Soma in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), Soma sees average daytime highs around 34°C and overnight lows near 19°C, with 4 mm of rain over about 1 wet days across the season. It is the 2nd-warmest season and the 3rd-wettest season.
Over the season highs climb from about 34°C in early December to 36°C by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 52% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels dry.
Winter is Soma's best season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Soma's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 34°C
- 2nd-warmest season
- Avg overnight low
- 19°C
- Rainfall
- 4 mm
- 1 wet days
- Avg wind
- 11 km/h
- Travel score
- 4.1
- best season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Soma in Winter
Over the season highs climb from about 34°C in early December to 36°C by late February.
A typical winter day in Soma reaches about 34°C and drops to 19°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is February, the coolest January.
How winter really feels in Soma
Once humidity and wind are folded in, winter brings about 90 days that feel above 32°C and 0 that feel at or below 0°C.
The story in winter is heat — humidity pushes the afternoon "feels like" well above the raw temperature.
Soma weather by month
How the three winter months (December, January and February) 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 Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 52% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
Soma gets around 4 mm of rain over 1 wet days across winter. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Winter
Most of winter feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Winter
Winds average 11 km/h across winter.
Sunrise & sunset in Winter
Daylight runs from about 11 h 18 min in early December to 11 h 42 min by late February. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Winter
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across winter, about 5.6 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Soma
In winter, Soma overlaps its 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 winter a good time to visit Soma?
Our two travel scores rate winter for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
winter is a reasonable time to visit Soma for sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Soma in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, Soma sees daytime highs around 34°C and nights near 19°C. Pack light clothes and sun protection.
UV index in Soma in Winter
Clear-sky midday UV across winter averages around 9 (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 Winter
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where winter 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.