AI-generatedMombasa at a glance
- Best time
- Oct – Feb
- Warmest month
- Feb · 33°
- Warmest sea
- Apr · 29.0°
- Sunshine a year
- 2,670 h
- Rain a year
- 940 mm
- Climate
- Tropical
- Time zone
- UTC+3
- Elevation
- 20 m
Climate in Mombasa
Mombasa has a tropical climate: it is warm all year round, and the seasons differ mainly in how much rain falls. February is the warmest month with average highs of 33 °C, while July is the coolest at 27 °C. With around 2,670 hours of sunshine a year, Mombasa is sunny; December is the sunniest month with 8.2 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Good
Best time to visit: October – February
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 25°
- Midday, 13:00: about 29°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 28°
- Evening, 20:00: about 26°
- Night, 23:00: about 25°
06:0118:13
Warm enough for a T-shirt in the evening.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
What is the weather like in Mombasa in October?
In October, Mombasa is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 23 °C. The sea averages 26.6 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 17 days, totalling 92 mm. On about 5 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 Mombasa.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 12 h 11 min06:01 – 18:13
- UV index
- 14 · extremeclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 31 daysdew point 18 °C or more
- Wind
- 18 km/haverage daily peak
- Cloud cover
- 49 %on average
- Hot days
- 5 days30 °C or more
- Time zone
- UTC+3Africa/Nairobi
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 35 %100 %
- Seaweight 25 %100 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %73 %
- Few rainy daysweight 20 %6 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “Sun, sea & sand”.
What to pack in October
- Swimwear
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses & sun hat
- Light, breathable clothes
- Insect repellent
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Sea temperature in Mombasa
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 26.2 – 27.1 °C
Swimming season: All year
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in Mombasa ranges from 25.5 °C in August to 29.0 °C in April. At 20 °C and more, the sea is warm enough for swimming all year round.
The sea warms up slowly: it is warmest in April, while the air already peaks in February. The sea temperature varies from year to year: in April, eight out of ten years were between 28.3 and 29.6 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 27.7° | 26.9° | 28.2° | warm |
| FebruaryFeb | 28.0° | 27.4° | 28.6° | warm |
| MarchMar | 28.9° | 28.2° | 29.7° | warm |
| AprilApr | 29.0° | 28.3° | 29.6° | very warm |
| MayMay | 27.9° | 27.4° | 28.4° | warm |
| JuneJun | 26.9° | 26.4° | 27.3° | warm |
| JulyJul | 25.8° | 25.4° | 26.2° | pleasant |
| AugustAug | 25.5° | 25.1° | 25.9° | pleasant |
| SeptemberSep | 25.8° | 25.5° | 26.2° | pleasant |
| OctoberOct | 26.6° | 26.2° | 27.1° | warm |
| NovemberNov | 27.6° | 27.2° | 28.1° | warm |
| DecemberDec | 28.1° | 27.6° | 28.6° | warm |
Sunshine hours in Mombasa
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 7.4 of 12.2 hours of daylight in Mombasa, 61 % 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 Mombasa
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 14 · extremeAvoid the midday sun; SPF 50+, covering clothes, hat and sunglasses.
The sun is strongest in March (UV 14).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 10 min
- Fair skin
- about 10 min
- Light brown skin
- about 15 min
- Olive skin
- about 20 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 Mombasa: 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, Mombasa has about 17 rainy days with 92 mm of rain in total.
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
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 | 91 | 32° | 25° | 27.7° | 8.0 h | 5 | 24 |
| FebruaryFeb | 89 | 33° | 25° | 28.0° | 8.0 h | 3 | 15 |
| MarchMar | 75 | 32° | 25° | 28.9° | 7.5 h | 14 | 54 |
| AprilApr | 71 | 30° | 25° | 29.0° | 6.3 h | 24 | 148 |
| MayMay | 70 | 28° | 24° | 27.9° | 6.1 h | 23 | 190 |
| JuneJun | 73 | 27° | 23° | 26.9° | 6.9 h | 21 | 96 |
| JulyJul | 74 | 27° | 22° | 25.8° | 7.1 h | 20 | 70 |
| AugustAug | 74 | 27° | 22° | 25.5° | 7.3 h | 20 | 59 |
| SeptemberSep | 75 | 28° | 23° | 25.8° | 7.5 h | 18 | 54 |
| OctoberOct | 76 | 29° | 23° | 26.6° | 7.4 h | 17 | 92 |
| NovemberNov | 76 | 30° | 24° | 27.6° | 7.6 h | 18 | 77 |
| DecemberDec | 82 | 31° | 24° | 28.1° | 8.2 h | 14 | 61 |
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)
4.05° S, 39.66° E · 20 m · Africa/Nairobi
Best time to visit Mombasa
The best time to visit Mombasa is from October to February. For a beach holiday with the sea above 21 °C, go from January to February. Rain is most frequent from March to December; the wettest month is May with 190 mm.
Mombasa through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Mombasa in the dry season
Jan – Feb
Excellent
- 32–33 °C by day
- Sea 28 °C
- 8 h of sun a day
- 8 rainy days in all
Mombasa in the rainy season
Mar – Dec
Good
- 27–32 °C by day
- Sea 27 °C
- 7 h of sun a day
- 189 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Mombasa for you.
Your best months: January, September – October
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
Jan – Feb
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
No month
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
Mar – Dec
12 or more rainy days
Mombasa month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
91January32° · Sea 28° · 8 h
In January, Mombasa is hot: daytime highs average 32 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 27.7 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 5 days bring 24 mm in total. On about 30 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, January is an excellent month for a holiday in Mombasa.
Mombasa in January89February33° · Sea 28° · 8 h
In February, Mombasa is hot: daytime highs average 33 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 28.0 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 3 days bring 15 mm in total. On about 28 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, February is an excellent month for a holiday in Mombasa.
Mombasa in February75March32° · Sea 29° · 8 h
In March, Mombasa is hot: daytime highs average 32 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 28.9 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 14 days, totalling 54 mm. On about 29 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, March is a good month for a holiday in Mombasa.
Mombasa in March71April30° · Sea 29° · 6 h
In April, Mombasa is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 29.0 °C – almost as warm as a bath. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 24 days, totalling 148 mm. On about 12 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, April is a good month for a holiday in Mombasa.
Mombasa in April70May28° · Sea 28° · 6 h
In May, Mombasa is hot: daytime highs average 28 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 27.9 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 23 days, totalling 190 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, May is a good month for a holiday in Mombasa.
Mombasa in May73June27° · Sea 27° · 7 h
In June, Mombasa is hot: daytime highs average 27 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 23 °C. The sea averages 26.9 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 21 days, totalling 96 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, June is a good month for a holiday in Mombasa.
Mombasa in June74July27° · Sea 26° · 7 h
In July, Mombasa is warm: daytime highs average 27 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 22 °C. The sea averages 25.8 °C – pleasant for swimming. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 20 days, totalling 70 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, July is a good month for a holiday in Mombasa.
Mombasa in July74August27° · Sea 26° · 7 h
In August, Mombasa is warm: daytime highs average 27 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 22 °C. The sea averages 25.5 °C – pleasant for swimming. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 20 days, totalling 59 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, August is a good month for a holiday in Mombasa.
Mombasa in August75September28° · Sea 26° · 8 h
In September, Mombasa is hot: daytime highs average 28 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 23 °C. The sea averages 25.8 °C – pleasant for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 18 days, totalling 54 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, September is a good month for a holiday in Mombasa.
Mombasa in September76October29° · Sea 27° · 7 h
In October, Mombasa is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 23 °C. The sea averages 26.6 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 17 days, totalling 92 mm. On about 5 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 Mombasa.
Mombasa in October76November30° · Sea 28° · 8 h
In November, Mombasa is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 27.6 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 18 days, totalling 77 mm. On about 14 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 Mombasa.
Mombasa in November82December31° · Sea 28° · 8 h
In December, Mombasa is hot: daytime highs average 31 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 28.1 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 14 days, totalling 61 mm. On about 27 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, December is an excellent month for a holiday in Mombasa.
Mombasa in DecemberMombasa compared
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Mombasa vs. Diani Beach
In October the holiday weather in Mombasa and Diani Beach is about equally good (score 76 vs. 76). During the day Diani Beach is 1 °C cooler than Mombasa. The sea is about equally warm.
| in October | Mombasa | Diani Beach |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 76 | 76 |
| Daytime high | 29° | 28° |
| Sea | 27° | 27° |
| Sunshine | 7 h | 7 h |
| Rainy days | 17 | 17 |
| Best time | Oct – Feb | Dec – Mar |
Through the year
Kenya in October: the best places
In October, Mombasa ranks 1 of 2 destinations in this country.
- MombasaThis page29°27°76
- 2Diani Beach28°27°76
Planning a trip to Mombasa
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 9 h 15 min
- Distance
- 7,250 km
- Time zone
- UTC+3
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Frequently asked questions about Mombasa
When is the best time to visit Mombasa?
The best time to visit Mombasa is from October to February. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
How warm is the sea in Mombasa?
The sea temperature in Mombasa ranges from 25.5 °C in August to 29.0 °C in April. At 20 °C and more, the sea is warm enough for swimming all year round.
Can you swim in Mombasa in October?
Yes. In October the sea averages 26.6 °C – lovely and warm for swimming.
What is the warmest month in Mombasa?
February is the warmest month, with average highs of 33 °C and nights around 25 °C. July is the coolest month at 27 °C.
When does it rain most in Mombasa?
Rain is most frequent from March to December; the wettest month is May with 190 mm. The driest month is February with 15 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Mombasa get?
Mombasa gets around 2,670 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is December with 8.2 hours a day; in May there are 6.1 hours a day.
What time zone is Mombasa in?
Mombasa uses the time zone Africa/Nairobi, at UTC+3 all year.
How long is the flight from London to Mombasa?
A nonstop flight from London to Mombasa takes about 9 h 15 min, for a straight-line distance of about 7,250 km.
Near Mombasa
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Mombasa
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Mombasa's – good alternatives.