AI-generatedBamako at a glance
- Best time
- Dec – Jan
- Warmest month
- Apr · 39°
- Sunshine a year
- 2,730 h
- Rain a year
- 785 mm
- Climate
- Tropical
- Time zone
- UTC+0
- Elevation
- 374 m
Climate in Bamako
Bamako has a tropical climate: it is warm all year round, and the seasons differ mainly in how much rain falls. April is the warmest month with average highs of 39 °C, while August is the coolest at 29 °C. With around 2,730 hours of sunshine a year, Bamako is sunny; November is the sunniest month with 8.5 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Fair
Best time to visit: December – January
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 26°
- Midday, 13:00: about 32°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 32°
- Evening, 20:00: about 27°
- Night, 23:00: about 25°
06:2118:14
Warm enough for a T-shirt in the evening.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 06:08–06:50 · evening 17:45–18:27
- Blue hour
- Morning 06:00–06:08 · evening 18:27–18:35
Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.
What is the weather like in Bamako in October?
In October, Bamako is hot: daytime highs average 32 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 23 °C. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain falls on about 9 days, adding up to 45 mm. On about 27 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in Bamako.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 11 h 52 min06:21 – 18:14
- UV index
- 11 · extremeclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 27 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 11 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 53 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 27 days30 °C or moreAll months
- Time zone
- UTC+0Africa/Bamako
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %35 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %75 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %68 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “City break”.
What to pack in October
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses & sun hat
- Light, breathable clothes
- Water bottle – drink plenty
- Insect repellent
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Sunshine hours in Bamako
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 7.5 of 11.9 hours of daylight in Bamako, 63 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: estimated from radiation data (ERA5, 1996–2025) and calibrated against measured station values; no weather station is close enough here. Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
UV index in Bamako
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 11 · extremeAvoid the midday sun; SPF 50+, covering clothes, hat and sunglasses.
The sun is strongest in August (UV 13).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 10 min
- Fair skin
- about 15 min
- Light brown skin
- about 20 min
- Olive skin
- about 25 min
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen it, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Rain in Bamako: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Bamako has about 9 rainy days with 45 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Bamako
How breezy and how cloudy Bamako is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.
Wind
Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.
In October, the wind in Bamako typically peaks at 11 km/h during the day: Beaufort 2, light air.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 53 % of the sky over Bamako: variable cloud, with about 7.5 hours of sunshine a day.
Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.
Heat and humidity in Bamako
How often the day gets hot in Bamako (30 °C and more), and in which months heat and humidity come together. Tap a month to select it.
Heat calendar
- pleasant
- some hot or muggy days
- often muggy
- often hot
- hot and muggy
In October, Bamako has about 27 hot days, with an average daytime high of 32 °C: hot and muggy. Plan outdoor activities for the morning and evening, drink a lot and take breaks in the cool.
Hot days reach at least 30 °C; a month counts as muggy when the mean dew point reaches 18 °C on at least 15 days. Averages from ERA5 and ERA5-Land, 1996–2025. Muggy nights through the year
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Bamako
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Pleasant 15–20°
- Warm 20–24°
- Hot 24° and more
- muggy month (10+ muggy days)
WarmOctober: nights around 23°. Tropical nights: a fan or air conditioning helps. Muggy on about 27 days (dew point 18 °C or more).
The coolest nights are in January (18°), the warmest in May (26°). Tropical nights of 20 °C and more are the rule from February to November; then air conditioning or a fan helps you sleep. Nights are pleasant for sleeping (15 to 20 °C) from December to January. It is muggy (dew point 18 °C or more) on about 172 days a year, mostly from May to October.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 62 | 33° | 18° | 8.0 h | 0 | 1 |
| FebruaryFeb | 48 | 35° | 20° | 8.3 h | 0 | 1 |
| MarchMar | 48 | 38° | 24° | 8.3 h | 0 | 1 |
| AprilApr | 47 | 39° | 26° | 8.1 h | 2 | 6 |
| MayMay | 42 | 38° | 26° | 8.1 h | 7 | 26 |
| JuneJun | 30 | 35° | 25° | 8.0 h | 13 | 86 |
| JulyJul | 41 | 30° | 23° | 5.9 h | 22 | 205 |
| AugustAug | 46 | 29° | 22° | 4.9 h | 24 | 251 |
| SeptemberSep | 43 | 30° | 22° | 6.1 h | 20 | 161 |
| OctoberOct | 53 | 32° | 23° | 7.5 h | 9 | 45 |
| NovemberNov | 53 | 34° | 21° | 8.5 h | 0 | 2 |
| DecemberDec | 61 | 33° | 18° | 8.1 h | 0 | 0 |
Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences
12.61° N, 7.98° W · 374 m · Africa/Bamako
Best time to visit Bamako
The best time to visit Bamako is from December to January. From February to June and in November it can get very hot, with highs of up to 39 °C. Rain is most frequent from June to September; the wettest month is August with 251 mm.
Bamako through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Bamako in the dry season
Oct – May
Fair
- 32–39 °C by day
- 8 h of sun a day
- 18 rainy days in all
Bamako in the rainy season
Jun – Sep
Fair
- 29–35 °C by day
- 6 h of sun a day
- 79 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Bamako for you.
Your best months: February – March, November
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Bamako
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
January has the better holiday weather in Bamako: score 62 against 53. In January, days are 1 °C warmer than in October. January has 9 fewer rainy days. The sun shines an hour longer a day in January.
| Month | October | January |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 53 | 62better |
| Day high | 32° | 33° |
| Night low | 23° | 18° |
| Sunshine | 7.5 h | 8.0 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 9 | 0better |
| Rainfall | 45 mm | 1 mmbetter |
| Muggy days | 27 | 0better |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
No sea nearby
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
No month
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Peak heat
Feb – Jun, Nov
Highs of 33 °C or more
Rainy months
Jun – Sep
12 or more rainy days
Bamako month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
62January33° · 8 h
In January, Bamako is hot: daytime highs average 33 °C, and nights cool down to about 18 °C. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. It hardly ever rains. On about 28 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. All in all, January is a good month for a holiday in Bamako.
Bamako in January48February35° · 8 h
In February, Bamako is very hot: daytime highs average 35 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 20 °C. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. It hardly ever rains. On about 27 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. All in all, February is a so-so month for a holiday in Bamako.
Bamako in February48March38° · 8 h
In March, Bamako is very hot: daytime highs average 38 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. It hardly ever rains. On about 31 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. All in all, March is a so-so month for a holiday in Bamako.
Bamako in March47April39° · 8 h
In April, Bamako is very hot: daytime highs average 39 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 26 °C. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. It hardly ever rains. On about 30 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. All in all, April is a so-so month for a holiday in Bamako.
Bamako in April42May38° · 8 h
In May, Bamako is very hot: daytime highs average 38 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 26 °C. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain falls on about 7 days, adding up to 26 mm. On about 31 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, May is a so-so month for a holiday in Bamako.
Bamako in May30June35° · 8 h
In June, Bamako is very hot: daytime highs average 35 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 86 mm in total. On about 29 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, June is not an ideal month for a holiday in Bamako.
Bamako in June41July30° · 6 h
In July, Bamako is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 23 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 22 days, totalling 205 mm. On about 16 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, July is a so-so month for a holiday in Bamako.
Bamako in July46August29° · 5 h
In August, Bamako is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 22 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 24 days, totalling 251 mm. On about 6 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, August is a so-so month for a holiday in Bamako.
Bamako in August43September30° · 6 h
In September, Bamako is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 22 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 20 days, totalling 161 mm. On about 14 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, September is a so-so month for a holiday in Bamako.
Bamako in September53October32° · 8 h
In October, Bamako is hot: daytime highs average 32 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 23 °C. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain falls on about 9 days, adding up to 45 mm. On about 27 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in Bamako.
Bamako in October53November34° · 9 h
In November, Bamako is very hot: daytime highs average 34 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 21 °C. The sun shines for around 9 hours a day. It hardly ever rains. On about 30 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. All in all, November is a so-so month for a holiday in Bamako.
Bamako in November61December33° · 8 h
In December, Bamako is hot: daytime highs average 33 °C, and nights cool down to about 18 °C. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. It hardly ever rains. On about 28 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. All in all, December is a good month for a holiday in Bamako.
Bamako in DecemberBamako compared
Put Bamako side by side with another destination.
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Bamako vs. Ouagadougou
In October Bamako has the better holiday weather (score 53 vs. 47). During the day Ouagadougou is 3 °C warmer than Bamako.
| in October | Bamako | Ouagadougou |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 53 | 47 |
| Daytime high | 32° | 35° |
| Sunshine | 8 h | 8 h |
| Rainy days | 9 | 5 |
| Best time | Dec – Jan | Dec – Jan |
Through the year
Mali in October: the best places
In October, Bamako ranks 1 of 2 destinations in this country.
- BamakoThis page32°53
- 2Timbuktu38°49
Planning a trip to Bamako
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Bamako in the school holidays
How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.
Bamako has its best school-holiday weather during the Christmas holidays (score 62) and its weakest during May half-term (score 40).
- 47
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Fair
- 39 °C by day
- 8.2 h of sun a day
- 1 rainy day a month
Keep in mind: Peak heat
- 40
May half-term
May – Jun
Fair
- 37 °C by day
- 8.1 h of sun a day
- 8 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Peak heat
- 44
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
Fair
- 29 °C by day
- 5.3 h of sun a day
- 23 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 53
October half-term
Oct
Fair
- 32 °C by day
- 7.5 h of sun a day
- 9 rainy days a month
- 62
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
GoodBest holidays
- 33 °C by day
- 8.1 h of sun a day
- 0 rainy days a month
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 5 h 45 min
- Distance
- 4,370 km
- Time zone
- UTC+0
- Jet lag
- Hardly any (under 3 h)
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Frequently asked questions about Bamako
When is the best time to visit Bamako?
The best time to visit Bamako is from December to January. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
What is the warmest month in Bamako?
April is the warmest month, with average highs of 39 °C and nights around 26 °C. August is the coolest month at 29 °C.
When does it rain most in Bamako?
Rain is most frequent from June to September; the wettest month is August with 251 mm. The driest month is December with 0 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Bamako get?
Bamako gets around 2,730 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is November with 8.5 hours a day; in August there are 4.9 hours a day.
What time zone is Bamako in?
Bamako uses the time zone Africa/Bamako, which matches UTC all year.
How long is the flight from London to Bamako?
A nonstop flight from London to Bamako takes about 5 h 45 min, for a straight-line distance of about 4,370 km.
Which school holidays are best for Bamako?
Bamako has its best school-holiday weather during the Christmas holidays (score 62) and its weakest during May half-term (score 40). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 47, May half-term 40, Summer holidays 44, October half-term 53, Christmas holidays 62.
Near Bamako
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Bamako
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Bamako's – good alternatives.