Benguela has a dry subtropical climate moderated by the cold Benguela Current. There are two seasons: a cool, dry season from June to September (winter in the southern hemisphere), and a warmer, slightly wetter season from October to May. The sea stays cool year-round by tropical standards — rarely above 20°C — because of the upwelling current. The best time to visit is May through October, when temperatures are most comfortable and the air is clear. April and May in particular, at the transition between seasons, are very pleasant.
Rain is sparse by West African standards; Benguela gets less than 300mm annually, and the hinterland gets even less. The city is not a destination for beach weather in the warm-water sense — Baía Azul is good for sunbathing and swimming, but the water will feel cold to anyone expecting tropical temperatures.