Nairobi in Summer
In summer (December, January and February), Nairobi sees average daytime highs around 26°C and overnight lows near 14°C, with 111 mm of rain over about 21 wet days across the season. It is the warmest season of the year and the 3rd-wettest season.
Over the season highs climb from about 24°C in early December to 27°C by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 39% of the time across summer, and the air most often feels comfortable.
Summer is Nairobi's best season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Nairobi's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 26°C
- warmest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 14°C
- Rainfall
- 111 mm
- 21 wet days
- Avg wind
- 11 km/h
- Travel score
- 7.2
- best season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Nairobi in Summer
Over the season highs climb from about 24°C in early December to 27°C by late February.
A typical summer day in Nairobi reaches about 26°C and drops to 14°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is February, the coolest January.
Nairobi weather by month
How the three summer 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 | 26° / 14° | 35 | 6.3 | 12.1 | 7.4 |
| Feb | 27° / 15° | 29 | 4.7 | 12 | 7.3 |
| Mar | 27° / 16° | 57 | 10.3 | 12 | 6.6 |
| Apr | 25° / 16° | 114 | 19.4 | 12 | 5.2 |
| May | 24° / 15° | 92 | 16.1 | 11.9 | 5.9 |
| Jun | 22° / 14° | 42 | 7.9 | 11.9 | 6.6 |
| Jul | 22° / 13° | 13 | 3.2 | 11.9 | 7.1 |
| Aug | 23° / 13° | 21 | 3.9 | 12 | 7.1 |
| Sep | 24° / 13° | 16 | 3.3 | 12 | 7.8 |
| Oct | 25° / 15° | 40 | 9.3 | 12 | 6.8 |
| Nov | 24° / 15° | 83 | 17.6 | 12.1 | 5.7 |
| Dec | 25° / 14° | 47 | 10.2 | 12.1 | 7.0 |
Cloud cover in Summer
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 39% of the time across summer.
Chance of precipitation in Summer
Nairobi gets around 111 mm of rain over 21 wet days across summer. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Summer
Most of summer feels comfortable — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Summer
Winds average 11 km/h across summer.
Sunrise & sunset in Summer
Daylight runs from about 12 h 06 min in early December to 12 hours by late February. 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 6.4 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Nairobi
None of Nairobi's seasonal hazards peak in summer. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do.
Nairobi's rainy season runs March–May, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is summer a good time to visit Nairobi?
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 one of the better times to visit Nairobi for general sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Nairobi in Summer
From summer's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In summer, Nairobi sees daytime highs around 26°C and nights near 14°C. Pack light clothes and sun protection. Worth having: rain gear. About 21 days see rain.
UV index in Nairobi in Summer
Clear-sky midday UV across summer averages around 15 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Nairobi peaks around March 15 at about 16 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 20 at about 10 (extreme).
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) | 15 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 |
| Level | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 15 | Extreme |
| Feb | 15 | Extreme |
| Mar | 16 | Extreme |
| Apr | 15 | Extreme |
| May | 11 | Extreme |
| Jun | 10 | Extreme |
| Jul | 11 | Extreme |
| Aug | 12 | Extreme |
| Sep | 14 | Extreme |
| Oct | 14 | Extreme |
| Nov | 14 | Extreme |
| Dec | 13 | Extreme |
Where is Nairobi?
Nairobi sits at 1.3°S, 36.8°E, 1,684 m above sea level, in Kenya. The nearest listed city is Pumwani, 3.0 km away.
Topography around Nairobi
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Nairobi.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Nairobi has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 127 m around an average of 1,689 m above sea level; within 16 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 484 m; within 80 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 3,244 m.
The land around Nairobi is covered by artificial surfaces (71%) and trees (21%) within 3 km, artificial surfaces (32%), trees (31%) and grassland (22%) within 16 km, and grassland (37%) and shrubs (34%) within 80 km.
Kenya travel facts
- Travel advisory
- Level 2
- Exercise Increased Caution
- Power plugs
- Type G
- 240 V · 50 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 34% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $2,363
- 2025
- Happiness
- 4.7 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Homicide rate
- 4.9
- per 100k, 2022
- Road deaths
- 28.3
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- Lower middle
- World Bank
- English
- High
- EF EPI 593
- 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 Nairobi (-1.2833°, 36.8167°, elevation 1,684 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.