Climate - Gao (Mali)

The climate of Gao (or Gawgaw) is tropical arid, with a relatively cool period in December and January, and a rainy season that runs roughly from June to September. The hottest time of the year goes from April to June, before the rains arrive.
The city is located in the center-east of Mali, at the prime meridian, at an altitude of 250 meters (820 feet), and on the banks of the Niger River.
We are on the edge of the area affected by the African monsoon, where the rains are generally not abundant, and vary greatly depending on the year.
In winter, the Harmattan, the dust-laden wind of the Sahara, can blow.

Gao - Climate data

In Gao, the average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of 23.6 °C (74.4 °F), that of the warmest month (May) is of 36.3 °C (97.4 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
In Gao, precipitation amounts to 220 millimeters (8.7 inches) per year: it is therefore scarce. It ranges from 0 mm (0 in) in the driest months (January, February, March, November, December) to 85 mm (3.3 in) in the wettest one (August). Here is the average precipitation.
In Gao, there are on average around 3135 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.

Gao - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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In January, the coolest month of the year, the weather in Gao is usually warm to hot. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 23.6 °C (74 °F), with a minimum of 16.8 °C (62.2 °F) and a maximum of 30.4 °C (86.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 12.5 °C (54 °F). However, it dropped to 9.2 °C (48.6 °F) in January 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 36 °C (97 °F). However, it reached 42.5 °C (108.5 °F) in January 1992.
Precipitation amounts to only 0 mm (0 in), so on average it never rains in the whole month.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 77% of the time.
The average humidity is 22%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).

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In February, the weather in Gao is usually warm to hot. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 26.7 °C (80 °F), with a minimum of 19.4 °C (66.9 °F) and a maximum of 34 °C (93.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 14.5 °C (58 °F). However, it dropped to 12 °C (53.6 °F) in February 2000.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 39 °C (102.5 °F). However, it reached 42.7 °C (108.9 °F) in February 2010.
Precipitation amounts to only 0 mm (0 in), so on average it never rains in the whole month.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 80% of the time.
The average humidity is 17%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).

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In March, the weather in Gao is usually very hot. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 30.5 °C (87 °F), with a minimum of 23 °C (73.5 °F) and a maximum of 37.9 °C (100.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 17 °C (62 °F). However, it dropped to 12.7 °C (54.9 °F) in March 2012.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 42 °C (108 °F). However, it reached 44 °C (111.2 °F) in March 2009.
Precipitation amounts to only 0 mm (0 in), so on average it never rains in the whole month.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 72% of the time.
The average humidity is 14%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (8 mph).

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In April, the weather in Gao is usually scorchingly hot. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 34.2 °C (93 °F), with a minimum of 26.9 °C (80.5 °F) and a maximum of 41.4 °C (106.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 21.5 °C (70.5 °F). However, it dropped to 18.5 °C (65.3 °F) in April 1996.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 45 °C (113 °F). However, it reached 46.6 °C (115.9 °F) in April 2010.
Precipitation amounts to only 2 mm (0.1 in), distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 68% of the time.
The average humidity is 15%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

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In May, the hottest month of the year, the weather in Gao is usually scorchingly hot. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 36.3 °C (97 °F), with a minimum of 29.7 °C (85.5 °F) and a maximum of 42.9 °C (109.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 23 °C (73.5 °F). However, it dropped to 18.3 °C (64.9 °F) in May 1993.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 46 °C (114.5 °F). However, it reached 46.8 °C (116.2 °F) in May 2003.
Precipitation amounts to only 8 mm (0.3 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 69% of the time.
The average humidity is 20%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

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In June, the weather in Gao is usually scorchingly hot. The average temperature is of 35.8 °C (96 °F), with a minimum of 30 °C (86 °F) and a maximum of 41.6 °C (106.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 23.5 °C (74 °F). However, it dropped to 19.8 °C (67.6 °F) in June 2002.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 45.5 °C (114.5 °F). However, it reached 47 °C (116.6 °F) in June 1994.
Precipitation amounts to 25 mm (1 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 5 minutes. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 58% of the time.
The average humidity is 32%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).

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In July, the weather in Gao is usually scorchingly hot. The average temperature is of 33.4 °C (92 °F), with a minimum of 27.9 °C (82.2 °F) and a maximum of 38.9 °C (102 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 22.5 °C (72.5 °F). However, it dropped to 17.3 °C (63.1 °F) in July 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 43 °C (109.5 °F). However, it reached 44.5 °C (112.1 °F) in July 2001.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 62% of the time.
The average humidity is 43%.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).

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In August, the weather in Gao is usually very hot. The average temperature is of 31.6 °C (89 °F), with a minimum of 26.5 °C (79.7 °F) and a maximum of 36.8 °C (98.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 22 °C (71.5 °F). However, it dropped to 20 °C (68 °F) in August 1994.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 41.5 °C (107 °F). However, it reached 45.7 °C (114.3 °F) in August 1993.
Precipitation amounts to 85 mm (3.3 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 64% of the time.
The average humidity is 54%.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (8 mph).

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In September, the weather in Gao is usually scorchingly hot. The average temperature is of 32.9 °C (91 °F), with a minimum of 27.2 °C (81 °F) and a maximum of 38.6 °C (101.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 21.5 °C (70.5 °F). However, it dropped to 15.6 °C (60.1 °F) in September 1994.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 43 °C (109 °F). However, it reached 44.5 °C (112.1 °F) in September 2000.
Precipitation amounts to 35 mm (1.4 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 69% of the time.
The average humidity is 45%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).

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In October, the weather in Gao is usually scorchingly hot. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 33.3 °C (92 °F), with a minimum of 26.6 °C (80 °F) and a maximum of 39.9 °C (103.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 22 °C (71.5 °F). However, it dropped to 19.9 °C (67.8 °F) in October 1993.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 43 °C (109 °F). However, it reached 45 °C (113 °F) in October 2010.
Precipitation amounts to only 5 mm (0.2 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 77% of the time.
The average humidity is 26%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (6 mph).

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In November, the weather in Gao is usually very hot. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 29.0 °C (84 °F), with a minimum of 21.6 °C (71 °F) and a maximum of 36.2 °C (97.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 17.5 °C (63.5 °F). However, it dropped to 15.3 °C (59.5 °F) in November 1992.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 39.5 °C (103 °F). However, it reached 42 °C (107.6 °F) in November 1992.
Precipitation amounts to only 0 mm (0 in), so on average it never rains in the whole month.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 82% of the time.
The average humidity is 20%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

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In December, the weather in Gao is usually warm to hot. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 25.1 °C (77 °F), with a minimum of 17.8 °C (64 °F) and a maximum of 32.4 °C (90.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 13 °C (55.5 °F). However, it dropped to 10 °C (50 °F) in December 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 36.5 °C (98 °F). However, it reached 39.7 °C (103.5 °F) in December 2011.
Precipitation amounts to only 0 mm (0 in), so on average it never rains in the whole month.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 10 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 76% of the time.
The average humidity is 20%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).