Nouakchott, Mauritania Climate & Monthly Averages
Nouakchott has a tropical wet-and-dry climate. October is the hottest month, averaging 97° by day; January is the coldest at 84°.
Nouakchott's climate runs on sunshine and sparse rain
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.
What the dry climate changes
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.
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.
More climate facts for Nouakchott
- 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%
Heat, cold and scarce precipitation in the dataset
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ. Need another precipitation unit? Use the rainfall converter.
When the dry weather is easiest to use
Avoiding the hardest heat or cold
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.
Prepare for sun and cooler nights
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).
Monthly heat and rainfall table
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Precipitation | Sunshine | Daylight | Wet-day chance | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 84° | 62° | 0 | 0.0 in | 9.6 h/day | 11.2 h | 0% | 23% |
| February | 86° | 64° | 0 | 0.0 in | 10.4 h/day | 11.5 h | 1% | 29% |
| March | 89° | 65° | 0 | 0.0 in | 11.1 h/day | 12.0 h | 0% | 38% |
| April | 90° | 68° | 0 | 0.0 in | 11.7 h/day | 12.5 h | 0% | 48% |
| May | 90° | 70° | 0 | 0.0 in | 11.7 h/day | 13.0 h | 1% | 52% |
| June | 93° | 74° | 0 | 0.0 in | 11.2 h/day | 13.2 h | 1% | 53% |
| July | 86° | 75° | 2 | 0.4 in | 10.8 h/day | 13.1 h | 5% | 73% |
| August | 88° | 78° | 3 | 0.8 in | 10.6 h/day | 12.7 h | 10% | 74% |
| September | 93° | 79° | 2 | 0.8 in | 10.6 h/day | 12.2 h | 7% | 66% |
| October | 97° | 77° | 1 | 0.1 in | 10.3 h/day | 11.7 h | 3% | 47% |
| November | 92° | 69° | 0 | 0.0 in | 9.8 h/day | 11.3 h | 0% | 33% |
| December | 85° | 64° | 0 | 0.0 in | 9.5 h/day | 11.0 h | 0% | 28% |
How daytime heat and cool nights change by month
Each card shows the average high and low. The bar places that month between Nouakchott's coldest night and warmest afternoon.
January
- Rain
- 0 days
- Sunshine
- 9.6 h
- Daylight
- 11.2 h
February
- Rain
- 0 days
- Sunshine
- 10.4 h
- Daylight
- 11.5 h
March
- Rain
- 0 days
- Sunshine
- 11.1 h
- Daylight
- 12.0 h
April
- Rain
- 0 days
- Sunshine
- 11.7 h
- Daylight
- 12.5 h
May
- Rain
- 0 days
- Sunshine
- 11.7 h
- Daylight
- 13.0 h
June
- Rain
- 0 days
- Sunshine
- 11.2 h
- Daylight
- 13.2 h
July
- Rain
- 2 days
- Sunshine
- 10.8 h
- Daylight
- 13.1 h
August
- Rain
- 3 days
- Sunshine
- 10.6 h
- Daylight
- 12.7 h
September
- Rain
- 2 days
- Sunshine
- 10.6 h
- Daylight
- 12.2 h
October
- Rain
- 1 day
- Sunshine
- 10.3 h
- Daylight
- 11.7 h
November
- Rain
- 0 days
- Sunshine
- 9.8 h
- Daylight
- 11.3 h
December
- Rain
- 0 days
- Sunshine
- 9.5 h
- Daylight
- 11.0 h
Looking for warmer alternatives? Browse warm places by month, or compare Nouakchott's coolest part of the year: January, December, July.
Heat and cold across the Nouakchott year
March through May
March through May in Nouakchott runs hot, with daytime highs averaging 90°F (32°C) and nights around 68°F (20°C); precipitation is essentially absent. Daylight is generous - around 11.5 hours of sun a day.
June through August
June through August brings hot afternoons here - highs near 89°F (32°C), nights near 75°F (24°C), and precipitation is sparse, near 1.3 inches (33 mm) for the season. Daylight is generous - around 10.9 hours of sun a day.
September through November
Through September through November, Nouakchott runs at full heat: 94°F (34°C) by day, 75°F (24°C) after dark, and precipitation is sparse, near 23 mm (0.9 in) for the season. Daylight is generous - around 10.2 hours of sun a day.
December through February
December through February runs hot here - highs near 85°F (30°C), nights near 63°F (17°C), and precipitation is essentially absent.
How unusual is Nouakchott?
- 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.
These comparisons use the same ten-year window for every city in the dataset.