Sal weather in January
January in Sal: warm, dry — an excellent time to visit.
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
#9 of 12 months in Sal · #159 of 1413 destinations to visit in January · comfort 90/100 (tier S)
- Days
- 26°C
- Nights
- 20°C
- Wet days
- 0
- Sun
- 9.8 h
- Humidity
- 75%
- Daylight
- 11 h
Traveller notes on Sal in January
Sal's forum consistently describes January as mild and dry - averaging around 22C - but genuinely windy, with a steady 25kph breeze that can gust higher and kicks up rougher seas, which is exactly why it's popular with windsurfers this time of year. Days are pleasant, but several posters warned the wind makes evenings feel cooler than the thermometer suggests, so pack a light layer for after dark. There's also an occasional Saharan dust haze that rolls through for a day or two, though it doesn't typically disrupt flights or plans.
Other months in Sal
Forum posters call July technically the start of the rainy season on Sal, but say you'd be unlucky to see more than a quick, short shower - high-20sC temperatures with plenty of sun are the norm, and the season's average total rainfall across July-September is a modest 25mm. Humidity runs fairly high (80%+) even on sunny days. It's not the windiest stretch of the year, though a steady northeasterly breeze is nearly constant; most hotels sit on the sheltered south and west coasts, which take the edge off it. Overall, posters describe July as a reliably pleasant, warm and mostly dry month despite the 'rainy season' label.
Add your own note from Sal's card on the map.
Sal climate normals — January
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Sal in January
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
BusyTrade-wind season, school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Sal's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Fair weatherSal's weather doesn't swing hard through the year — comfort stays fairly steady in every month.
What's on in Sal in January
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Season
Trade-wind season
1 Nov – 31 May · usuallyCrowdedThe north-easterly is at its most dependable through the northern winter, which is what built Santa Maria's kite and windsurf trade. Ponta Preta is for experts; the bay in front of town is where everyone learns. Source ↗
- Season
Bruma seca
1 Dec – 15 Mar · usuallyDust seasonSaharan haze reaches the eastern islands in the cool months and can grey out a week of otherwise faultless weather. It varies enormously year to year, and nobody in the resorts mentions it in advance. Source ↗
Where is Sal?
Sal in January — FAQ
- Is January a good time to visit Sal?
- January in Sal: warm, dry — an excellent time to visit. It ranks #9 of 12 months for Sal on SeasonMap's comfort score (90/100).
- What is the weather like in Sal in January?
- In January, Sal averages a daily high of 25.6°C and a low of 19.8°C, with about 0.1 mm of rain over roughly 0 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Sal in January?
- Sal has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 76 in January.