AI-generatedNairobi at a glance
- Best time
- Jun – Oct, Dec – Mar
- Warmest month
- Feb · 27°
- Sunshine a year
- 2,130 h
- Rain a year
- 585 mm
- Climate
- Subtropical
- Time zone
- UTC+3
- Elevation
- 1,684 m
Climate in Nairobi
Nairobi has a subtropical climate with warm summers and mild winters. February is the warmest month with average highs of 27 °C, while July is the coolest at 22 °C. With around 2,130 hours of sunshine a year, Nairobi is moderately sunny; February is the sunniest month with 7.5 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Excellent
Best time to visit: June – October, December – March
Good forSightseeing & walks
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 18°
- Midday, 13:00: about 25°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 25°
- Evening, 20:00: about 20°
- Night, 23:00: about 18°
06:1418:22
Pleasant evenings; a light layer can help.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 06:01–06:42 · evening 17:55–18:35
- Blue hour
- Morning 05:53–06:01 · evening 18:35–18:43
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 Nairobi in October?
In October, Nairobi is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 38 mm. All in all, October is an excellent month for a holiday in Nairobi.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 12 h 8 min06:14 – 18:22
- UV index
- 16 · extremeclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 16 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 67 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or more
- Time zone
- UTC+3Africa/Nairobi
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %100 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %52 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %70 %
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
- A jumper for the evenings
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Sunshine hours in Nairobi
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 6.1 of 12.1 hours of daylight in Nairobi, 50 % 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 Nairobi
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 16 · extremeAvoid the midday sun; SPF 50+, covering clothes, hat and sunglasses.
The sun is strongest in March (UV 16).
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 Nairobi: 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, Nairobi has about 8 rainy days with 38 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Nairobi
How breezy and how cloudy Nairobi 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 Nairobi typically peaks at 16 km/h during the day: Beaufort 3, light breeze.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 67 % of the sky over Nairobi: mostly cloudy, with about 6.1 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.
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Nairobi
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Cool 8–15°
- Pleasant 15–20°
PleasantOctober: nights around 15°. Ideal for sleeping, often with the window open.
The coolest nights are in July (13°), the warmest in April (16°). Nights are pleasant for sleeping (15 to 20 °C) from October to May.
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 | 89 | 26° | 15° | 7.3 h | 6 | 34 |
| FebruaryFeb | 94 | 27° | 15° | 7.5 h | 5 | 29 |
| MarchMar | 80 | 27° | 16° | 6.9 h | 10 | 56 |
| AprilApr | 59 | 25° | 16° | 5.8 h | 20 | 120 |
| MayMay | 64 | 23° | 15° | 5.5 h | 15 | 89 |
| JuneJun | 79 | 22° | 14° | 4.6 h | 7 | 37 |
| JulyJul | 83 | 22° | 13° | 3.9 h | 4 | 14 |
| AugustAug | 83 | 23° | 13° | 4.2 h | 4 | 22 |
| SeptemberSep | 89 | 24° | 13° | 5.8 h | 4 | 19 |
| OctoberOct | 81 | 25° | 15° | 6.1 h | 8 | 38 |
| NovemberNov | 62 | 23° | 15° | 5.9 h | 17 | 82 |
| DecemberDec | 80 | 24° | 15° | 6.7 h | 10 | 46 |
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
1.28° S, 36.82° E · 1,684 m · Africa/Nairobi
Best time to visit Nairobi
The best time to visit Nairobi is from June to October and from December to March. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from June to October and from December to March. Rain is most frequent from April to May and in November; the wettest month is April with 120 mm.
Nairobi through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Nairobi in spring
Sep – Nov
Good
- 23–25 °C by day
- 6 h of sun a day
- 29 rainy days in all
Nairobi in summer
Dec – Feb
Excellent
- 24–27 °C by day
- 7 h of sun a day
- 21 rainy days in all
Nairobi in autumn
Mar – May
Good
- 23–27 °C by day
- 6 h of sun a day
- 46 rainy days in all
Nairobi in winter
Jun – Aug
Excellent
- 22–23 °C by day
- 4 h of sun a day
- 15 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Nairobi for you.
Your best months: July – September
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Nairobi
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
February has the better holiday weather in Nairobi: score 94 against 81. In February, days are 2 °C warmer than in October. February has 3 fewer rainy days. The sun shines an hour longer a day in February.
| Month | October | February |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 81 | 94better |
| Day high | 25° | 27° |
| Night low | 15° | 15° |
| Sunshine | 6.1 h | 7.5 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 8 | 5better |
| Rainfall | 38 mm | 29 mm |
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
Jun – Oct, Dec – Mar
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
Apr – May, Nov
12 or more rainy days
Nairobi month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
89January26° · 7 h
In January, Nairobi is warm: daytime highs average 26 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain falls on about 6 days, adding up to 34 mm. All in all, January is an excellent month for a holiday in Nairobi.
Nairobi in January94February27° · 8 h
In February, Nairobi is warm: daytime highs average 27 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 5 days bring 29 mm in total. All in all, February is an excellent month for a holiday in Nairobi.
Nairobi in February80March27° · 7 h
In March, Nairobi is warm: daytime highs average 27 °C, and nights cool down to about 16 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 56 mm in total. All in all, March is an excellent month for a holiday in Nairobi.
Nairobi in March59April25° · 6 h
In April, Nairobi is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and nights cool down to about 16 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 20 days, adding up to 120 mm. All in all, April is a so-so month for a holiday in Nairobi.
Nairobi in April64May23° · 6 h
In May, Nairobi is warm: daytime highs average 23 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 89 mm. All in all, May is a good month for a holiday in Nairobi.
Nairobi in May79June22° · 5 h
In June, Nairobi is warm: daytime highs average 22 °C, and nights cool down to about 14 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 7 days, adding up to 37 mm. All in all, June is a good month for a holiday in Nairobi.
Nairobi in June83July22° · 4 h
In July, Nairobi is warm: daytime highs average 22 °C, and nights cool down to about 13 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 4 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 4 days bring 14 mm in total. All in all, July is an excellent month for a holiday in Nairobi.
Nairobi in July83August23° · 4 h
In August, Nairobi is warm: daytime highs average 23 °C, and nights cool down to about 13 °C. Expect around 4 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is rare: about 4 days bring 22 mm in total. All in all, August is an excellent month for a holiday in Nairobi.
Nairobi in August89September24° · 6 h
In September, Nairobi is warm: daytime highs average 24 °C, and nights cool down to about 13 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is rare: about 4 days bring 19 mm in total. All in all, September is an excellent month for a holiday in Nairobi.
Nairobi in September81October25° · 6 h
In October, Nairobi is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 38 mm. All in all, October is an excellent month for a holiday in Nairobi.
Nairobi in October62November23° · 6 h
In November, Nairobi is warm: daytime highs average 23 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 17 days, adding up to 82 mm. All in all, November is a good month for a holiday in Nairobi.
Nairobi in November80December24° · 7 h
In December, Nairobi is warm: daytime highs average 24 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 46 mm in total. All in all, December is an excellent month for a holiday in Nairobi.
Nairobi in DecemberNairobi compared
Put Nairobi side by side with another destination.
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Nairobi vs. Arusha
In October Arusha has the better holiday weather (score 87 vs. 81). During the day Arusha is 1 °C warmer than Nairobi.
| in October | Nairobi | Arusha |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 81 | 87 |
| Daytime high | 25° | 26° |
| Sunshine | 6 h | 6 h |
| Rainy days | 8 | 6 |
| Best time | Jun – Oct, Dec – Mar | Jan – Feb, May – Oct |
Through the year
Kenya in October: the best places
In October, Nairobi ranks 1 of 3 destinations in this country.
- NairobiThis page25°81
- 2Mombasa29°27°76
- 3Diani Beach28°27°76
Planning a trip to Nairobi
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Nairobi 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.
Nairobi has its best school-holiday weather during the Christmas holidays (score 85) and its weakest during the Easter holidays (score 65).
- 65
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Good
- 25 °C by day
- 6.1 h of sun a day
- 17 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 67
May half-term
May – Jun
Good
- 23 °C by day
- 5.3 h of sun a day
- 14 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 83
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
Excellent
- 22 °C by day
- 4.1 h of sun a day
- 4 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 81
October half-term
Oct
Excellent
- 25 °C by day
- 6.1 h of sun a day
- 8 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 85
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
ExcellentBest holidays
- 25 °C by day
- 7.0 h of sun a day
- 8 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 8 h 45 min
- Distance
- 6,830 km
- Time zone
- UTC+3
- 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 Nairobi
When is the best time to visit Nairobi?
The best time to visit Nairobi is from June to October and from December to March. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
What is the warmest month in Nairobi?
February is the warmest month, with average highs of 27 °C and nights around 15 °C. July is the coolest month at 22 °C.
When does it rain most in Nairobi?
Rain is most frequent from April to May and in November; the wettest month is April with 120 mm. The driest month is July with 14 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Nairobi get?
Nairobi gets around 2,130 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is February with 7.5 hours a day; in July there are 3.9 hours a day.
What time zone is Nairobi in?
Nairobi uses the time zone Africa/Nairobi, at UTC+3 all year.
How long is the flight from London to Nairobi?
A nonstop flight from London to Nairobi takes about 8 h 45 min, for a straight-line distance of about 6,830 km.
Which school holidays are best for Nairobi?
Nairobi has its best school-holiday weather during the Christmas holidays (score 85) and its weakest during the Easter holidays (score 65). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 65, May half-term 67, Summer holidays 83, October half-term 81, Christmas holidays 85.
Near Nairobi
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Nairobi
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Nairobi's – good alternatives.