA Coral Reef Watch 5 km sea temperatures, 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at Santa Maria. Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 3.3 km from that point. Sunshine hours are estimated from average cloud cover.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