 The
Gambia's climate is a
sub-tropical climate with two
variations of distinct dry and rainy seasons. The dry season
generally starts in October and ends around mid-June each
year. The
best time of the year to go on
holiday to
Gambia
is between early November to early April, when the
beaches
are a lot more pleasant for sunbathing.
 Fanned by the north-east trade winds the average
daytime temperature along the Atlantic beach hotel
resorts is 24 Centigrade / 75.2
Fahrenheit. The average daytime temperature for the whole country is
32°C / 91°F.
In the evenings the temperature drops to around 16°C /
60°F. Along the western part of the country, known as he
Kombos,
temperatures are moderated by
Atlantic Ocean with less
seasonal and daily variability in daytime temperatures.
There are about 9 hours of sunshine everyday with virtually
clear skies during the dry spell.
 Between January
to May the humidity level is at 50-60%. This period is
characterised by several phases. The first half of this period is
generally cool and dry and the early
stages can sometimes be marked by
cloudy days but no rain and there is considerable cooling off in the
evening. The second half is
marked by very cool, dry winds in the evenings and warm sunny days on
the coast and at the
capital.
 Up-country, between February and May, the climate is characterised by the so called
Harmattan is characterised by very dry, dusty winds which adds a haze
to the atmosphere making visibility difficult (50m.) and puts a blanket of
fine dust particles (from the Sahara and Sahel) over the land.
The other
distinct climatic season is the rainy
season,
known locally as "Nawet", which
is caused by the summer heat causing the air in the Sahara to rise
thus creating an area of low pressure which encourages monsoons as it
meets with the north east trade winds coming of the Atlantic Ocean in
an inter-tropical front. Fog can occur off the coast when the
relatively warm Guinea stream meets the cooler Canary
current. This rainy period starts around the middle of
June and ends around the middle of October with August being the
wettest month of the year. Relative humidity levels can rise
to 95% and temperatures can reach a skin tingling 43 Celsius / 109.4
Fahrenheit.
 The annual
precipitation in most parts of the country is around 51 inches (1,296 Millimetres) and sunny periods occur on most days.
The storms are very often short and spectacular as huge volumes of
rain descend on the land transforming from brown parched patches to a
to a rich green landscape of foliage. Normally the cloudbursts occur
during the night time and when they occur during the day they are
short-lived leaving clear blue skies. For birdwatchers and anglers
this is the best time to come and visit Gambia as the land and
wildlife burst into life.
Be Prepared
on Your Holiday:
Because of the rainy conditions at this time of the year it also becomes
the malaria season as mosquito populations run rampant and it is
advisable to rub some insect repellent particularly during the hours
of dusk. The high humidity in August and September causes the
atmosphere to feel unbearably sticky so when on your travel
excursions drink plenty of
water.
See also
Charts
Travel Advice
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Average Mean Conditions: |
| Temperature average |
24°C / 75°F |
|
|
|
| Day temperatures |
32°C / 89°F |
|
|
|
| Night temperatures |
16°C / 61°F |
|
|
|
| Sunlight hours |
8.41 |
|
|
|
| Daytime humidity |
84% |
|
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|
| Wind speed |
5.77 mph |
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|
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| Barometer air pressure |
29.8 |
|
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| Rainfall per annum |
1,296 millimetres |
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Monitoring Base: |
Geographical
coordinates |
Longitude: 16.63 W
Latitude: 13.20 N |
What to wear on Vacation:
 Because
of the hot climate the best clothes to bring along
to Gambia are casual and loose fitting,
preferably cotton shorts and T-shirts for more comfort. A hat is also
recommended as protection against the scorching afternoon sun. During the winter months
the evenings can sometimes be quite cool and breezy, so a sweater or jacket may
be useful.
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