Your October weather guide
HotWeather in Sal in October
October is a good time to visit Sal if you want warm sea swimming and hot weather without frequent rain. Average daytime highs are 26.6°C, around 12°C warmer than London, and the sea also averages 26.6°C. The catch is the humidity and the lack of much cooling after dark. It suits travellers who enjoy warmth throughout the day and evening, rather than those hoping for crisp nights or completely clear skies.
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
- 26.6°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 29°C
- Average night-time low
- 25.2°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 24°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +12.0°C
- London averages 14.6°C in October
- Sea temperature
- 26.6°C
- year to year: 26°C to 27°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 6.3h
- 54% of 11.6 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 2
- 16 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 79%
- Days over 25°C
- 93%
- 6% over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 33.4°C
- 2020-10-20
- Record low 1991-2020
- 22.1°C
- 2017-10-27
- 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 October compares
October is the 2nd warmest month of the year in Sal and ranks 49th of 134 destinations we compare for October - see where else is hot in October. Within Cape Verde it is 2nd of 2 (Cape Verde in October). Against London's average high of 14.6°C in October, Sal is 12.0°C warmer by day and 16.8°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in October
The typical October day in Sal peaks at 26.6°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 29.1°C or more. About 93% of days top 25°C and 1 in 18 pass 30°C. Nights average 25.2°C; one night in ten drops to 24.2°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest October day here reached 33.4°C (2020-10-20) and the coldest night 22.1°C (2017-10-27).
Rain in October
Dry (3 rainy days or fewer): about 2 days with 1 mm or more, 16 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest October was 1999 with 130 mm, the driest 1993 with 0 mm. Humidity averages 79%.
Sea temperature in October
The sea averages 26.6°C - warm enough to swim (22°c+). Depending on the year it ranges from 25.9°C to 27.4°C. For the warmest sea here, come in September (26.6°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 6.3 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 11.6 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 06:24 and sets about 18:11 local time in mid-October. Average cloud cover is 45%.
Is October a good time to visit Sal?
Yes - it is one of the better months: hot days, little rain. The best months for Sal on our scoring are July, October, November; months averaging 25°C or more: Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov.
Expect steady warmth, with little relief at night
Sal is reliably warm in October: 92% of days reach 25°C, while only 6% reach 30°C. That makes it a sensible choice if you want heat without daytime temperatures regularly climbing much higher. However, humidity averages 79%, so the air can feel muggy rather than comfortably dry. Keep your plans flexible around midday, with shade breaks rather than long stretches of activity in the heat. Average night-time lows are 25.2°C, barely below the daytime high, so do not expect evenings to feel refreshing. Pack light, loose clothing and consider accommodation with air conditioning if you find warm nights difficult for sleeping.
Good swimming weather, but not constant sunshine
The sea averages 26.6°C, making October well suited to travellers who want to spend time swimming rather than just sitting beside the water. Rain is usually a limited interruption, with about 2 rainy days during the month, so it need not be the main concern when choosing your dates. That does not mean uninterrupted blue skies: sunshine averages about 6.3 hours out of 11.6 hours of daylight. Expect scope for outdoor time, but leave room for cloudier spells and an occasional wet day. Light clothing, sun protection and a flexible plan are more useful than assuming every day will follow the same pattern.
A little perspective
Sal through the year
October 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% |
| 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% |
| OctoberSelectedbest | 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 October
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
Hong Kong · 27°C by day · sea 27°C
Hong Kong
United States · 27°C by day · sea 27°C
Hawaii
Seychelles · 27°C by day · sea 28°C
Seychelles
Indonesia · 28°C by day · sea 27°C
Bali
Morocco · 27°C by day
Marrakech
A little more detail
Sal in October FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Sal hot in October?
Sal is hot in October: the average daytime high is 26.6°C and nights average 25.2°C. About 93% of October days reach 25°C or more.
Can you swim in the sea in Sal in October?
The sea around Sal averages 26.6°C in October, which is warm enough for most people to swim comfortably. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 26°C to 27°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Sal in October?
Sal sees about 2 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 16 mm of rain in a typical October. The wettest October between 1991 and 2020 was 1999 (130 mm) and the driest was 1993 (0 mm).
How sunny is Sal in October?
Sal gets around 6.3 hours of sunshine a day in October out of 11.6 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Sal compare with the UK in October?
Sal is on average 12.0°C warmer than London by day in October (26.6°C against 14.6°C).
What is the hottest October on record in Sal?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest October day in Sal reached 33.4°C on 2020-10-20, and the coldest night dropped to 22.1°C on 2017-10-27.
How long is the flight from London to Sal?
The flight from London takes about 6 h 12 min, putting Sal in mid-haul territory. For a UK traveller, the decision is whether the warmer days, warm evenings and comfortable sea temperatures justify that time in the air.
Is October among the best months to visit Sal?
Yes. October sits alongside July and November among Sal's best months for weather. It is also among the island's warmest months, with generally dry conditions and a warm sea. The main reservation is humidity, especially if you prefer cooler sleeping weather.
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