Freetown, Sierra Leone Climate & Monthly Averages
Freetown has a tropical wet-and-dry climate. December is the hottest month, averaging 85° by day; August is the coldest at 79°.
Rain, not cold, divides the year in Freetown
Freetown's year is organised around rain rather than temperature. 63% of its 125.2 inches (3179 mm) annual total arrives in the July to September window, while February averages 4 mm (0.2 in). Temperatures move far less: 85°F (29°C) at the year's warmest against 79°F (26°C) at its coolest.
The wet-and-dry rhythm at a glance
Days and nights are about 4°C apart on average - narrower than almost anywhere else we cover. August sits at the other end of the year: 79°F (26°C) by day, 74°F (23°C) at night. Warmth peaks in December: highs of 85°F (29°C), lows of 77°F (25°C). Across the gridded 2015-2024 daily record, the highest daily maximum for this location was 94°F (35°C) and the lowest daily minimum 69°F (21°C).
Rainfall is strongly seasonal: 63% of the annual total falls in the July to September window, leaving February at 4 mm (0.2 in).
Between the average December and the average August lie 2°C, a narrower spread than all but 6% of the 3496 cities in our dataset. Relative humidity averages 84% across the year, more humid than 95% of the 3496 cities in our dataset - enough that summer afternoons feel hotter than the thermometer says, which is what the dew point converter is for. Sunshine averages 9.0 hours a day over the year, peaking in February at 10.8 hours.
More climate facts for Freetown
- Hottest month: December - highs near 85°F (29°C)
- Coldest month: August - highs near 79°F (26°C)
- Decade extremes (2015-2024): 94°F (35°C) high · 69°F (21°C) low
- Wettest month: August (30 rainy days) · Sunniest: February (10.8 h sun/day)
- Climate type: tropical wet-and-dry
- Annual swing: 2°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 4°C
- Average humidity: 84%
Choosing the right part of the year in Freetown
Choose dates by rain, not just temperature
December to April is the sweet spot for Freetown - the rains have stopped and the heat has not yet peaked. Expect 84°F (29°C) in the afternoon and around 4 days of rain in a typical month of it. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in December.
What the humidity changes
Pack for Freetown with light clothing for the warm months, proper waterproofs rather than an umbrella - wet days are the norm here and moisture-wicking fabrics for the humidity. December nights average 77°F (25°C), so evenings rarely match the afternoons.
Warm all year: the monthly rain pattern
Each card shows the average high and low. The bar places that month between Freetown's coldest night and warmest afternoon.
January
- Rain
- 2 days
- Sunshine
- 10.4 h
- Daylight
- 11.7 h
February
- Rain
- 1 day
- Sunshine
- 10.8 h
- Daylight
- 11.8 h
March
- Rain
- 3 days
- Sunshine
- 10.7 h
- Daylight
- 12.1 h
April
- Rain
- 8 days
- Sunshine
- 10.4 h
- Daylight
- 12.3 h
May
- Rain
- 23 days
- Sunshine
- 9.4 h
- Daylight
- 12.5 h
June
- Rain
- 29 days
- Sunshine
- 7.7 h
- Daylight
- 12.6 h
July
- Rain
- 30 days
- Sunshine
- 6.5 h
- Daylight
- 12.6 h
August
- Rain
- 30 days
- Sunshine
- 6.2 h
- Daylight
- 12.4 h
September
- Rain
- 29 days
- Sunshine
- 6.7 h
- Daylight
- 12.2 h
October
- Rain
- 30 days
- Sunshine
- 8.4 h
- Daylight
- 11.9 h
November
- Rain
- 23 days
- Sunshine
- 9.9 h
- Daylight
- 11.7 h
December
- Rain
- 7 days
- Sunshine
- 10.4 h
- Daylight
- 11.6 h
Looking for warmer alternatives? Browse warm places by month, or compare Freetown's coolest part of the year: August, July, September.
Monthly temperature and rain table
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Precipitation | Sunshine | Daylight | Wet-day chance | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 85° | 76° | 2 | 0.2 in | 10.4 h/day | 11.7 h | 6% | 79% |
| February | 85° | 76° | 1 | 0.2 in | 10.8 h/day | 11.8 h | 4% | 79% |
| March | 84° | 77° | 3 | 0.3 in | 10.7 h/day | 12.1 h | 10% | 79% |
| April | 84° | 78° | 8 | 1.4 in | 10.4 h/day | 12.3 h | 26% | 81% |
| May | 84° | 78° | 23 | 7.9 in | 9.4 h/day | 12.5 h | 75% | 84% |
| June | 82° | 75° | 29 | 16.9 in | 7.7 h/day | 12.6 h | 97% | 87% |
| July | 80° | 74° | 30 | 28.1 in | 6.5 h/day | 12.6 h | 98% | 89% |
| August | 79° | 74° | 30 | 30.2 in | 6.2 h/day | 12.4 h | 95% | 89% |
| September | 80° | 74° | 29 | 21.0 in | 6.7 h/day | 12.2 h | 97% | 89% |
| October | 82° | 75° | 30 | 11.8 in | 8.4 h/day | 11.9 h | 96% | 88% |
| November | 83° | 76° | 23 | 6.0 in | 9.9 h/day | 11.7 h | 78% | 85% |
| December | 85° | 77° | 7 | 1.0 in | 10.4 h/day | 11.6 h | 23% | 78% |
How Freetown compares for rain and warmth
- 63% of the year's precipitation falls in its wettest three months - more seasonal than 94% of the 3496 cities we track.
- Rain or snow reaches the ground on 215 days a year - more wet days than 93% of the 3496 cities we track.
- Freetown averages 79°F (26°C) across the year - warmer than 88% of the 3496 cities we track.
These comparisons use the same ten-year window for every city in the dataset.
How the calendar changes in warm-weather Freetown
March through May
Through March through May, Freetown is hot: 84°F (29°C) by day, 77°F (25°C) after dark, and rain falls on around 34 of the 90 days. Daylight is generous - around 10.2 hours of sun a day.
June through August
Through June through August, Freetown is pleasantly warm: 80°F (27°C) by day, 74°F (24°C) after dark, and rain falls on around 89 of the 90 days.
September through November
September through November in Freetown brings hot afternoons, with daytime highs averaging 82°F (28°C) and nights around 75°F (24°C); rain falls on around 82 of the 90 days.
December through February
December through February in Freetown brings hot afternoons, with daytime highs averaging 85°F (29°C) and nights around 77°F (25°C); rain comes on about 10 days over the three months. Daylight is generous - around 10.5 hours of sun a day.
Questions about heat and rain in Freetown
How humid does Freetown get?
Is Freetown cold in winter?
How much does the weather change through the year in Freetown?
When is monsoon season in Freetown?
How does Freetown compare to other cities?
How sunny is Freetown?
Freetown temperature extremes in the 2015–2024 dataset
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ. Need another precipitation unit? Use the rainfall converter.