Dakar, Senegal Climate & Monthly Averages
The climate of Dakar
Dakar averages 77°F (25°C) across the year, with 10.5 hours of sunshine a day and 12.9 inches (328 mm) of precipitation. The spread runs from March, at 77°F (25°C), to October, at 87°F (30°C).
Climate quick facts
- Hottest month: October - highs near 87°F (30°C)
- Coldest month: March - highs near 77°F (25°C)
- Decade extremes (2015-2024): 102°F (39°C) high · 60°F (16°C) low
- Wettest month: August (15 rainy days) · Sunniest: April (11.7 h sun/day)
- Climate type: tropical wet-and-dry
- Annual swing: 6°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 5°C
- Months averaging 30°C or hotter: 2
- Average humidity: 70%
Temperatures through the year
April is the brightest month at 11.7 hours of sun a day, against an annual average of 10.5 - sunnier than roughly 82% of the cities we track. October is the warm end of the year, averaging 87°F (30°C) by day and 79°F (26°C) overnight. March bottoms out at 77°F (25°C) in daylight, 67°F (19°C) after dark. 9 months average under 20 mm of rain, the longest unbroken stretch running October through June.
Rain, sun and snow
The wettest month is August (5.7 inches (146 mm) across 15 days) and the driest April. The gridded 2015-2024 daily record for this location tops out at 102°F (39°C) and bottoms at 60°F (16°C) - decade extremes, not all-time station records.
How Dakar compares
- 92% of the year's precipitation falls in its wettest three months - more seasonal than any other city in our 3496-city dataset.
- Afternoons run 5°C above the following night - a flatter daily curve than all but 3% of the 3496 cities we track.
- Rain or snow reaches the ground on 38 days a year - fewer wet days than all but 6% of the 3496 cities we track.
Ranked against every city in our dataset, each measured on the same ten-year window.
Monthly climate table
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Precipitation | Sunshine | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 81° | 69° | 0 | 0.1 in | 10.2 h/day | 53% |
| February | 79° | 67° | 0 | 0.0 in | 10.6 h/day | 58% |
| March | 77° | 67° | 0 | 0.0 in | 11.0 h/day | 67% |
| April | 77° | 68° | 0 | 0.0 in | 11.7 h/day | 72% |
| May | 78° | 70° | 0 | 0.0 in | 11.5 h/day | 77% |
| June | 82° | 74° | 1 | 0.2 in | 11.3 h/day | 79% |
| July | 84° | 77° | 7 | 1.5 in | 10.2 h/day | 78% |
| August | 84° | 78° | 15 | 5.7 in | 9.5 h/day | 81% |
| September | 85° | 79° | 12 | 4.6 in | 9.9 h/day | 83% |
| October | 87° | 79° | 3 | 0.7 in | 10.4 h/day | 78% |
| November | 87° | 76° | 0 | 0.0 in | 10.0 h/day | 65% |
| December | 84° | 72° | 0 | 0.0 in | 9.7 h/day | 55% |
Dakar month by month
Dakar weather in January
January brings highs around 81°F (27°C), lows near 69°F (20°C), about 0 wet days.
Dakar weather in February
February brings highs around 79°F (26°C), lows near 67°F (20°C), about 0 wet days.
Dakar weather in March
March brings highs around 77°F (25°C), lows near 67°F (19°C), about 0 wet days - typically the coldest month of the year in Dakar.
Dakar weather in April
April brings highs around 77°F (25°C), lows near 68°F (20°C), about 0 wet days - typically the driest month and the sunniest month of the year in Dakar.
Dakar weather in May
May brings highs around 78°F (26°C), lows near 70°F (21°C), about 0 wet days.
Dakar weather in June
June brings highs around 82°F (28°C), lows near 74°F (23°C), about 1 wet days.
Dakar weather in July
July brings highs around 84°F (29°C), lows near 77°F (25°C), about 7 wet days.
Dakar weather in August
August brings highs around 84°F (29°C), lows near 78°F (26°C), about 15 wet days - typically the wettest month of the year in Dakar.
Dakar weather in September
September brings highs around 85°F (29°C), lows near 79°F (26°C), about 12 wet days.
Dakar weather in October
October brings highs around 87°F (30°C), lows near 79°F (26°C), about 3 wet days - typically the hottest month of the year in Dakar.
Dakar weather in November
November brings highs around 87°F (30°C), lows near 76°F (25°C), about 0 wet days.
Dakar weather in December
December brings highs around 84°F (29°C), lows near 72°F (22°C), about 0 wet days.
Seasons in Dakar
March through May
March through May in Dakar is mild and warm, with daytime highs averaging 77°F (25°C) and nights around 68°F (20°C); precipitation is essentially absent. Daylight is generous - around 11.4 hours of sun a day.
June through August
June through August in Dakar sits firmly in the heat, with daytime highs averaging 83°F (28°C) and nights around 76°F (25°C); expect showers on roughly 22 days across the season. Daylight is generous - around 10.3 hours of sun a day. With the moisture factored in, afternoons feel hotter than the reading suggests - the humidity and dew point converter shows why.
September through November
September through November runs hot here - highs near 86°F (30°C), nights near 78°F (26°C), and rain comes on about 15 days over the three months. Daylight is generous - around 10.1 hours of sun a day.
December through February
December through February in Dakar brings hot afternoons, with daytime highs averaging 81°F (27°C) and nights around 69°F (21°C); precipitation is essentially absent. Daylight is generous - around 10.2 hours of sun a day.
Climate questions, answered
Is Dakar hot in summer?
How warm is Dakar on average?
When is the dry season in Dakar?
How many hot months does Dakar have?
Is Dakar cold in winter?
How often does it rain in Dakar?
Best time to visit Dakar
January to June is the sweet spot for Dakar - warm days, manageable rainfall and plenty of daylight line up. Expect 79°F (26°C) in the afternoon and around 0 days of rain in a typical month of it. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in January.
Pack for Dakar with light clothing for the warm months and rain gear if you travel around August. Even in October, lows of 79°F (26°C) make an extra layer worth the space.
Dakar temperature records (2015-2024)
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ.