Winter
Dec → Feb23 to 27°
nights 20 to 23°
- 0 rainy days · 1 mm
- sea 22°
When is the best time to visit Dakar?
- Jan25°recommended
- Feb23°recommended
- Mar22°recommended
- Apr22°recommended
- May23°fair
- Jun25°not recommended
- Jul27°not recommended
- Aug28°not recommended
- Sep28°not recommended
- Oct29°fair
- Nov29°recommended
- Dec27°recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in Dakar, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rainfall | Rainy days | Sea | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 25° | 21° | 1 mm | 0 d | 23° | ✓ |
| February | 23° | 20° | 0 mm | 0 d | 19° | ✓ |
| March | 22° | 19° | 0 mm | 0 d | 18° | ✓ |
| April | 22° | 20° | 0 mm | 0 d | 19° | ✓ |
| May | 23° | 21° | 0 mm | 0 d | 23° | |
| June | 25° | 23° | 4 mm | 1 d | 26° | |
| July | 27° | 25° | 36 mm | 6 d | 29° | |
| August | 28° | 26° | 153 mm | 11 d | 29° | |
| September | 28° | 26° | 124 mm | 12 d | 29° | |
| October | 29° | 27° | 19 mm | 2 d | 29° | |
| November | 29° | 26° | 0 mm | 0 d | 28° | ✓ |
| December | 27° | 23° | 1 mm | 0 d | 25° | ✓ |
The four seasons in Dakar, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Le Plateau) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Spring
Mar → May22 to 23°
nights 19 to 21°
- 0 rainy days · 0 mm
- sea 20°
Summer
Jun → Aug25 to 28°
nights 23 to 26°
- 6 rainy days · 64 mm
- sea 28°
Autumn
Sep → Nov28 to 29°
nights 26 to 27°
- 5 rainy days · 48 mm
- sea 29°
Book early for November to April
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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What to do in Dakar, month by month
EventsDak'Art BiennaleMay to JuneDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
Sightseeing & walks: good conditions all twelve months.
- Beach & swimming: January, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
- Diving & snorkelling: June, July, August, September, October, November, December
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall, sea), not from an opinion.
What's on in Dakar, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. Exact dates change from year to year, so check them before you book.
- May to JuneDak'Art Biennale
The biennial of contemporary African art takes over the former courthouse and dozens of fringe venues, every other year.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Recommended25°21° at night
- 1 mm · 0 d
- sea 23°
High season, book early
February
Recommended23°20° at night
- 0 mm · 0 d
- sea 19°
High season, book early
March
Recommended22°19° at night
- 0 mm · 0 d
- sea 18°
Busy, without the crush
April
Recommended22°20° at night
- 0 mm · 0 d
- sea 19°
Busy, without the crush
May
Fair23°21° at night
- 0 mm · 0 d
- sea 23°
Low season, lower prices
June
Not recommended25°23° at night
- 4 mm · 1 d
- sea 26°
Low season, lower prices
July
Not recommended27°25° at night
- 36 mm · 6 d
- sea 29°
Low season, lower prices
August
Not recommended28°26° at night
- 153 mm · 11 d
- sea 29°
Low season, lower prices
September
Not recommended28°26° at night
- 124 mm · 12 d
- sea 29°
Low season, lower prices
October
Fair29°27° at night
- 19 mm · 2 d
- sea 29°
Low season, lower prices
November
Recommended29°26° at night
- 0 mm · 0 d
- sea 28°
Busy, without the crush
December
Recommended27°23° at night
- 1 mm · 0 d
- sea 25°
High season, book early
Read the twelve months in detail
January. 25 °C in the afternoon and 21 °C at night. Hardly any rain (1 mm over 0 days). The sea is at 23 °C: pleasant swimming. High season: book early.
February. Mild, 23 °C in the afternoon and 20 °C early in the morning. Hardly any rain (0 mm over 0 days). Cool sea (19 °C), for the brave. High season: book early.
March. Mild, 22 °C in the afternoon and 19 °C early in the morning. Hardly any rain (0 mm over 0 days). Cool sea (18 °C), for the brave. Busy season, without the crush.
April. Mild, 22 °C in the afternoon and 20 °C early in the morning. Hardly any rain (0 mm over 0 days). Cool sea (19 °C), for the brave. Busy season, without the crush.
May. Mild, 23 °C in the afternoon and 21 °C early in the morning. Hardly any rain (0 mm over 0 days). The sea is at 23 °C: pleasant swimming. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
June. 25 °C in the afternoon and 23 °C at night. Hardly any rain (4 mm over 1 day). The sea is at 26 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
July. 27 °C in the afternoon and 25 °C at night. Rain stays light: 36 mm over 6 days. The sea is at 29 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
August. 28 °C in the afternoon and 26 °C at night. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (153 mm). The sea is at 29 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
September. 28 °C in the afternoon and 26 °C at night. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (124 mm). The sea is at 29 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
October. 29 °C in the afternoon and 27 °C at night. Hardly any rain (19 mm over 2 days). The sea is at 29 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
November. 29 °C in the afternoon and 26 °C at night. Hardly any rain (0 mm over 0 days). The sea is at 28 °C, a proper swim. Busy season, without the crush.
December. 27 °C in the afternoon and 23 °C at night. Hardly any rain (1 mm over 0 days). The sea is at 25 °C: pleasant swimming. High season: book early.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Dakar?
November to April: over these months, recorded highs range from 22 to 29 °C, with almost no rainy days a month on average (2015-2024 records, Le Plateau).
Which month should you avoid in Dakar?
August: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 153 mm over 11 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (Le Plateau).
What is the hottest month in Dakar?
October, with 29 °C on average in the afternoon and 27 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Le Plateau).
What is the coldest month in Dakar?
March, with 22 °C at best during the day and 19 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Le Plateau).
What is the driest month in Dakar?
February: 0 mm over 0 days of rain, against 153 mm in August, the wettest month.
When can you swim in Dakar?
The water reaches 22 °C or more in January, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December (warmest 29 °C in July), measured in 2023-2024 on the nearest coast (Le Plateau).
When to go diving or snorkelling in Dakar?
June, July, August, September, October, November, December: the sea is above 25 °C, warm enough to stay in a long time without a thick wetsuit. 2023-2024 records on the nearest coast (Le Plateau).
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Dakar guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🧭 When to visit Senegal: the country overview→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
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Photos: Jjm2311 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · Adrien Olichon / Pexels · Lom Doudou / Pexels · Emeka Mbaebie / Pexels · Camille Kani / Pexels