Bamako weather in March

In March, Bamako sees average daytime highs of 38°C and overnight lows near 24°C, with 2 mm of rain across 0.6 wet days and about 11.9 hours of daylight. It is the 2nd-warmest and 8th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs climb over the month, from about 37°C in the first days to 38°C by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 59% of the time in March, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 11 h 42 min at the start of March to 12 h 06 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, March is Bamako's 3rd-clearest and 4th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Bamako's year-round climate.

Daytime high
38°
2nd warmest
Overnight low
24°
9th coldest
Rainfall
2 mm
0.6 wet days
Daylight
11 h 54 min
6:44 AM – 6:39 PM
Cloud cover
34%
3rd clearest
Wind
10 km/h
4th windiest
Solar energy
6.81 kWh/m²
Travel score
1.6
out of 10

Bamako is building in Bamako, Mali.

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in March

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Highs climb over the month, from about 37°C in the first days to 38°C by the end.

A typical March day in Bamako reaches about 38°C in the afternoon and slips back to 24°C overnight — a 13°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 35°C and 40°C. Set against its neighbours, March runs about 3°C warmer than February and about 1°C cooler than April.

20°25°30°35°40°45°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
13623
23723
33723
43723
53723
63723
73723
83723
93723
103724
113724
123724
133724
143724
153824
163824
173824
183824
193825
203825
213825
223825
233825
243825
253825
263825
273825
283825
293826
303826
313926

How March really feels in Bamako

Once humidity and wind are folded in, March averages 31 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
31
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ C
0
wind chill below the day's low

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

Bamako weather by month

How March compares with the rest of the year at a glance. March is the 2nd-warmest and 8th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan32° / 18°20.211.35.2
Feb35° / 21°10.111.63.4
Mar38° / 24°20.611.91.6
Apr39° / 27°72.212.30.8
May37° / 27°327.412.61.4
Jun34° / 25°9214.312.72.7
Jul30° / 23°19822.112.73.4
Aug29° / 23°25324.312.43.5
Sep30° / 23°16420.412.13.6
Oct33° / 23°499.311.73.7
Nov34° / 20°20.411.43.7
Dec32° / 18°0011.34.9

Cloud cover in March

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 59% of the time in March.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 17% of March, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 24%. Skies tend to cloud over as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
18218
28218
38218
48218
58218
68119
78020
88020
98020
108020
117822
127822
137822
147723
157624
167525
177525
187426
197426
207327
217327
227327
237327
247327
257228
267228
277228
287327
297327
307327
317327

Chance of precipitation in March

Any precipitation

Bamako gets around 2 mm of rain over 0.6 wet days in March. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 2% and peaks near 4% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
11
21
31
41
51
61
71
81
91
101
111
121
131
141
151
161
172
182
192
202
212
223
233
243
253
263
274
284
294
304
314

Humidity in March

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, March lands in the dry band about 83% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)
192332
292332
391342
491342
591342
691342
791342
890442
989452
1089551
1189551
1288651
1388651
1487751
1587751
1686851
1785861
1884862
1982972
20811072
21801082
22801082
23781192
24781192
257612102
267412113
277313113
287213123
297014133
306814144
316714154

Wind in March

Winds average 10 km/h in March.

Across March, daily wind ranges from about 10 km/h on the calmest days to 11 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
111calm
211calm
311calm
411calm
511calm
611calm
711calm
811calm
911calm
1011calm
1111calm
1210calm
1310calm
1410calm
1510calm
1610calm
1710calm
1810calm
1910calm
2010calm
2110calm
2210calm
2310calm
2410calm
2510calm
2610calm
2710calm
2810calm
2910calm
3010calm
3110calm

Sunrise & sunset in March

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 11 h 42 min at the start of March to 12 h 06 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 24 minutes over March. Sunrise moves from 6:53 AM to 6:34 AM, and sunset from 6:37 PM to 6:40 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.76:536:37
211.76:536:37
311.86:526:38
411.86:516:38
511.86:516:38
611.86:506:38
711.86:506:38
811.86:496:38
911.86:496:38
1011.86:486:38
1111.96:476:39
1211.96:476:39
1311.96:466:39
1411.96:456:39
1511.96:456:39
1611.96:446:39
1711.96:446:39
1811.96:436:39
1911.96:426:39
2012.06:426:39
2112.06:416:39
2212.06:406:39
2312.06:406:39
2412.06:396:39
2512.06:386:39
2612.06:376:39
2712.06:376:40
2812.16:366:40
2912.16:356:40
3012.16:356:40
3112.16:346:40

Solar energy in March

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in March, about 6.81 kWh/m² — the sunniest month for solar.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 4.76 kWh/m² to a high of 6.81 kWh/m² in March across the year — March's 6.81 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
16.6Intense
26.7Intense
36.7Intense
46.7Intense
56.7Intense
66.7Intense
76.8Intense
86.8Intense
96.8Intense
106.8Intense
116.8Intense
126.8Intense
136.8Intense
146.8Intense
156.8Intense
166.8Intense
176.8Intense
186.8Intense
196.8Intense
206.8Intense
216.8Intense
226.8Intense
236.8Intense
246.8Intense
256.8Intense
266.8Intense
276.8Intense
286.9Intense
296.9Intense
306.9Intense
316.9Intense
Planning a trip in March

Hazard calendar for Bamako

In seasonPeak

In March, Bamako sits inside its dust season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.

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

Bamako sees seasonal dust haze (February–July), heaviest in June.

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

Is March a good time to visit Bamako?

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

1.6
Sightseeing
10th-best month of the year
5.0
Beach & pool
8th-best month of the year

March is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Bamako.

What to pack for Bamako in March

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

In March, Bamako sees daytime highs around 38°C and nights near 24°C. Pack light clothes and sun protection.

light clothessun protection

UV index in Bamako in March

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in March peaks around 14 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Bamako peaks around March 17 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 17 at about 8 (very high).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecVery highExtremeVery highMar 17UV 13Dec 17UV 8
UV index (midday)Level
Jan9Very high
Feb11Extreme
Mar14Extreme
Apr11Extreme
May13Extreme
Jun11Extreme
Jul12Extreme
Aug13Extreme
Sep12Extreme
Oct11Extreme
Nov9Very high
Dec8Very high

Air quality in Bamako in March

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

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

Air quality in Bamako is worst in February — around 67 µg/m³ PM2.5 (unhealthy), about 3.8× the cleanest month (August, 18 µg/m³).

Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).

020406080JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecUnhealthyPoorModeratePoorUnhealthyFeb 2166 µg/m³Aug 1418 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan57Unhealthy
Feb67Unhealthy
Mar66Unhealthy
Apr56Unhealthy
May36Poor
Jun32Moderate
Jul22Moderate
Aug18Moderate
Sep27Moderate
Oct44Poor
Nov58Unhealthy
Dec59Unhealthy
Location & terrain

Where is Bamako?

Bamako sits at 12.6°N, 8.0°W, 374 m above sea level, in Mali. The nearest listed city is Kalaban Koro, 7.0 km away.

Topography around Bamako

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Bamako has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 71 m around an average of 335 m above sea level; within 16 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 274 m; within 80 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 403 m.

The land around Bamako is covered by artificial surfaces (73%) within 3 km, artificial surfaces (41%) and grassland (21%) within 16 km, and shrubs (45%), grassland (25%) and cropland (21%) within 80 km.

3 km
71 m
16 km
274 m
80 km
403 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
March weather nearby: Kalaban Koro 7.0 km · Sirakoro Méguétana 8.0 km · Dialakorodji 11 km · Kabala 12 km · Sangarébougou 13 km · Moribabougou 15 km · Kati 18 km · Sibi 47 km

Mali travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 4
Do Not Travel
Power plugs
Type C / E
220 V · 50 Hz
Prices
≈ 34% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$1,193
2025
Happiness
4.6 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Road deaths
22.7
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
Low
World Bank
English
Very low
EF EPI 408
Religion
Muslim 94%Christian 3%none 3%animist 1%

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 Bamako (12.6091°, -7.9752°, elevation 374 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. 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).