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Climate in Senegal


Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine

Flag - Senegal

Map - Senegal

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The climate of Senegal, a West African country between the Tropic and the Equator, is tropical, with a long dry season (which runs roughly from mid-October to mid-June in the north, and from early November to mid-May in the south) and a rainy season (approximately, from late June to early October in the north, and from late May to late October in the south) due to the African monsoon, which in summer arrives from the south.
As a result, in the south, the annual rainfall is more abundant and is between 600 and 1,400 millimeters (23.5 and 55 inches) per year, while in the north and the center, which is part of the Sahel, the rainfall is below 600 mm (23.5 in).
Consequently, the landscape varies considerably, in fact, it is semi-desert in the north, while there is the savanna in the south, and also by gallery forests along the rivers.
Here is the average precipitation (in millimeters and inches).

Annual rainfall in Senegal

Temperatures are higher in inland areas than on the coast, especially in the period before the rains, from March to June, when they often exceed 40 °C (104 °F).

The climate in detail


  • The seasons
  • The center-north - Saint-Louis, Dakar, Matam
  • The south - Cap Skirring, Ziguinchor
  • Cyclones
  • When to go
  • What to pack
  • Climate data

The seasons




In the dry season, a dry north-eastern wind, called Harmattan, capable of filling the air with dust from the desert, often blows throughout the country. In the coolest months, December and January, the daytime temperature ranges between 32 °C and 35 °C (90 °F and 95 °F) in inland areas, while it is a bit less hot on the coast, and much cooler in Dakar, around 26 °C (79 °F). Sometimes, it can get a bit cool at night across the country, with temperatures below 15 °C (59 °F), while at other times, it can get very hot during the day, with highs around 35 °C (95 °F) in Dakar and 40 °C (104 °F) in the interior.

Starting from February, the temperature begins to rise, and reaches its highest levels from April to early June, before the arrival of the monsoon. In the interior, highs are normally around 38 °C (100 °F) in the south and 43/44 °C (109/111 °F) in the north, while the coast is definitely more temperate, especially in Dakar, where the average maximum is still around 26 °C (79 °F) in May. Heat spikes are noticeable: up to 47/48 °C (117/118 °F) in the north-eastern inland areas.

The rainy season goes roughly from June to October and is known as hivernage ("wintering"), but despite the name it's a hot and humid period, especially in the south, while in the north, moist and rainy days alternate with hot and dry days. Compared to the previous period, the temperature decreases, but at the same time moisture increases. The rains occur in the form of showers in the north and the center, while they are more persistent in the south, where the sky is often cloudy.
As mentioned, the rains are all the more abundant the further you go south. In the northernmost region of Saint-Louis, where the Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary is located, and in the cities that rise along the Senegal river, such as Richard-Toll and Podor, precipitation amounts to only 240/350 mm (9.5/13.5 in) per year. In the central belt, rainfall amounts to 500-700 mm (20-27.5 in) per year, while in the south, it reaches 1,600 mm (63 in).
The temperatures are different as well: the monsoon lowers the daytime temperatures to 32/33 °C (90/91 °F) in the south, while in the north, they remain higher, around 36 °C (97 °F).

At the end of the rainy season, between October and November, the temperature increases again, reaching 38/39 °C (100/102 °F) in the center-north; this phenomenon is much less evident in the south. In Dakar, which is a world apart compared with the rest of the country, the trend is very different: the temperature rises gradually until it reaches about 31/31.5 °C (88/89 °F) during the warmest months, which are September and October.

The center-north



Along the northern part of the coast, at least down to the latitude of Dakar, a cool sea current flows, which lowers the temperature of the coastal towns by a few degrees, compared with inland areas.

Saint-Louis

Climate chart - St. Louis
In the northern part of the coast, in Saint-Louis, during the day, it is hot all year round, and the temperatures are fairly constant, around 31/32 °C (87/90 °F), except in the period from September to November, when they are a little higher. At night, however, the temperatures vary in a more clear manner: winter nights are cool, while in summer, in the rainy season, hot and muggy weather dominates.
However, there can be torrid (very hot and dry) days all year round, when the wind blows from the interior.
In Saint-Louis, 270 mm (10.5 in) of rain fall per year; the only rainy period is from July to early October, when, however, the rains are not particularly frequent nor abundant (but during some years they can be abundant, especially in August and September).
The sun in Saint-Louis shines all year round, and it's often seen even in the rainy season.
The sea in Saint-Louis is cool from January to May, while it gets warm enough for swimming from June to December, with a maximum from August to October.

Saint-Louis du Senegal

South of Saint-Louis, a short distance from the sea, there is even a small desert with sand dunes, the Lompoul Desert.

Lompoul Desert

Dakar

Climate chart - Dakar
The capital, Dakar, is located in a particularly mild area because it's on the tip of a peninsula (the Cap-Vert peninsula), overlooking the ocean, and enjoys by far the mildest climate of Senegal. As a matter of fact, sometimes, until April or even May, a very cool wind blows from the sea. Maximum temperatures range from 25 °C (77 °F) in the February-April period to 31 °C (88 °F) in September and October.
In Dakar, 395 mm (15.5 in) of rain fall per year; the only very rainy months, when rainfall exceeds 130 mm (5 in), are August and September.
The sun in Dakar shines for a good number of hours all year round, though a little less from July to September, ie the rainy season.
The sea, at the height of Dakar, is definitely cool from January to April, around 20/21 °C (68/70 °F), while it becomes warm from June to November, from 25 °C to 28 °C (77 °F to 82 °F).

The Dakar peninsula from satellite

The coast south of Dakar, called Petite Côte ("Small Coast", see Rufisque, Popenguine, Saly, Nianing), is sheltered from the currents and has often a calm sea.

Matam

Climate chart - Matam
In the inland areas of the north, occupied by a semi-desert plain called Ferlo, the temperatures are much higher. It is often very hot even in winter, though the hottest period is from April to June, before the rains arrive. Since the rainy season here is not very noticeable, the heat is intense even in this period.
In Matam, in the north-east, the temperatures can exceed 40 °C (104 °F) all year round, with peaks of 47/48 °C (117/118 °F) in April and May.
On average, 385 mm (15 in) of rain fall per year, and more than 90 mm (3.5 in) fall per month only from July to September.

Matam

The south



In the south, the rainy season is more intense and a little longer, to the point of changing the landscape, which becomes greener, especially during the rainy period. During this period, the temperature decreases more clearly and goes to down to around 31 °C (88 °F) on the coast and 32/33 °C (90/91 °F) in inland areas; on the other hand, the humidity increases. The most humid region is the one called Casamance, located south of the Gambia.

Cap Skirring

Climate chart - Cap Skirring
In the southernmost part of the coast, in Cap Skirring, it is hot all year round, and the temperatures are fairly uniform. Here too, however, night temperatures are slightly lower from December to February, while in the rainy season, the weather is hot and humid. In April and May, the temperature tends to decrease a bit, even though it still doesn't rain.
In Cap Skirring, 1,200 mm (47 in) of rain fall, with more than 100 mm (4 in) per month from July to October (and a maximum in August), and very rare or absent rains in the rest of the year.
In winter, the sea in Cap Skirring is not as cool as in Dakar, in fact, the water temperature does not drop below 22/23 °C (72/73 °F) from January to April.
In the south too, the interior is hotter than the coast, especially from February to May, while the summer temperatures decrease more clearly because the rains are more frequent and abundant.

Ziguinchor

Climate chart - Ziguinchor
In Ziguinchor, the maximum temperatures reach 37/38 °C (99/100 °F) from March to May, while then they drop to 32/33 °C (90/91 °F) from July to September.
On average, 1,400 mm (55.5 in) of rain fall per year, including up to 485 mm (19 in) in August.

Niokolo-Koba National Park

Both the Niokolo-Koba Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Dindefelo waterfalls, are located in the south-east, ie in the southern, most humid region.

Tropical cyclones



In the ocean to the west of Senegal, there is an area in which hurricanes, the tropical cyclones of the Atlantic, start to form; after they are formed, they move towards the west or the northwest and head to the Caribbean. In general, Senegal is not affected by hurricanes because they develop at a considerable distance, however, hurricanes can occasionally form a short distance from the coast and affect Senegal as well, producing rainfall, as well as storm surges that can damage the coast, as happened in early September 2015 with Hurricane Fred.
Hurricanes are generally formed in this area in August and September.

When to go



The best time to visit Senegal is winter, from December to mid-February: it's warm on the coast, even hot in the interior, the sun shines, and it practically never rains. Sometimes, the heat can be intense in inland areas, but humidity is low and nights remain pleasantly cool.
Spring is scorchingly hot, and partly autumn (after the rainy season), but at least, it doesn't rain.
It's better to avoid the rainy season, at least in the south and from July to September.
A special case is represented by Dakar, where the weather is particularly mild, and good for a long period, from December to May. However, on the coast, the heat is generally less intense.
For a beach holiday, you can go from November to May, although as previously mentioned, the sea is cool from January to May in the north-central, and (though a little less) from January to April in the south.

What to pack



In winter: bring light clothes for the day, a sweatshirt and a jacket for the evening (until April or May for Dakar), and a scarf or turban for the sand.
In summer: in the north, bring lightweight clothes, long and made of natural fabric (cotton or linen), a turban for the desert wind; in Dakar, you can add a light sweatshirt; in the south, a light sweatshirt and a light raincoat for the rain.
It's better for women to avoid shorts and miniskirts outside of the beaches.

Climate data - Senegal


Temperatures: °C, Precipitation: mm
Bakel
Bakel, location on the map
Bakel, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.182022252827252423242018
Max temp.343740434341363435383835
Precip.00005501402001553500
Prec. days0000149119300

Cap Skirring
Cap Skirring, location on the map
Cap Skirring, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.181819202224242424242219
Max temp.323332303031313031323332
Precip.000055031043032010000
Prec. days000004161916800
Humidity58%61%68%75%78%78%82%85%84%81%72%62%
Day length115117121124127128128125122118115114
Sea temp232222232428282828292826

Dakar
Dakar, location on the map
Dakar, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.191818192124252525262421
Max temp.262525252629303031313028
Precip.000005551651402500
Prec. days0000014109200
Humidity65%71%76%82%82%81%79%82%84%80%71%65%
Day length114117121125128130129126122118114113
Sun hours8991098877888
Sea temp222020212326282828282724

Kedougou
Kedougou, location on the map
Kedougou, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.182024262624222221222017
Max temp.353840414035323232343635
Precip.00055016026535031010050
Prec. days0000411151918710
Humidity29%26%29%34%45%63%76%80%79%71%49%36%
Day length115117121124127129128125122118115114

Matam
Matam, location on the map
Matam, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.161922252828262525252118
Max temp.343740434442383536393835
Precip.0000020951451002000
Prec. days000002798200
Humidity31%28%27%27%30%40%58%70%71%53%37%35%
Day length113116121125129130129126122118114112

Podor
Podor, location on the map
Podor, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.161820222425252526252118
Max temp.323437404241383737393733
Precip.50000105085801000
Prec. days000001366100
Humidity27%27%27%27%30%40%55%63%62%44%33%31%
Day length113116121125129131130127122117113112

St. Louis
St. Louis, location on the map
St. Louis, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.161718182023242525242017
Max temp.313233323031313233343532
Precip.00000545901052500
Prec. days000000377200
Humidity45%49%57%66%73%79%79%81%81%72%56%49%
Day length113116121125129131130126122118114112
Sun hours8891097888888
Sea temp202020202124262828282623

Tambacounda
Tambacounda, location on the map
Tambacounda, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.182023252626242322232018
Max temp.353740414138343233363836
Precip.000015851652252005550
Prec. days000016111513400
Humidity24%22%24%27%36%54%72%80%80%70%43%28%
Day length114117121125128129128126122118115113

Ziguinchor
Ziguinchor, location on the map
Ziguinchor, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.181920202224242424242219
Max temp.343738383736333233343534
Precip.500059534048036011550
Prec. days100017182118800
Humidity46%45%50%58%65%73%84%88%87%83%71%56%
Day length115117121124127129128125122118115114
Sun hours991010108667899



See also the temperatures month by month

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 See also (cities or regions):
 Cap Skirring
 Dakar
 Diourbel
 Kaolack
 Kedougou
 Kolda
 Linguere
 Matam
 Podor
 Others (expand)
 St. Louis
 Tambacounda
 Ziguinchor

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