Gao in Summer
In summer (June, July and August), Gao sees average daytime highs around 39°C and overnight lows near 28°C, with 95 mm of rain over about 22 wet days across the season. It is the 2nd-warmest season and the wettest season of the year.
Over the season highs ease from about 42°C in early June to 37°C by late August. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 64% of the time across summer, and the air most often feels muggy.
Summer is Gao's 3rd-best season to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Gao's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 39°C
- 2nd-warmest season
- Avg overnight low
- 28°C
- Rainfall
- 95 mm
- 22 wet days
- Avg wind
- 15 km/h
- Travel score
- 0.8
- 3rd-best season
- Months
- Jun · Jul · Aug
Temperature in Gao in Summer
Over the season highs ease from about 42°C in early June to 37°C by late August.
A typical summer day in Gao reaches about 39°C and drops to 28°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is June, the coolest August.
How summer really feels in Gao
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.
Gao 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 | 30° / 16° | 0 | 0.1 | 11.1 | 6.3 |
| Feb | 33° / 18° | 0 | 0 | 11.5 | 4.3 |
| Mar | 37° / 22° | 0 | 0 | 11.9 | 1.8 |
| Apr | 41° / 26° | 1 | 0.2 | 12.4 | 0.0 |
| May | 42° / 29° | 2 | 0.8 | 12.7 | 0.0 |
| Jun | 41° / 30° | 8 | 2.8 | 12.9 | 0.0 |
| Jul | 39° / 28° | 31 | 8 | 12.9 | 0.8 |
| Aug | 37° / 27° | 56 | 11.3 | 12.5 | 1.7 |
| Sep | 39° / 27° | 16 | 4.3 | 12.1 | 0.9 |
| Oct | 39° / 26° | 3 | 0.8 | 11.6 | 0.7 |
| Nov | 36° / 21° | 0 | 0 | 11.2 | 2.7 |
| Dec | 32° / 17° | 0 | 0 | 11 | 5.3 |
Cloud cover in Summer
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 64% of the time across summer.
Chance of precipitation in Summer
Gao gets around 95 mm of rain over 22 wet days across summer. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Summer
Most of summer feels muggy — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Summer
Winds average 15 km/h across summer.
Sunrise & sunset in Summer
Daylight runs from about 12 h 54 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 6.8 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Gao
In summer, Gao overlaps its dust season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.
Gao sees dust haze year-round, heaviest in June.
Is summer a good time to visit Gao?
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 Gao.
What to pack for Gao in Summer
From summer's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In summer, Gao sees daytime highs around 39°C and nights near 28°C. Pack light clothes and sun protection. Worth having: rain gear. About 22 days see rain.
UV index in Gao in Summer
Clear-sky midday UV across summer averages around 11 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Gao peaks around August 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.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 8 | 10 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 7 |
| Level | Very high | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | Very high | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | Very high |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 8 | Very high |
| Feb | 10 | Extreme |
| Mar | 13 | Extreme |
| Apr | 11 | Extreme |
| May | 11 | Extreme |
| Jun | 10 | Very high |
| Jul | 9 | Very high |
| Aug | 13 | Extreme |
| Sep | 11 | Extreme |
| Oct | 11 | Extreme |
| Nov | 8 | Very high |
| Dec | 7 | Very high |
Air quality in Gao 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 Gao is worst in February — around 101 µg/m³ PM2.5 (unhealthy), about 2.7× the cleanest month (September, 37 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) | 98 | 101 | 94 | 74 | 77 | 77 | 60 | 41 | 37 | 48 | 58 | 88 |
| Level | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Poor | Poor | Poor | Unhealthy | Unhealthy |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 98 | Unhealthy |
| Feb | 101 | Unhealthy |
| Mar | 94 | Unhealthy |
| Apr | 74 | Unhealthy |
| May | 77 | Unhealthy |
| Jun | 77 | Unhealthy |
| Jul | 60 | Unhealthy |
| Aug | 41 | Poor |
| Sep | 37 | Poor |
| Oct | 48 | Poor |
| Nov | 58 | Unhealthy |
| Dec | 88 | Unhealthy |
Where is Gao?
Gao sits at 16.3°N, 0.0°W, 257 m above sea level, in Mali. The nearest listed city is Bourem, 83 km away.
Topography around Gao
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Gao.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Gao has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 13 m around an average of 251 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 65 m; within 80 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 149 m.
The land around Gao is covered by artificial surfaces (38%) within 3 km, grassland (65%) within 16 km, and grassland (60%) and bare terrain (36%) within 80 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
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 Gao (16.2717°, -0.0447°, elevation 257 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.