Your May weather guide
WarmWeather in Sal in May
Yes - Sal in May is a good choice for a mostly dry, comfortably warm holiday rather than intense heat. Daytime temperatures average around 23°C, with nights staying near 21°C, so the warmth lasts into the evening. It is noticeably warmer than London, but not the month to choose if you want reliably hot afternoons. The sea is warm enough for swimming, and rain is unlikely to interrupt outdoor plans.
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
- 22.7°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 25°C
- Average night-time low
- 21.4°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 20°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +6.1°C
- London averages 16.6°C in May
- Sea temperature
- 22.5°C
- year to year: 22°C to 23°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 7.6h
- 59% of 12.8 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 0
- 0 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 81%
- Days over 25°C
- 10%
- none over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 28.8°C
- 2017-05-16
- Record low 1991-2020
- 18.3°C
- 2018-05-14
- 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 May compares
May is the 8th warmest month of the year in Sal and ranks 72nd of 134 destinations we compare for May - see where else is hot in May. Within Cape Verde it is 2nd of 2 (Cape Verde in May). Against London's average high of 16.6°C in May, Sal is 6.1°C warmer by day and 13.1°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in May
The typical May day in Sal peaks at 22.7°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 25.0°C or more. Roughly 1 in 10 days top 25°C. Nights average 21.4°C; one night in ten drops to 20.4°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest May day here reached 28.8°C (2017-05-16) and the coldest night 18.3°C (2018-05-14).
Rain in May
Dry (3 rainy days or fewer): about 0 days with 1 mm or more, 0 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest May was 2001 with 2 mm, the driest 1991 with 0 mm. Humidity averages 81%.
Sea temperature in May
The sea averages 22.5°C - warm enough to swim (22°c+). Depending on the year it ranges from 21.7°C to 23.3°C. For the warmest sea here, come in September (26.6°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 7.6 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 12.8 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 06:01 and sets about 18:55 local time in mid-May. Average cloud cover is 40%.
Is May 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, rather than hot afternoons
May suits travellers who prefer warmth without very hot afternoons. Only 10% of days reach 25°C, so pack for comfortable conditions rather than expecting strong heat throughout your stay. Humidity averages 81%, which can make the air feel less fresh than the temperature alone suggests; loose, breathable clothing is a sensible choice. Nights are only slightly cooler than days, so you will not usually need to change into much warmer clothes after sunset. A light layer gives you flexibility on cooler evenings. For a UK traveller, the main benefit is the steady warmth, not a dramatic rise in temperature at midday.
Good swimming weather, with little rain
The sea averages 22.5°C, making May a reasonable choice if swimming matters to your holiday. That is warm enough for a swim, though it may feel cool when you first get in rather than bath-like. Sunshine averages about 7.6 hours a day, leaving plenty of scope for time outdoors without promising clear skies throughout your stay. Rain is usually negligible, so you can plan around swimming and outdoor time without making wet-weather alternatives the focus. Keep sun protection handy and take shade breaks around midday even when the air feels mild. This combination suits a relaxed holiday more than a search for maximum heat.
A little perspective
Sal through the year
May 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% |
| March | 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% |
| MaySelected | 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 May
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
A little more detail
Sal in May FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Sal hot in May?
Sal is warm in May: the average daytime high is 22.7°C and nights average 21.4°C. Roughly 1 in 10 May days reach 25°C.
Can you swim in the sea in Sal in May?
The sea around Sal averages 22.5°C in May, which is warm enough for most people to swim comfortably. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 22°C to 23°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Sal in May?
Sal sees about 0 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 0 mm of rain in a typical May. The wettest May between 1991 and 2020 was 2001 (2 mm) and the driest was 1991 (0 mm).
How sunny is Sal in May?
Sal gets around 7.6 hours of sunshine a day in May out of 12.8 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Sal compare with the UK in May?
Sal is on average 6.1°C warmer than London by day in May (22.7°C against 16.6°C).
What is the hottest May on record in Sal?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest May day in Sal reached 28.8°C on 2017-05-16, and the coldest night dropped to 18.3°C on 2018-05-14.
Is May one of Sal's hottest months?
No. May ranks 8 among Sal's 12 months for warmth, so it is not the choice for peak heat. July, October and November rate better overall, but May still suits travellers who value dry weather and moderate warmth.
How long is the flight from London?
The flight from London takes about 6 h 12 min, making Sal a mid-haul choice. For that journey, May offers dry conditions and warm evenings, but you should not expect consistently hot days on arrival.
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