Kanifing in Summer
In summer (June, July and August), Kanifing sees average daytime highs around 28°C and overnight lows near 26°C, with 373 mm of rain over about 37 wet days across the season. It is the 2nd-warmest season and the wettest season of the year.
Over the season highs climb from about 26°C in early June to 28°C by late August. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 21% of the time across summer, and the air most often feels oppressive.
Summer is Kanifing's 3rd-best season to visit on our travel score. Kanifing has little temperature swing across the year, so its calendar seasons blur — the season framing matters less here than for a place with four distinct seasons. For the whole year in context, see Kanifing's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 28°C
- 2nd-warmest season
- Avg overnight low
- 26°C
- Rainfall
- 373 mm
- 37 wet days
- Avg wind
- 16 km/h
- Travel score
- 5.8
- 3rd-best season
- Months
- Jun · Jul · Aug
Temperature in Kanifing in Summer
Over the season highs climb from about 26°C in early June to 28°C by late August.
A typical summer day in Kanifing reaches about 28°C and drops to 26°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is August, the coolest June.
How summer really feels in Kanifing
Once humidity and wind are folded in, summer brings about 59 days that feel above 32°C and 0 that feel at or below 0°C.
The story in summer is heat — humidity pushes the afternoon "feels like" well above the raw temperature.
Kanifing weather by month
How the three summer months (June, July and August) compare with the rest of the year — the season's months are highlighted.
| Month | High / Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) | Wet days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 26° / 21° | 2 | 0.2 | 11.3 | 8.6 |
| Feb | 26° / 21° | 1 | 0.1 | 11.6 | 8.7 |
| Mar | 26° / 21° | 0 | 0.1 | 11.9 | 9.0 |
| Apr | 25° / 21° | 0 | 0 | 12.3 | 9.1 |
| May | 26° / 23° | 1 | 0.2 | 12.6 | 8.8 |
| Jun | 27° / 25° | 9 | 1.6 | 12.8 | 7.9 |
| Jul | 28° / 26° | 118 | 13.5 | 12.7 | 5.3 |
| Aug | 28° / 26° | 246 | 22.2 | 12.4 | 4.1 |
| Sep | 29° / 26° | 174 | 18.6 | 12.1 | 4.3 |
| Oct | 30° / 27° | 49 | 7.4 | 11.7 | 5.7 |
| Nov | 29° / 26° | 1 | 0.4 | 11.4 | 6.7 |
| Dec | 27° / 22° | 1 | 0.2 | 11.2 | 8.0 |
Cloud cover in Summer
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 21% of the time across summer.
Chance of precipitation in Summer
Kanifing gets around 373 mm of rain over 37 wet days across summer. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Summer
Most of summer feels oppressive — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Summer
Winds average 16 km/h across summer.
Sunrise & sunset in Summer
Daylight runs from about 12 h 42 min in early June to 12 h 18 min by late August. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Summer
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across summer, about 5.7 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Kanifing
In summer, Kanifing overlaps its atlantic hurricane, monsoon and dust season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.
Kanifing sits in the Atlantic hurricane belt; the season peaks August–October.
Kanifing's monsoon runs July–September, when most of the year's rain falls.
Kanifing sees seasonal dust haze (February–August), heaviest in June.
Is summer a good time to visit Kanifing?
Our two travel scores rate summer for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
summer is a reasonable time to visit Kanifing for sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Kanifing in Summer
From summer's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In summer, Kanifing sees daytime highs around 28°C and nights near 26°C. Pack light clothes, rain gear and sun protection. About 37 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Kanifing in Summer
The nearest coast averages about 28°C across summer — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.
The sea at the nearest coast (about 21 km away) is warmest in October at about 29°C and coldest in March near 20°C.
The water stays above 20°C all year — warm enough for a swim any month.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°C) | 22 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 23 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 24 |
| Comfort | Refreshing | Refreshing | Refreshing | Refreshing | Refreshing | Warm | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Warm | Refreshing |
| Sea temperature (°C) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 22 | Refreshing |
| Feb | 21 | Refreshing |
| Mar | 20 | Refreshing |
| Apr | 21 | Refreshing |
| May | 23 | Refreshing |
| Jun | 26 | Warm |
| Jul | 28 | Tropical |
| Aug | 28 | Tropical |
| Sep | 29 | Tropical |
| Oct | 29 | Tropical |
| Nov | 28 | Warm |
| Dec | 24 | Refreshing |
UV index in Kanifing in Summer
Clear-sky midday UV across summer averages around 11 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Kanifing peaks around March 19 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 18 at about 7 (very high).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 8 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Level | Very high | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | Very high |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 8 | Very high |
| Feb | 11 | Extreme |
| Mar | 13 | Extreme |
| Apr | 12 | Extreme |
| May | 11 | Extreme |
| Jun | 11 | Extreme |
| Jul | 11 | Extreme |
| Aug | 12 | Extreme |
| Sep | 12 | Extreme |
| Oct | 10 | Extreme |
| Nov | 8 | Very high |
| Dec | 7 | Very high |
Air quality in Kanifing in Summer
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where summer falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Kanifing is worst in February — around 98 µg/m³ PM2.5 (unhealthy), about 4.2× the cleanest month (August, 24 µg/m³).
Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 89 | 98 | 80 | 61 | 52 | 60 | 36 | 24 | 29 | 50 | 64 | 84 |
| Level | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Poor | Unhealthy | Poor | Moderate | Moderate | Poor | Unhealthy | Unhealthy |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 89 | Unhealthy |
| Feb | 98 | Unhealthy |
| Mar | 80 | Unhealthy |
| Apr | 61 | Unhealthy |
| May | 52 | Poor |
| Jun | 60 | Unhealthy |
| Jul | 36 | Poor |
| Aug | 24 | Moderate |
| Sep | 29 | Moderate |
| Oct | 50 | Poor |
| Nov | 64 | Unhealthy |
| Dec | 84 | Unhealthy |
Where is Kanifing?
Kanifing sits at 13.4°N, 16.7°W, 12 m above sea level, in Gambia. The nearest listed city is Serekunda, 1.0 km away.
Topography around Kanifing
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Kanifing.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Kanifing has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 26 m around an average of 10 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 37 m; within 80 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 53 m.
The land around Kanifing is covered by artificial surfaces (66%) within 3 km, water (60%) within 16 km, and water (41%) within 80 km.
Gambia travel facts
- Travel advisory
- Level 2
- Exercise Increased Caution
- Power plugs
- Type G
- 230 V · 50 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 25% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $919
- 2025
- Happiness
- 4.3 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Safe drinking water
- 48%
- of population, 2024
- Road deaths
- 29.6
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- Low
- World Bank
- Religion
Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.
Data sources
Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Kanifing (13.4464°, -16.6744°, elevation 12 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google.