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The climate of El Aaiún (Laâyoune) is
subtropical desert, very mild in winter and hot in summer.
The city is located in the north of Western Sahara, about 20 km (12 mi) from the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, where a cold current flows. The distance from the coast is enough to make the climate warmer than on the coast, where Laayoune Plage (also called El Aaiún Port or El Marsa) is located. Heat waves from the desert are also more frequent and more intense.
Laayoune - Climate data
In Laayoune, the
average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of 17.3 °C (63.2 °F), that of the warmest month (August) is of 25.8 °C (78.4 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Laayoune - Average temperatures (1991-2020) | Month | Min (°C) | Max (°C) | Mean (°C) | Min (°F) | Max (°F) | Mean (°F) |
|---|
| January | 12 | 22 | 17.3 | 54 | 72 | 63.2 |
|---|
| February | 13 | 23 | 18.1 | 55 | 74 | 64.6 |
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| March | 14 | 25 | 19.7 | 58 | 77 | 67.5 |
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| April | 15 | 25 | 20.2 | 60 | 77 | 68.3 |
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| May | 17 | 26 | 21.3 | 62 | 79 | 70.4 |
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| June | 18 | 28 | 22.9 | 65 | 82 | 73.3 |
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| July | 20 | 29 | 24.7 | 68 | 85 | 76.4 |
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| August | 21 | 31 | 25.8 | 69 | 87 | 78.4 |
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| September | 20 | 30 | 25.1 | 68 | 86 | 77.1 |
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| October | 19 | 29 | 23.7 | 66 | 84 | 74.7 |
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| November | 16 | 26 | 20.9 | 61 | 78 | 69.7 |
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| December | 14 | 24 | 18.6 | 57 | 74 | 65.4 |
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| Year | 16.6 | 26.5 | 21.5 | 61.9 | 79.6 | 70.5 |
|---|
In Laayoune,
precipitation amounts to 45 millimeters (1.8 inches) per year: it is therefore at a desert level. It ranges from 0 mm (0 in) in the driest months (May, June, July, August) to 10 mm (0.4 in) in the wettest one (December). Here is the average precipitation.
Laayoune - Average precipitation| Month | Millimeters | Inches | Days |
|---|
| January | 8 | 0.3 | 2 |
|---|
| February | 9 | 0.4 | 2 |
|---|
| March | 4 | 0.2 | 1 |
|---|
| April | 2 | 0.1 | 0 |
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| May | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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| June | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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| July | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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| August | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|---|
| September | 4 | 0.2 | 1 |
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| October | 4 | 0.2 | 1 |
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| November | 6 | 0.2 | 2 |
|---|
| December | 10 | 0.4 | 2 |
|---|
| Year | 45 | 1.9 | 11 |
|---|
At Laayoune, the
sea temperature ranges from 18 °C (64 °F) in February, March to 22.5 °C (72 °F) in September, October. Here are the average sea temperatures.
Laayoune - Sea temperature| Month | Celsius (°C) | Fahrenheit (°F) |
|---|
January | 19 | 66 | February | 18 | 64 | March | 18 | 65 | April | 18.5 | 65 | May | 19.5 | 67 | June | 20.5 | 69 | July | 21 | 70 | August | 22 | 71 | September | 22.5 | 72 | October | 22.5 | 72 | November | 21.5 | 71 | December | 20 | 68 | Year | 20.2 | 68.4 |
In Laayoune, there are on average around 3205
sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.
Laayoune - Sunshine hours| Month | Average | Total |
|---|
January | 8 | 240 | February | 8.5 | 235 | March | 9 | 275 | April | 9.5 | 290 | May | 10 | 310 | June | 10 | 295 | July | 9.5 | 290 | August | 9.5 | 290 | September | 8.5 | 255 | October | 8.5 | 255 | November | 8 | 240 | December | 7.5 | 235 | Year | 8.8 | 3205 |
Laayoune - Weather by month
Based on the period 1991-2020
In
January, the coldest month of the year, the weather in Laayoune is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 17.3 °C (63 °F), with a minimum of 12.2 °C (53.9 °F) and a maximum of 22.5 °C (72.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 7.5 °C (45.5 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 28 °C (82 °F). However, it reached 32 °C (89.6 °F) in January 2010.
Precipitation amounts to only 8 mm (0.3 in), distributed over 2 days.
The average humidity is 58%.
The average wind speed is 19 kph (12 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 19 °C (66 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.
In
February, the weather in Laayoune is usually warm. The average temperature is of 18.1 °C (65 °F), with a minimum of 13 °C (55.5 °F) and a maximum of 23.2 °C (73.7 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 9 °C (48 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 29.5 °C (85 °F). However, it reached 37 °C (98.6 °F) in February 2010.
Precipitation amounts to only 9 mm (0.4 in), distributed over 2 days.
The average humidity is 62%.
The average wind speed is 21 kph (13 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 18 °C (64.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
In
March, the weather in Laayoune is usually warm. The average temperature is of 19.7 °C (67 °F), with a minimum of 14.4 °C (58 °F) and a maximum of 25 °C (76.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 11 °C (51.5 °F).
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 34 °C (93 °F). However, it reached 39 °C (102.2 °F) in March 2017.
Precipitation amounts to only 4 mm (0.2 in), and all occurs in one day.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day.
The average humidity is 63%.
The average wind speed is 21 kph (13 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 18 °C (64.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
In
April, the weather in Laayoune is usually warm. The average temperature is of 20.2 °C (68 °F), with a minimum of 15.4 °C (59.7 °F) and a maximum of 24.9 °C (76.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 12 °C (53.5 °F).
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 33 °C (91.5 °F). However, it reached 41 °C (105.8 °F) in April 2013.
Precipitation amounts to only 2 mm (0.1 in), distributed over 0 days.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day.
The average humidity is 63%.
The average wind speed is 23 kph (14 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 18.5 °C (65.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.
In
May, the weather in Laayoune is usually warm. The average temperature is of 21.3 °C (70 °F), with a minimum of 16.8 °C (62.2 °F) and a maximum of 25.9 °C (78.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 13.5 °C (56.5 °F).
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 34.5 °C (94.5 °F). However, it reached 46 °C (114.8 °F) in May 2015.
Precipitation amounts to only 0 mm (0 in), so on average it never rains in the whole month.
The average humidity is 64%.
The average wind speed is 24 kph (15 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 19.5 °C (67 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.
In
June, the weather in Laayoune is usually warm to hot. The average temperature is of 22.9 °C (73 °F), with a minimum of 18.3 °C (65 °F) and a maximum of 27.5 °C (81.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 15.5 °C (60 °F).
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 34.5 °C (94.5 °F). However, it reached 44 °C (111.2 °F) in June 2011.
Precipitation amounts to only 0 mm (0 in), so on average it never rains in the whole month.
The average humidity is 66%.
The average wind speed is 27 kph (17 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 20.5 °C (69 °F). Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.
In
July, the weather in Laayoune is usually warm to hot. The average temperature is of 24.7 °C (76 °F), with a minimum of 19.9 °C (67.8 °F) and a maximum of 29.4 °C (85 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 17.5 °C (63.5 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 36.5 °C (98 °F). However, it reached 46 °C (114.8 °F) in July 2004.
Precipitation amounts to only 0 mm (0 in), so on average it never rains in the whole month.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is 33 kph (20 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 21 °C (70 °F). Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.
In
August, the hottest month of the year, the weather in Laayoune is usually warm to hot. The average temperature is of 25.8 °C (78 °F), with a minimum of 20.7 °C (69.3 °F) and a maximum of 30.8 °C (87.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 18.5 °C (65 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 38 °C (100.5 °F). However, it reached 45 °C (113 °F) in August 2016.
Precipitation amounts to only 0 mm (0 in), so on average it never rains in the whole month.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is 30 kph (19 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 22 °C (71 °F). Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.
In
September, the weather in Laayoune is usually warm to hot. The average temperature is of 25.1 °C (77 °F), with a minimum of 20.1 °C (68.2 °F) and a maximum of 30 °C (86.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 17 °C (63 °F).
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 36 °C (96.5 °F). However, it reached 45 °C (113 °F) in September 2005.
Precipitation amounts to only 4 mm (0.2 in), and all occurs in one day.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is 23 kph (14 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 22.5 °C (72.5 °F). Therefore, the sea can be considered barely acceptable for swimming.
In
October, the weather in Laayoune is usually warm to hot. The average temperature is of 23.7 °C (75 °F), with a minimum of 18.8 °C (65.8 °F) and a maximum of 28.7 °C (83.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 14.5 °C (58.5 °F).
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 36 °C (97 °F). However, it reached 42 °C (107.6 °F) in October 2017.
Precipitation amounts to only 4 mm (0.2 in), and all occurs in one day.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is 18 kph (11 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 22.5 °C (72.5 °F). Therefore, the sea can be considered barely acceptable for swimming.
In
November, the weather in Laayoune is usually warm. The average temperature is of 20.9 °C (70 °F), with a minimum of 16.1 °C (60.9 °F) and a maximum of 25.8 °C (78.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 11.5 °C (52.5 °F).
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 33 °C (91.5 °F). However, it reached 36 °C (96.8 °F) in November 1999.
Precipitation amounts to only 6 mm (0.2 in), distributed over 2 days.
The average humidity is 64%.
The average wind speed is 18 kph (11 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 21.5 °C (70.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.
In
December, the weather in Laayoune is usually warm. The average temperature is of 18.6 °C (65 °F), with a minimum of 13.6 °C (56.6 °F) and a maximum of 23.5 °C (74.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 10 °C (49.5 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 29 °C (84.5 °F). However, it reached 36 °C (96.8 °F) in December 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 10 mm (0.4 in), distributed over 2 days.
The average humidity is 60%.
The average wind speed is 18 kph (11 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 20 °C (68 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.