Nouakchott, Mauritania Climate & Monthly Averages

The climate of Nouakchott

Nouakchott works on a dry budget: 2.3 inches (60 mm) of precipitation a year, spread over roughly 9 days. Temperature does the varying instead, from 84°F (29°C) on a typical January afternoon to 97°F (36°C) in October, with nights 11°C below the day.

Climate quick facts

• Hottest month: October - highs near 97°F (36°C)
• Coldest month: January - highs near 84°F (29°C)
• Decade extremes (2015-2024): 116°F (47°C) high · 52°F (11°C) low
• Wettest month: August (3 rainy days) · Sunniest: April (11.7 h sun/day)
• Climate type: tropical wet-and-dry
• Annual swing: 7°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 11°C
• Months averaging 30°C or hotter: 9
• Average humidity: 47%

Temperatures through the year

January sits at the other end of the year: 84°F (29°C) by day, 62°F (17°C) at night. October is the warm end of the year, averaging 97°F (36°C) by day and 77°F (25°C) overnight. 10 months average under 20 mm of rain, the longest unbroken stretch running October through July.

Rain, sun and snow

Days and nights are about 11°C apart on average - wider than roughly 79% of the cities we track. Between the average October and the average January lie 7°C, a narrower spread than about 81% of the cities we track. August is the wettest month at 21 mm (0.8 in) over 3 days; January is the driest. April is the brightest month at 11.7 hours of sun a day, against an annual average of 10.6 - sunnier than roughly 85% of the cities we track. The gridded 2015-2024 daily record for this location tops out at 116°F (47°C) and bottoms at 52°F (11°C) - decade extremes, not all-time station records.

How Nouakchott compares

• Annual precipitation is 2.3 inches (60 mm) - drier than almost every other city we track.
• Rain or snow reaches the ground on 9 days a year - fewer wet days than almost every other city we track.
• 87% of the year's precipitation falls in its wettest three months - more seasonal than any other city in our 3496-city dataset.

Ranked against every city in our dataset, each measured on the same ten-year window.

Best time to visit Nouakchott

The best time to visit Nouakchott is generally January to May and July, when temperatures sit either side of the peak heat rather than in it. Daytime temperatures in that window sit near 88°F (31°C), with rain on about 0 days a month. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in January.

Pack for Nouakchott with lightweight, breathable clothing and serious sun protection. Note the gap between afternoon and night: October pairs 97°F (36°C) with 77°F (25°C).