Soma in Summer
In summer (June, July and August), Soma sees average daytime highs around 33°C and overnight lows near 25°C, with 452 mm of rain over about 47 wet days across the season. It is the coldest season of the year and the wettest season of the year.
Over the season highs ease from about 36°C in early June to 31°C by late August. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 16% of the time across summer, and the air most often feels miserable.
Summer is Soma's 3rd-best season to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Soma's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 33°C
- coldest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 25°C
- Rainfall
- 452 mm
- 47 wet days
- Avg wind
- 9 km/h
- Travel score
- 2.8
- 3rd-best season
- Months
- Jun · Jul · Aug
Temperature in Soma in Summer
Over the season highs ease from about 36°C in early June to 31°C by late August.
A typical summer day in Soma reaches about 33°C and drops to 25°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is June, the coolest August.
How summer really feels in Soma
Once humidity and wind are folded in, summer brings about 92 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.
Soma 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 | 33° / 19° | 1 | 0.2 | 11.3 | 4.6 |
| Feb | 35° / 20° | 1 | 0.1 | 11.6 | 3.4 |
| Mar | 37° / 21° | 0 | 0 | 11.9 | 2.2 |
| Apr | 37° / 22° | 0 | 0 | 12.3 | 1.7 |
| May | 37° / 24° | 1 | 0.3 | 12.6 | 1.9 |
| Jun | 36° / 25° | 28 | 4.8 | 12.8 | 2.5 |
| Jul | 33° / 25° | 160 | 17.5 | 12.7 | 3.0 |
| Aug | 31° / 24° | 264 | 24.3 | 12.4 | 2.8 |
| Sep | 32° / 24° | 192 | 19.3 | 12.1 | 3.0 |
| Oct | 34° / 24° | 51 | 8.1 | 11.7 | 3.3 |
| Nov | 35° / 22° | 3 | 0.7 | 11.4 | 3.3 |
| Dec | 33° / 19° | 2 | 0.3 | 11.2 | 4.3 |
Cloud cover in Summer
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 16% of the time across summer.
Chance of precipitation in Summer
Soma gets around 452 mm of rain over 47 wet days across summer. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Summer
Most of summer feels miserable — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Summer
Winds average 9 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 5.3 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Soma
In summer, Soma overlaps its monsoon and dust season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.
Soma's monsoon runs July–September, when most of the year's rain falls.
Soma sees seasonal dust haze (February–August), heaviest in June.
Is summer a good time to visit Soma?
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 weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Soma.
What to pack for Soma in Summer
From summer's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In summer, Soma sees daytime highs around 33°C and nights near 25°C. Pack light clothes, rain gear and sun protection. About 47 days see rain.
UV index in Soma in Summer
Clear-sky midday UV across summer averages 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 Soma peaks around March 18 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 17 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 | 12 | 13 | 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 | 12 | Extreme |
| Aug | 13 | Extreme |
| Sep | 12 | Extreme |
| Oct | 10 | Extreme |
| Nov | 8 | Very high |
| Dec | 7 | Very high |
Air quality in Soma 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 Soma is worst in February — around 99 µg/m³ PM2.5 (unhealthy), about 4.4× the cleanest month (August, 23 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) | 77 | 99 | 83 | 65 | 56 | 58 | 34 | 23 | 28 | 47 | 55 | 71 |
| Level | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Poor | Poor | Unhealthy |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 77 | Unhealthy |
| Feb | 99 | Unhealthy |
| Mar | 83 | Unhealthy |
| Apr | 65 | Unhealthy |
| May | 56 | Unhealthy |
| Jun | 58 | Unhealthy |
| Jul | 34 | Moderate |
| Aug | 23 | Moderate |
| Sep | 28 | Moderate |
| Oct | 47 | Poor |
| Nov | 55 | Poor |
| Dec | 71 | Unhealthy |
Where is Soma?
Soma sits at 13.4°N, 15.5°W, 21 m above sea level, in Gambia. The nearest listed city is Farafenni, 16 km away.
Topography around Soma
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Soma.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Soma has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 41 m around an average of 18 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 55 m; within 80 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 63 m.
The land around Soma is covered by shrubs (31%), cropland (27%) and grassland (20%) within 3 km, shrubs (28%) and cropland (23%) within 16 km, and cropland (40%), shrubs (23%) and trees (22%) 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 Soma (13.4333°, -15.5333°, elevation 21 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.