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Climate in Mali


Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine

Flag - Mali

Map - Mali

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In Mali, there are three types of climate: the desert climate of the Sahara in the north, the semi-desert climate of the Sahel in the center, with a rainy season from June to September, and rainfall ranging from 100 to 600 millimeters (4 to 23.5 inches) per year, and finally, the tropical climate of the savanna in the south, where the rainy season is a bit longer (May and October) and more intense, and rainfall exceeds 600 mm (23.5 in).
Mali is an African country with no access to the sea. The rains in the central-southern part are due to the African monsoon, which brings humid currents from the south in the summer.

The climate in detail


  • The north - Taoudenni, Tessalit
  • The center - Timbuktu
  • The south - Bamako
  • When to go
  • What to pack
  • Climate data

The north



The vast northern area, virtually lacking settlements except for a few rare oases, has a subtropical desert climate.
The average temperatures in January are between 15 °C and 20 °C (59 °F and 68 °F). Winter is pleasantly warm during the day and very cool at night, but sometimes the nights are very cold, in fact the cold records are around freezing.
Summer, on the other hand, is scorchingly hot and sunny. Sometimes the temperature can approach 50 °C (122 °F) in July and August.

Taoudenni

Climate chart - Taoudenni
In the extreme north-west, crossed by the Tropic of Cancer (see Taoudenni), the climate is typical of the Sahara desert. Unlike in the central-south, where the monsoon lowers the temperature, July is the hottest month here.
Also, it almost never rains, although some cloud banks can affect this area in summer, when very few downpours can occur.

Tessalit

Climate chart - Tessalit
More to the south, in July and August, the temperature decreases slightly because this area can be more often affected by a bit of cloudiness and some rare showers.
For example, in Tessalit, located in the north-east, at 500 meters (1,600 feet) above sea level and 20 degrees north latitude, the average temperature in January exceeds 20 °C (68 °F). The hottest month is June.
At this latitude, we are still in the desert, but cloudiness and rare showers can arrive in summer, caused by the extreme offshoots of the African monsoon, which, however, do not show noticeable effects here.
The sun in Tessalit shines all year round, but in summer, the hours of sunshine do not increase, or decrease slightly, even though the days are a bit longer.

The center



In central Mali, the climate is tropical semi-desert. This area, stretched from west to east south of the Sahara, is called Sahel.

Timbuktu

Climate chart - Timbuktu
In Timbuktu (or Tombouctou), the legendary city of the past Mali Empire, the average temperature exceeds 20 °C (68 °C) even in January. In winter, the sky is usually clear, even though the wind from the north-east often blows, the Harmattan, which can raise dust and sand, making the sky whitish.
The hottest months are April, May, and June, when the maximum temperature normally exceeds 40 °C (104 °F), but with peaks of 47/48 °C (117/118 °F).
From June to September, the monsoon comes, and is able to lower the temperature by a few degrees, and to bring some downpours, more intense and frequent than in the northern area. However, even in this period, the rains are irregular, and there are also very hot, dry periods.
After the rainy season, in September and October, the heat increases again, even though it does not reach the values of the March-May period.
In Timbuktu, 180 mm (7 in) of rain fall per year, almost all occurring from June to September, with a maximum of 75 mm (3 in) in August.
The source of water that made it possible for a city like Timbuktu to flourish over the past centuries were certainly not the few summer rains, but it was rather the Niger River, whose headwaters are located in the mountains of Guinea, and which flows in this semi-desert area, then bends and returns to the south.
In Timbuktu, the sun shines all year round; however, the hours of sunshine diminish slightly in summer.

Timbuktu

Continuing south, the summer rains become more abundant. Already in Mopti, in the area of the "Inner Niger Delta", the rainfall amounts to 500 mm (20 in) per year.

The south


Southern Mali has a tropical savannah climate. Rainfall exceeds 600 mm (23.5 in) per year, and in the extreme south, it even exceeds 1,000 mm (40 in).

Bamako

Climate chart - Bamako
In the capital, Bamako, the summer temperature is lower because of rainfall and cloud cover, in fact, highs hover around 31/32 °C (88/90 °F). In winter, in December and January, the southern sun raises the daytime temperature to around 33 °C (91 °F), even though the air is dry and nights are quite cool. The hottest months are March and April, while the temperature drops a bit already in May, owing to the first thunderstorms.
Annual precipitation reaches 1,000 mm (40 in), and the rainy season is a little longer, with the first pre-monsoon showers already in May, a maximum of 300 mm (12 in) in August, and the last rains in early October. Here is the average precipitation.
In summer, the sunshine hours in Bamako diminish more than in the central areas, and August is the least sunny month.

Further south, in Sikasso, Mali's second largest city, rainfall reaches almost 1,200 mm (47 in) per year.

When to go



The best time to visit Mali is winter, from December to February.
By February, the heat increases and it starts to get hot in the south, while in January, sandstorms raised by the Harmattan begin to be more frequent in the north-central, so the best month overall is December.
However, it is useful to recall that in this season, nights can be cold in the north, where the temperature may drop near freezing, while in Bamako and in the south, it can get to around 8/10 °C (46/50 °F).

What to pack



In winter: bring light clothes for the day, long and made of natural fabric (cotton or linen), a desert turban for the wind-borne sand and dust, sunglasses (even graduated instead of contact lenses), a jacket and a sweater for the evening, desert boots or sandals, and a sweatshirt or sweater for boat trips on the Niger River.

In summer: for the desert, bring lightweight clothes, of natural fabric (cotton or linen), a desert turban; a sweater for the night, and a sleeping bag to sleep outdoors. For Bamako and the south, light clothes, an umbrella or a light raincoat, and possibly a sweatshirt for the rain showers.
It's better for women to avoid shorts and miniskirts.

Climate data - Mali


Temperatures: °C, Precipitation: mm
Bamako (330 meters)
Bamako, location on the map
Bamako, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.172023252523222222211817
Max temp.333638393835323132353533
Precip.00020551302252901956550
Prec. days001368171815600
Humidity22%17%19%31%48%65%79%83%81%68%39%26%
Day length115117121124127129128125122118115114
Sun hours999877656787

Bougouni (350 meters)
Bougouni, location on the map
Bougouni, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.182124262524232222222017
Max temp.343739393734313131343534
Precip.005409514022528020070100
Prec. days0014913182018810
Humidity32%28%33%47%64%74%82%85%84%76%53%38%
Day length115118121124127128127125122119116115

Gao (250 meters)
Gao, location on the map
Gao, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.171923273030282727272218
Max temp.303438414342393739403632
Precip.00001025658535500
Prec. days000014885100
Humidity22%17%14%15%20%32%43%54%45%26%20%20%
Day length113116121125129131130126122117114112
Sun hours999898888998

Hombori (290 meters)
Hombori, location on the map
Hombori, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.182225293030272526272220
Max temp.313639424240373537403733
Precip.00051040105110551500
Prec. days0000158108200
Humidity24%22%19%21%28%40%54%64%56%38%27%23%
Day length113117121125129130129126122118114112
Sun hours998888888978

Kayes
Kayes, location on the map
Kayes, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.182124283029262524242119
Max temp.343740434340353334373735
Precip.000010851552151404050
Prec. days000038121511400
Humidity24%20%19%21%28%47%69%78%78%62%35%26%
Day length114117121125128130129126122118115113
Sun hours8991097778898

Kenieba
Kenieba, location on the map
Kenieba, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.202425272826242424242019
Max temp.353840414036323132343636
Precip.0005501602503552458550
Prec. days0001412182017800
Humidity26%22%23%30%43%63%78%82%81%74%54%35%
Day length115117121124127129128125122118115114
Sun hours899998667788

Kita (330 meters)
Kita, location on the map
Kita, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.192225282725242323232019
Max temp.343639414036323132353635
Precip.051010401202002551956000
Prec. days000149131614600
Humidity26%23%23%30%44%61%76%83%80%68%43%32%
Day length115117121124127129128125122118115114
Sun hours899988767988

Koutiala (360 meters)
Koutiala, location on the map
Koutiala, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.182125272725232323232118
Max temp.333638393835323032353634
Precip.00520701202052401654550
Prec. days0010711151713600
Humidity28%22%24%37%52%63%76%82%79%64%39%33%
Day length115117121124127128128125122118116114

Mopti (270 meters)
Mopti, location on the map
Mopti, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.161923272827252424242117
Max temp.323538414139353334363633
Precip.00052555140165902000
Prec. days00013812149300
Humidity23%18%17%20%31%45%61%73%71%54%31%27%
Day length114117121125128130129126122118115113
Sun hours9109898888999

Nara (265 meters)
Nara, location on the map
Nara, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.161923262929262424242017
Max temp.323538414241363436393633
Precip.00001035115160751500
Prec. days00003610128300
Humidity21%17%15%18%26%38%60%74%67%40%25%23%
Day length113117121125129130129126122118114112

Nioro (240 meters)
Nioro, location on the map
Nioro, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.151822262929262424242016
Max temp.323538414241363335383633
Precip.000515551552051102500
Prec. days100112464200
Humidity25%21%20%19%26%37%61%73%69%46%27%25%
Day length113117121125129130129126122118114112

San (290 meters)
San, location on the map
San, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.172124282826242424242118
Max temp.333639414138343233373734
Precip.5551030951802401352550
Prec. days0000147105100
Humidity29%24%22%27%43%58%73%80%78%58%40%33%
Day length114117121124128129128125122118115114
Sun hours999998878999

Segou (290 meters)
Segou, location on the map
Segou, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.182024272826242324242118
Max temp.333639414138343233373734
Precip.5000251052052701451000
Prec. days0002358107100
Humidity33%28%26%32%43%57%74%81%80%61%42%35%
Day length114117121124128129128125122118115114
Sun hours999898878999

Sikasso (370 meters)
Sikasso, location on the map
Sikasso, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.192225262523222222232118
Max temp.333638373633313031333433
Precip.05154511015024531021085100
Prec. days01251013172014910
Humidity26%22%28%45%59%69%78%81%79%69%45%31%
Day length115118121124127128127125122119116115
Sun hours898787766898

Taoudenni (270 meters)
Taoudenni, location on the map
Taoudenni, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.111317202427292827231711
Max temp.252932364044454341373126
Precip.0000005105000
Prec. days000000121000
Day length109114121127132135134129122116110108
Sun hours910101111999910109

Tessalit (500 meters)
Tessalit, location on the map
Tessalit, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.141720242830292828252016
Max temp.273034384143424140383329
Precip.000055152510000
Prec. days000011352000
Day length111115121126131133132128122117112109
Sun hours1010101110910991099

Timbuktu (265 meters)
Timbuktu, location on the map
Timbuktu, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.151721252829272626241915
Max temp.303337414242393739393531
Precip.0000515557530500
Prec. days000113785100
Humidity22%18%15%16%20%30%46%56%48%29%25%23%
Day length113116121125129131130127122117113111
Sun hours999898888998



See also the temperatures month by month

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 See also (cities or regions):
 Bamako
 Bougouni
 Gao
 Hombori
 Kayes
 Kenieba
 Kita
 Koutiala
 Mopti
 Others (expand)
 Nara
 Nioro
 San
 Segou
 Sikasso
 Timbuktu

 Weather by month:
 January
 February
 March
 April
 May
 June
 July
 August
 September
 October
 November
 December

 Nearby countries:
 Algeria
 Burkina Faso
 Guinea
 Ivory Coast
 Mauritania
 Niger
 Senegal

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