AI-generatedDakar at a glance
- Best time
- Dec – Jun
- Warmest month
- Oct · 30°
- Warmest sea
- Oct · 28.5°
- Sunshine a year
- 2,920 h
- Rain a year
- 305 mm
- Climate
- Tropical
- Time zone
- UTC+0
- Elevation
- 12 m
Climate in Dakar
Dakar has a tropical climate: it is warm all year round, and the seasons differ mainly in how much rain falls. October is the warmest month with average highs of 30 °C, while April is the coolest at 25 °C. With around 2,920 hours of sunshine a year, Dakar is sunny; May is the sunniest month with 9.6 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Good
Best time to visit: December – June
Good forBeach & swimming
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 27°
- Midday, 13:00: about 30°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 30°
- Evening, 20:00: about 28°
- Night, 23:00: about 27°
07:0118:50
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 06:47–07:29 · evening 18:22–19:03
- Blue hour
- Morning 06:39–06:47 · evening 19:03–19:12
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 Dakar in October?
In October, Dakar is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 26 °C. The sea averages 28.5 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 4 days bring 23 mm in total. On about 19 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, October is a good month for a holiday in Dakar.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 11 h 50 min07:01 – 18:50
- UV index
- 11 · extremeclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 31 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 17 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 43 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 19 days30 °C or moreAll months
- Time zone
- UTC+0Africa/Dakar
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %59 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %87 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %100 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “City break”.
What to pack in October
- Swimwear
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses & sun hat
- Light, breathable clothes
- Water bottle – drink plenty
- Insect repellent
Sea temperature in Dakar
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 27.8 – 29.3 °C
Swimming season: Apr – Jan
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in Dakar ranges from 19.3 °C in March to 28.5 °C in October. It is warm enough for a comfortable swim (20 °C and more) from April to January.
The sea temperature varies from year to year: in October, eight out of ten years were between 27.8 and 29.3 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 21.1° | 19.5° | 23.2° | refreshing |
| FebruaryFeb | 19.5° | 17.5° | 21.8° | fresh |
| MarchMar | 19.3° | 18.1° | 20.9° | fresh |
| AprilApr | 20.1° | 18.9° | 21.3° | refreshing |
| MayMay | 22.0° | 20.8° | 24.0° | refreshing |
| JuneJun | 25.3° | 24.0° | 26.4° | pleasant |
| JulyJul | 27.3° | 26.5° | 28.2° | warm |
| AugustAug | 28.1° | 27.4° | 28.9° | warm |
| SeptemberSep | 28.4° | 28.0° | 28.9° | warm |
| OctoberOct | 28.5° | 27.8° | 29.3° | warm |
| NovemberNov | 26.9° | 25.4° | 28.2° | warm |
| DecemberDec | 23.9° | 23.0° | 25.3° | pleasant |
Sunshine hours in Dakar
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 8.2 of 11.8 hours of daylight in Dakar, 69 % 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 Dakar
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 15 min
- Fair skin
- about 15 min
- Light brown skin
- about 20 min
- Olive skin
- about 30 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 Dakar: 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, Dakar has about 4 rainy days with 23 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Dakar
How breezy and how cloudy Dakar 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 Dakar typically peaks at 17 km/h during the day: Beaufort 3, light breeze.
Breezy months for windsurfing and kiting
From Beaufort 4 (20 km/h) the daily breeze is usually enough for windsurfing and often for kiting: Nov – May.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 43 % of the sky over Dakar: mostly sunny, with about 8.2 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 Dakar
How often the day gets hot in Dakar (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, Dakar has about 19 hot days, with an average daytime high of 30 °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 Dakar
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Warm 20–24°
- Hot 24° and more
- muggy month (10+ muggy days)
HotOctober: nights around 26°. Hot nights: air conditioning makes sleeping much easier. Muggy on about 31 days (dew point 18 °C or more).
The coolest nights are in February (20°), the warmest in October (26°). Nights stay tropical all year (20 °C and more), so a room with air conditioning or at least a fan pays off. It is muggy (dew point 18 °C or more) on about 206 days a year, mostly from May to November.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sea | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 95 | 27° | 20° | 21.1° | 7.6 h | 0 | 2 |
| FebruaryFeb | 96 | 26° | 20° | 19.5° | 7.8 h | 0 | 0 |
| MarchMar | 99 | 26° | 20° | 19.3° | 8.8 h | 0 | 0 |
| AprilApr | 100 | 25° | 20° | 20.1° | 9.4 h | 0 | 0 |
| MayMay | 100 | 26° | 21° | 22.0° | 9.6 h | 0 | 0 |
| JuneJun | 95 | 28° | 23° | 25.3° | 9.2 h | 1 | 2 |
| JulyJul | 81 | 29° | 25° | 27.3° | 7.4 h | 5 | 36 |
| AugustAug | 56 | 29° | 26° | 28.1° | 5.9 h | 14 | 141 |
| SeptemberSep | 60 | 29° | 26° | 28.4° | 6.5 h | 12 | 101 |
| OctoberOct | 77 | 30° | 26° | 28.5° | 8.2 h | 4 | 23 |
| NovemberNov | 77 | 30° | 24° | 26.9° | 8.0 h | 0 | 1 |
| DecemberDec | 88 | 28° | 22° | 23.9° | 7.4 h | 0 | 1 |
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
14.69° N, 17.44° W · 12 m · Africa/Dakar
Best time to visit Dakar
The best time to visit Dakar is from December to June. For a beach holiday with the sea above 21 °C, go from May to July and from October to January. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from January to June. Rain is most frequent from August to September; the wettest month is August with 141 mm.
Dakar through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Dakar in the dry season
Oct – Jul
Excellent
- 25–30 °C by day
- Sea 23 °C
- 8 h of sun a day
- 10 rainy days in all
Dakar in the rainy season
Aug – Sep
Fair
- 29 °C by day
- Sea 28 °C
- 6 h of sun a day
- 26 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Dakar for you.
Your best months: March – May
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Dakar
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
April has the better holiday weather in Dakar: score 100 against 77. In April, days are 5 °C cooler than in October. The sea is 8 °C cooler in April. April has 4 fewer rainy days. The sun shines an hour longer a day in April.
| Month | October | April |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 77 | 100better |
| Day high | 30° | 25° |
| Night low | 26° | 20° |
| Sea | 28.5° | 20.1° |
| Sunshine | 8.2 h | 9.4 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 4 | 0better |
| Rainfall | 23 mm | 0 mmbetter |
| Muggy days | 31 | 5better |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
May – Jul, Oct – Jan
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
Jan – Jun
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
Aug – Sep
12 or more rainy days
Dakar month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
95January27° · Sea 21° · 8 h
In January, Dakar is warm: daytime highs average 27 °C, and nights cool down to about 20 °C. The sea averages 21.1 °C – refreshing for a swim. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. It hardly ever rains. All in all, January is an excellent month for a holiday in Dakar.
Dakar in January96February26° · Sea 20° · 8 h
In February, Dakar is warm: daytime highs average 26 °C, and nights cool down to about 20 °C. The sea averages 19.5 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. It hardly ever rains. All in all, February is an excellent month for a holiday in Dakar.
Dakar in February99March26° · Sea 19° · 9 h
In March, Dakar is warm: daytime highs average 26 °C, and nights cool down to about 20 °C. The sea averages 19.3 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. The sun shines for around 9 hours a day. It hardly ever rains. All in all, March is an excellent month for a holiday in Dakar.
Dakar in March100April25° · Sea 20° · 9 h
In April, Dakar is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and nights cool down to about 20 °C. The sea averages 20.1 °C – refreshing for a swim. With around 9 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. It hardly ever rains. All in all, April is an excellent month for a holiday in Dakar.
Dakar in April100May26° · Sea 22° · 10 h
In May, Dakar is warm: daytime highs average 26 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 21 °C. The sea averages 22.0 °C – refreshing for a swim. With around 10 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. It hardly ever rains. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, May is an excellent month for a holiday in Dakar.
Dakar in May95June28° · Sea 25° · 9 h
In June, Dakar is hot: daytime highs average 28 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 23 °C. The sea averages 25.3 °C – pleasant for swimming. With around 9 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. It hardly ever rains. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, June is an excellent month for a holiday in Dakar.
Dakar in June81July29° · Sea 27° · 7 h
In July, Dakar is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 27.3 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain falls on about 5 days, adding up to 36 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, July is an excellent month for a holiday in Dakar.
Dakar in July56August29° · Sea 28° · 6 h
In August, Dakar is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 26 °C. The sea averages 28.1 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 14 days, totalling 141 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, August is a so-so month for a holiday in Dakar.
Dakar in August60September29° · Sea 28° · 7 h
In September, Dakar is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 26 °C. The sea averages 28.4 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 101 mm in total. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, September is a good month for a holiday in Dakar.
Dakar in September77October30° · Sea 29° · 8 h
In October, Dakar is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 26 °C. The sea averages 28.5 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 4 days bring 23 mm in total. On about 19 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, October is a good month for a holiday in Dakar.
Dakar in October77November30° · Sea 27° · 8 h
In November, Dakar is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 26.9 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. It hardly ever rains. On about 16 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, November is a good month for a holiday in Dakar.
Dakar in November88December28° · Sea 24° · 7 h
In December, Dakar is hot: daytime highs average 28 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 22 °C. The sea averages 23.9 °C – pleasant for swimming. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. It hardly ever rains. On about 6 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. All in all, December is an excellent month for a holiday in Dakar.
Dakar in DecemberDakar compared
Put Dakar side by side with another destination.
No destination found
Dakar vs. Banjul
In October Dakar has the better holiday weather (score 77 vs. 64). During the day it is about as warm in Banjul as in Dakar. The sea is about equally warm. Banjul gets one hour less sunshine a day.
| in October | Dakar | Banjul |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 77 | 64 |
| Daytime high | 30° | 30° |
| Sea | 29° | 29° |
| Sunshine | 8 h | 7 h |
| Rainy days | 4 | 9 |
| Best time | Dec – Jun | Nov – Jun |
Through the year
Planning a trip to Dakar
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Dakar 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.
Dakar has its best school-holiday weather during the Easter holidays (score 100) and its weakest during the summer holidays (score 65).
- 100
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
ExcellentBest holidays
- 26 °C by day
- Sea 20 °C
- 9.2 h of sun a day
- 0 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 99
May half-term
May – Jun
Excellent
- 27 °C by day
- Sea 23 °C
- 9.5 h of sun a day
- 0 rainy days a month
Good for: Beach & swimming, Sightseeing & walks
- 65
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
Good
- 29 °C by day
- Sea 28 °C
- 6.4 h of sun a day
- 11 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 77
October half-term
Oct
Good
- 30 °C by day
- Sea 29 °C
- 8.2 h of sun a day
- 4 rainy days a month
Good for: Beach & swimming
- 92
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Excellent
- 27 °C by day
- Sea 23 °C
- 7.5 h of sun a day
- 0 rainy days a month
Good for: Beach & swimming
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 5 h 45 min
- Distance
- 4,360 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 Dakar
When is the best time to visit Dakar?
The best time to visit Dakar is from December to June. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
How warm is the sea in Dakar?
The sea temperature in Dakar ranges from 19.3 °C in March to 28.5 °C in October. It is warm enough for a comfortable swim (20 °C and more) from April to January.
Can you swim in Dakar in October?
Yes. In October the sea averages 28.5 °C – lovely and warm for swimming.
What is the warmest month in Dakar?
October is the warmest month, with average highs of 30 °C and nights around 26 °C. April is the coolest month at 25 °C.
When does it rain most in Dakar?
Rain is most frequent from August to September; the wettest month is August with 141 mm. The driest month is April with 0 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Dakar get?
Dakar gets around 2,920 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is May with 9.6 hours a day; in August there are 5.9 hours a day.
What time zone is Dakar in?
Dakar uses the time zone Africa/Dakar, which matches UTC all year.
How long is the flight from London to Dakar?
A nonstop flight from London to Dakar takes about 5 h 45 min, for a straight-line distance of about 4,360 km.
Which school holidays are best for Dakar?
Dakar has its best school-holiday weather during the Easter holidays (score 100) and its weakest during the summer holidays (score 65). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 100, May half-term 99, Summer holidays 65, October half-term 77, Christmas holidays 92.
Near Dakar
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Dakar
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Dakar's – good alternatives.