Sal Weather Briefing

Concept-driven operational weather view for Sal, Cape Verde — combining observations, briefing essentials, Tropical Atlantic context, numerical guidance, official Cape Verde services, and local interpretation for Harrys’ Point.

Tropical Atlantic GVAC + local spot view Harrys’ Point focus INMG Marine bulletins
Quick nav: Live Daily Synoptic History Bulletins Local Model Dust Visual

1. Live observations

METAR and TAF via local PHP wrappers for Sal and Boa Vista.

Source: Aviation Weather Center (NOAA) METAR/TAF data via local PHP wrappers.

GVAC
Amílcar Cabral / Sal
METAR GVAC 182100Z 03013KT 9999 SCT014 27/22 Q1013 NOSIG

TAF COR GVAC 181700Z 1818/1924 06013KT 9999 SCT014 
  BECMG 1823/1901 BKN014
GVBA
Aristides Pereira / Boa Vista
TAF GVBA 181700Z 1818/1918 04012KT 9999 FEW014 
  BECMG 1823/1901 09008KT BKN014

Reference station (mid-latitude comparison): 

EDDF:METAR EDDF 182050Z AUTO 23009KT 9999 -RADZ FEW023 21/16 Q1011 NOSIG

TAF EDDF 181700Z 1818/1924 23008KT 9999 SCT030 
  TEMPO 1818/1924 BKN030 
  PROB30 
  TEMPO 1911/1917 27015G25KT SHRA SCT025CB 
  TEMPO 1917/1924 RA 
  PROB30 
  TEMPO 1917/1924 27015G25KT 4000 TSRA BKN014CB

2. Daily context · Sal

Local time reference, sun, UV and tide in one compact block.

Source: PHP sun calculations, Open-Meteo UV API, Wisuki tide page.

Location Sunrise Transit Sunset
Sal (SID) 06:16 12:35 18:55
Frankfurt (FRA) 06:19 13:29 20:39
UV now 0 · Low
UV max today 9.1 · Very high
Open Santa Maria tide

3. Synoptic situation · Tropical Atlantic

Surface analysis for the wider Atlantic background: Azores High, ITCZ, monsoon trough, tropical waves, trade-wind gradient and pressure systems. A satellite view for Western Africa is linked below as an additional real-time observation.

Source: NOAA / NHC / TAFB surface analysis, EUMETSAT Meteosat imagery, CPC NAO index, WMO METAREA II, NOAA marine products.

NOAA Tropical Surface Analysis
Open NOAA surface chart Satellite (EUMETView) Pressure Gradient Tool Open NAO index Open METAREA II More NOAA marine products

4. GVAC wind history · last 24h

METAR-derived wind speed and direction for a backward look.

Source: Aviation Weather METAR history for GVAC.

5. Cape Verde weather service and bulletins

Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia e Geofísica (INMG) provides the official Cabo Verde forecast context. Marine bulletins are issued for the full archipelago as well as for specific regions.

For Sal, the most relevant reference is the Barlavento Oriental bulletin (Sal / Boa Vista), complemented by the general archipelago bulletin for broader context.

Source: INMG official marine weather bulletins.

Barlavento Occidental: western windward sector.
Barlavento Oriental: eastern windward sector, including Sal and Boa Vista.
Sotavento: southern / leeward sector.
Typical bulletin content: wind direction, Beaufort range, wave height and short regional outlook.
Use on this page: official regional reality check against the model view for Sal.
Latest available bulletins: hosted locally for stability and direct access.
Open Barlavento Oriental bulletin (Sal / Boa Vista) Open full archipelago bulletin

Bulletins hosted locally for stability. Forecast source attributed to Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia e Geofísica (INMG). Special thanks to INMG for providing the marine weather bulletins.

6. Local wind interpretation · Harrys’ Point · N16°35.4′ W022°53.4′

This section is about local reading, not about model output. Airport observations are useful, but Harrys’ Point must be interpreted with coastal acceleration, cape effects, shoreline geometry and local exposure in mind.

Source: local interpretation based on GVAC, OpenSeaMap, Windy, Windguru and PredictWind.

coastal acceleration cape effect local thermal influence airport ≠ spot
Reference point: Harrys’ Point is named after the famous and well-known singer-songwriter Harry Kaey.
Operational reading: Compare airport truth, synoptic setup and model background before judging the beach.
Map anchor: Use the local map position to keep the exposure and coastline geometry in mind.
Local convection: Small-scale thermal activity (e.g. dust devils) confirms local heating effects, but rarely alters the trade wind regime.

OpenSeaMap marker: Harrys’ Point is linked with an explicit map marker and centered map view.

Marine format: N16°35.4′ · W022°53.4′
Decimal: 16.590556, -22.889722

OpenSeaMap · Harrys’ Point marker Open Windy · Harrys’ Point Open Windy · Matts’ Point Open Windguru Open PredictWind

7. Numerical model guidance

Source: local JSON forecast package generated on the VPS from ECMWF IFS / ECWAM context. Model comparison (GFS, ICON Global) is planned for future integration.

Model comparison mindset

Use ECMWF as primary reference; wave context is provided by ECWAM. GFS and ICON Global will be added for structured comparison. Differences matter more than slogans.

ECMWF IFS GFS (planned) ICON Global (planned) ECWAM

ECMWF / local point forecast

Primary local model guidance for Harrys’ Point and Matts’ Point. Harrys’ Point is derived through bilinear interpolation from the surrounding model grid, while Matts’ Point currently uses a sea-side coastal override.

Current local data package: Run 2026081800 · updated 18 Aug 07:30 (Cape Verde time)

Harrys' Point

Full forecast 0–72h · ECMWF IFS HRES · Run 2026081800 · generated 18 Aug 07:39 (Cape Verde time)

Selection method: bilinear interpolation

StepLocal time10 m windGustWavePeriodCloud
0h17 Aug 21:0012.5 kt NNE01.1 m E8.6 s8%
3h18 Aug 00:0011.9 kt NNE15.81.1 m E8.6 s8%
6h18 Aug 03:0013.5 kt NE18.21.2 m ENE8.3 s54%
9h18 Aug 06:0013.4 kt NE18.41.2 m ENE8 s86%
12h18 Aug 09:0011.5 kt NE16.51.2 m ENE8.1 s39%
15h18 Aug 12:0012.7 kt NNE171.2 m ENE8.2 s13%
18h18 Aug 15:0013.7 kt NNE18.31.2 m NE7.8 s72%
21h18 Aug 18:0015 kt NNE19.91.3 m NE7.5 s10%
24h18 Aug 21:0014.6 kt NNE19.31.3 m NE7.5 s36%
27h19 Aug 00:0013.3 kt NE18.31.3 m NE7.5 s81%
30h19 Aug 03:0011 kt NE151.3 m NE7.8 s87%
33h19 Aug 06:009.3 kt ENE13.71.2 m NE8 s86%
36h19 Aug 09:0010.1 kt ENE13.61.2 m NE8.3 s69%
39h19 Aug 12:009.2 kt E12.91.2 m NE8.4 s41%
42h19 Aug 15:008.2 kt E121.1 m NE8.6 s55%
45h19 Aug 18:006.8 kt ENE9.61.1 m NE8.8 s15%
48h19 Aug 21:008.3 kt ENE10.71.1 m NE8.8 s21%
51h20 Aug 00:008 kt ENE101.1 m NE8.9 s24%
54h20 Aug 03:0010 kt NE131 m NE8.7 s25%
57h20 Aug 06:008.9 kt NE12.31 m NE8.5 s9%
60h20 Aug 09:0010.3 kt NE13.91 m NE8.5 s6%
63h20 Aug 12:008.8 kt NE12.81 m NE8.3 s0%
66h20 Aug 15:0010.1 kt NNE14.11 m NE8.1 s1%
69h20 Aug 18:0012.2 kt NNE16.21 m NNE7.6 s5%
72h20 Aug 21:0012.2 kt NNE16.31 m NNE7.3 s14%

Matts' Point

Full forecast 0–72h · ECMWF IFS HRES · Run 2026081800 · generated 18 Aug 07:39 (Cape Verde time)

Selection method: nearest

StepLocal time10 m windGustWavePeriodCloud
0h17 Aug 21:0013.2 kt NNE01.3 m NE7.8 s13%
3h18 Aug 00:0012.8 kt NNE16.81.4 m NE7.8 s8%
6h18 Aug 03:0014.6 kt NE19.71.5 m NE7.4 s55%
9h18 Aug 06:0013.7 kt NE18.91.5 m NE7.2 s94%
12h18 Aug 09:0011.4 kt NNE16.21.5 m NE7.3 s48%
15h18 Aug 12:0013.7 kt NNE17.71.5 m NE7.3 s23%
18h18 Aug 15:0014.3 kt NNE18.51.5 m NE7.2 s76%
21h18 Aug 18:0015.6 kt NNE20.41.6 m NE7 s7%
24h18 Aug 21:0015.4 kt NNE20.21.7 m NE7 s38%
27h19 Aug 00:0014.2 kt NE19.31.7 m NE7.1 s88%
30h19 Aug 03:0011.6 kt NE15.71.7 m NE7.3 s87%
33h19 Aug 06:009.5 kt ENE13.71.6 m NE7.6 s95%
36h19 Aug 09:009.8 kt ENE13.11.6 m NE7.8 s85%
39h19 Aug 12:008.2 kt E11.61.5 m NE8 s27%
42h19 Aug 15:007.6 kt E10.21.5 m NE8.1 s45%
45h19 Aug 18:005.9 kt ENE81.4 m NE8.3 s12%
48h19 Aug 21:008.6 kt ENE11.11.4 m NE8.2 s22%
51h20 Aug 00:009.6 kt NE11.81.4 m NE8.2 s20%
54h20 Aug 03:0010.2 kt NE13.21.4 m NE8 s12%
57h20 Aug 06:009.6 kt NNE12.31.4 m NE7.9 s9%
60h20 Aug 09:0011.7 kt NE14.91.3 m NE7.8 s5%
63h20 Aug 12:009.8 kt NNE13.51.3 m NE7.6 s1%
66h20 Aug 15:0010.6 kt NNE14.51.3 m NE7.5 s3%
69h20 Aug 18:0013.6 kt NNE17.51.3 m NNE7.3 s3%
72h20 Aug 21:0013 kt NNE171.3 m NNE7 s13%

8. Saharan dust

Dust matters for visibility, air quality and for the overall character of the day, even when the wind itself looks straightforward.

Source: ECMWF CAMS aerosol products and AEMET dust products.

Operational effect: reduced visibility and a different visual feel to the atmosphere.
Interpretation effect: useful context when the day feels flatter, dirtier or less clear than the wind charts alone suggest.
Workflow: check dust context deliberately alongside the synoptic and model view.
Open CAMS dust forecast Open AEMET dust products

9. Visual observations · Sal

Visual observations provide real-time confirmation of local conditions as well as examples of typical small-scale phenomena on Sal.

Live webcam: real-time view of local wind and sea state conditions.
Open webcam (Radio Sal One)
Local observation: Dust devil · own observation · N16°37′ W022°54′ · 23 March 2026 1724 UTC.
sal.mbaier.com · concept-driven weather briefing for Sal · A Project by MB Aviation