Kotu weather in September

In September, Kotu sees average daytime highs of 29°C and overnight lows near 26°C, with 174 mm of rain across 18.6 wet days and about 12.1 hours of daylight. It is the 3rd-warmest and 2nd-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 29°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 15% of the time in September, and the air most often feels miserable.

Daylight stretches from about 12 h 18 min at the start of September to 11 h 54 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, September is Kotu's 11th-clearest and 11th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Kotu's year-round climate.

Daytime high
29°
3rd warmest
Overnight low
26°
11th coldest
Rainfall
174 mm
18.6 wet days
Daylight
12 h 06 min
6:59 AM – 7:03 PM
Cloud cover
71%
11th clearest
Wind
13 km/h
11th windiest
Solar energy
5.3 kWh/m²
Travel score
4.3
out of 10

Temperature in September

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 29°C through the month.

A typical September day in Kotu reaches about 29°C in the afternoon and slips back to 26°C overnight — a 3°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 28°C and 30°C. Set against its neighbours, September runs on par with August and on par with October.

25°28°30°33°35°151015202530
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12826
22926
32926
42926
52926
62926
72926
82926
92926
102926
112926
122926
132926
142926
152926
162926
172926
182926
192926
202926
212926
222927
232927
242927
252927
262927
272927
282927
292927
302927

How September really feels in Kotu

Once humidity and wind are folded in, September averages 30 days that feel above 32°C and 0 that feel at or below 0°C — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.

Days feeling ≥ 32°C
30
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ C
0
wind chill below the day's low

The story in September is heat — humidity pushes the afternoon "feels like" well above the raw temperature.

Kotu weather by month

How September compares with the rest of the year at a glance. September is the 3rd-warmest and 2nd-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan26° / 21°20.211.38.6
Feb26° / 21°10.111.68.7
Mar26° / 21°00.111.99.0
Apr25° / 21°0012.39.1
May26° / 23°10.212.68.8
Jun27° / 25°91.612.87.9
Jul28° / 26°11813.512.75.3
Aug28° / 26°24622.212.44.1
Sep29° / 26°17418.612.14.3
Oct30° / 27°497.411.75.7
Nov29° / 26°10.411.46.7
Dec27° / 22°10.211.28.0

Cloud cover in September

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 15% of the time in September.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 20% of September, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 65%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202530
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
12179
22278
32278
42377
52575
62575
72674
82872
92872
103070
113070
123268
133268
143367
153466
163565
173763
183763
193862
203862
213961
224159
234258
244357
254555
264654
274654
284852
294951
304951

Chance of precipitation in September

Any precipitation

Kotu gets around 174 mm of rain over 18.6 wet days in September. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 61% and peaks near 73% on the wettest days. The odds ease toward the end of the month.

0%20%40%60%80%151015202530
Rain chance (%)
173
272
372
471
570
669
769
868
967
1067
1166
1266
1365
1464
1563
1663
1762
1861
1960
2059
2158
2256
2355
2454
2552
2650
2749
2847
2946
3044

Humidity in September

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of September feels miserable — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

By dew point, September lands in the miserable band about 86% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 100% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202530
Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
12179
22179
32179
42179
52080
62080
71981
81981
91882
101783
111783
121684
131585
141585
151486
161387
171387
181288
191288
201189
211189
221189
231090
241090
251090
261090
27991
28991
29991
30991

Wind in September

Winds average 13 km/h in September.

Across September, daily wind ranges from about 12 km/h on the calmest days to 14 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

05101520151015202530
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
114light breeze
214light breeze
314light breeze
414light breeze
514light breeze
614light breeze
714light breeze
814light breeze
913light breeze
1013light breeze
1113light breeze
1213light breeze
1313light breeze
1413light breeze
1513light breeze
1612light breeze
1712light breeze
1812light breeze
1912light breeze
2012light breeze
2112calm
2212calm
2312calm
2412calm
2512calm
2612calm
2712calm
2812calm
2912calm
3012calm

Sunrise & sunset in September

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 12 h 18 min at the start of September to 11 h 54 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 24 minutes over September. Sunrise moves from 6:59 AM to 6:59 AM, and sunset from 7:14 PM to 6:53 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202530
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
112.36:597:14
212.36:597:14
312.26:597:13
412.26:597:12
512.26:597:12
612.26:597:11
712.26:597:10
812.26:597:09
912.26:597:09
1012.26:597:08
1112.16:597:07
1212.16:597:06
1312.16:597:06
1412.16:597:05
1512.16:597:04
1612.16:597:03
1712.16:597:03
1812.06:597:02
1912.06:597:01
2012.06:597:00
2112.06:597:00
2212.06:596:59
2312.06:596:58
2412.06:596:57
2512.06:596:57
2611.96:596:56
2711.96:596:55
2811.96:596:54
2911.96:596:54
3011.96:596:53

Solar energy in September

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in September, about 5.3 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 4.99 kWh/m² to a high of 7.15 kWh/m² in April across the year — September's 5.3 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

0246151015202530
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.0Bright
25.0Bright
35.0Bright
45.0Bright
55.0Bright
65.1Bright
75.1Bright
85.1Bright
95.2Bright
105.2Bright
115.2Bright
125.2Bright
135.3Bright
145.3Bright
155.3Bright
165.3Bright
175.3Bright
185.4Bright
195.4Bright
205.4Bright
215.4Bright
225.5Bright
235.5Bright
245.5Bright
255.5Bright
265.5Bright
275.6Bright
285.6Bright
295.6Bright
305.6Bright
Planning a trip in September

Hazard calendar for Kotu

In seasonPeak

In September, Kotu sits inside its atlantic hurricane and monsoon season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.

Kotu sits in the Atlantic hurricane belt; the season peaks August–October.

Kotu's monsoon runs July–September, when most of the year's rain falls.

Kotu sees seasonal dust haze (February–August), heaviest in June.

Atlantic hurricane
Monsoon
Dust
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is September a good time to visit Kotu?

Our two travel scores rate September for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).

4.3
Sightseeing
11th-best month of the year
5.5
Beach & pool
11th-best month of the year

September is a reasonable time to visit Kotu for sightseeing.

What to pack for Kotu in September

From September's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In September, Kotu sees daytime highs around 29°C and nights near 26°C. Pack light clothes and rain gear. Worth having: sun protection. About 19 days see rain.

light clothesrain gearsun protection

Sea temperature near Kotu in September

The nearest coast averages about 29°C in September — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea at the nearest coast (about 20 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.

20°25°30°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDeccoolrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan22Refreshing
Feb21Refreshing
Mar20Refreshing
Apr21Refreshing
May23Refreshing
Jun26Warm
Jul28Tropical
Aug28Tropical
Sep29Tropical
Oct29Tropical
Nov28Warm
Dec24Refreshing

UV index in Kotu in September

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in September peaks around 12 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Kotu 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.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecVery highExtremeVery highMar 19UV 13Dec 18UV 7
UV index (midday)Level
Jan8Very high
Feb11Extreme
Mar13Extreme
Apr12Extreme
May11Extreme
Jun11Extreme
Jul11Extreme
Aug12Extreme
Sep12Extreme
Oct10Extreme
Nov8Very high
Dec7Very high

Air quality in Kotu in September

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where September falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in Kotu 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).

0306090120JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecUnhealthyPoorModeratePoorUnhealthyFeb 1397 µg/m³Aug 2024 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan89Unhealthy
Feb98Unhealthy
Mar80Unhealthy
Apr61Unhealthy
May52Poor
Jun60Unhealthy
Jul36Poor
Aug24Moderate
Sep29Moderate
Oct50Poor
Nov64Unhealthy
Dec84Unhealthy
Location & terrain

Where is Kotu?

Kotu sits at 13.5°N, 16.7°W, 8 m above sea level, in Gambia. The nearest listed city is Manjai Kunda, 2.0 km away.

Topography around Kotu

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Kotu.

Within 3 km, the terrain around Kotu has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 28 m around an average of 8 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 36 m; within 80 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 53 m.

The land around Kotu is covered by artificial surfaces (42%) and water (42%) within 3 km, water (65%) within 16 km, and water (43%) within 80 km.

3 km
28 m
16 km
36 m
80 km
53 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwaterwetlandmangroves
September weather nearby: Manjai Kunda 2.0 km · Latri Kunda 2.0 km · Bakau New Town 3.0 km · Dippa Kunda 3.0 km · Bakau 3.0 km · Bakoti 3.0 km · Kanifing 4.0 km · Serekunda 4.0 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
Muslim 96%Christian 4%other or none 0%

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 Kotu (13.4594°, -16.7053°, elevation 8 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. Tropical-cyclone seasons are the published climatological basin seasons (NOAA National Hurricane Center / regional warning centres). Sea temperatures are the NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly climatology (public domain), sampled at the nearest ocean point. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).