During your vacation or trip you prefer good weather. But did you know that a rainy season sounds worse than it is. Especially for a dry country like Cape Verde, where it hardly rains. Usually the tropical showers on the Cape Verde islands are heavy but short. And they also quickly disappear. The little rain that falls in Cape Verde can use the country well, everything is immediately a lot greener. Another advantage is that there are fewer tourists in the rainy season and it is also cheaper. You have the long beaches largely to yourself. In this article we share with you what to expect during the rainy season on the Cape Verde islands. And what you can do best if there is a shower.
What is a rainy season?
The rainy season is a period in the year that has the most rain. In many (sub) tropical countries the showers are heavy. The rainy season in the tropical countries is also known as the monsoon. During the rainy season it often does not rain for days on end, but often very hard for a short period of time. So you can enjoy the sun one moment and the next moment there are a few hours of heavy rain.
Rainy season Cape Verde
In the months of August, September and early October there can be short, strong tropical showers. This period is also called the rainy season. Actually can be said that this is not a rainy season as we know like in Asia or other tropical areas. The amount of rain and the number of days is limited compared to many other countries. In addition, the amount of rain in the rainy season varies greatly per island, partly due to the different geographic location of the islands. For example, there is much more rain on Santo Antao and Sao Vicente than on the more touristic island of Sal.
During the months with the presence of tropical showers, the temperature is at its highest with maxima of more than 30 degrees Celsius. It is also sultry at night, the temperature usually does not drop below 24 degrees Celsius. In addition, there is little wind and the sea is pleasantly warm.
Rainfall in August
Rain can fall mainly at the end of the month of August. These are sporadic and unpredictable tropical showers. A lot of rain can fall in a short period of time. Depending on the island, the amount of rain varies enormously. The amount of rain in millimeters is a lot lower in August in Cape Verde than in the Netherlands or Belgium. Would you like to know more about how much and when the chances of rain are greatest in August? Check the detailed overview Cape Verde weather in August.
Rainfall in September
Relatively most rain falls on the Cape Verde islands in September. But we can reassure those who love good weather. The amount of rain remains limited if you compare it to Western Europe. The rain clouds often do not cover the entire country, so there is plenty of opportunity to enjoy the sun. The greatest chance of rain is at the beginning of the month. There are on average about 6 days of rains. Would you like to know more about how much and when the chances of rain are greatest in September? Check the detailed overview Cape Verde weather in September.
Rainfall in October
In the first days of October in particular, a heavy tropical rain shower many fall and the chance of a shower is decreasing. Would you like to know more about how much and when the chances of rain are greatest in October? Check the detailed overview Cape Verde weather in October.
Impact of the southwest monsoon
The terms rainy season and monsoon season are usually used interchangeably. Monsoon means a period when the wind brings moist air from the ocean to the land. The monsoon is therefore a wind that blows and brings moist air. In Cape Verde, a southwest monsoon blows in the rainy season. Only due to the geographic location of the Cape Verde islands, there is relatively little rainfall. After all, Cape Verde is one of the driest countries in the world.
Travel cheaper during the rainy season
Going on holiday to Cape Verde during the rainy season is usually much cheaper than going on holiday during the high season. Because there are fewer tourists during the rainy season, prices are also a lot lower almost everywhere. For a hotel you can easily count 20 – 50% discount compared to the high season. Quite a difference! In the months of July and August, fewer visitors come to Cape Verde because of the long school holidays in many countries. Then tourists stay closer to home at a place where the weather is also often nice.
Even during the rainy season you can still often just enjoy the beach. But if there is a tropical shower or it is cloudy that day, it is nice to have an alternative. Of course you can enjoy a nice drink or snack in a restaurant. But there are also plenty of activities that you can do sheltered. For example, visiting one of the markets, shopping or just playing a game with the family.
Frequently asked questions about the rainy season
The rainy season starts around the months of August, September and early October. Most rain falls in the period between the end of August and the beginning of September. On average, only about 15 millimeters falls.
During the rainy season, it often only rains for a few days. When rain falls, these are often heavy showers. However, the chance that there will be a shower in Cape Verde is not great.
Yes, you can. The amount of rain that falls in Cape Verde is limited, it is one of the driest countries in the world. During the rainy season, take into account that there may be short and fierce tropical showers. It is also cloudy a bit more often. There are differences per island are present.
On the contrary, the months with rain are also the hottest months in Cape Verde. The maximum temperature is regularly above 30 degrees Celsius and the water temperature in the sea is very pleasant around 27 degrees Celsius.