Kayes in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), Kayes sees average daytime highs around 34°C and overnight lows near 21°C, with 2 mm of rain over about 0 wet days across the season. It is the coldest season of the year and the driest season of the year.
Over the season highs climb from about 35°C in early December to 37°C by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 53% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels dry.
Winter is Kayes's best season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Kayes's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 34°C
- coldest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 21°C
- Rainfall
- 2 mm
- 0 wet days
- Avg wind
- 11 km/h
- Travel score
- 3.6
- best season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Kayes in Winter
Over the season highs climb from about 35°C in early December to 37°C by late February.
A typical winter day in Kayes reaches about 34°C and drops to 21°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is February, the coolest January.
How winter really feels in Kayes
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.
Kayes 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° / 20° | 0 | 0.1 | 11.2 | 4.3 |
| Feb | 36° / 22° | 0 | 0 | 11.5 | 2.6 |
| Mar | 39° / 25° | 0 | 0 | 11.9 | 0.6 |
| Apr | 42° / 28° | 0 | 0.1 | 12.3 | 0.0 |
| May | 42° / 30° | 5 | 1.3 | 12.7 | 0.0 |
| Jun | 39° / 29° | 24 | 4.5 | 12.8 | 0.6 |
| Jul | 35° / 26° | 98 | 11.2 | 12.8 | 2.6 |
| Aug | 32° / 25° | 160 | 15.1 | 12.5 | 3.3 |
| Sep | 33° / 25° | 108 | 11.2 | 12.1 | 3.3 |
| Oct | 36° / 25° | 24 | 4.5 | 11.7 | 2.2 |
| Nov | 36° / 22° | 1 | 0.2 | 11.3 | 2.2 |
| Dec | 34° / 20° | 1 | 0.1 | 11.2 | 3.8 |
Cloud cover in Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 53% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
Kayes gets around 2 mm of rain over 0 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 12 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 Kayes
In winter, Kayes overlaps its dust season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.
Kayes sees seasonal dust haze (February–October), heaviest in June.
Is winter a good time to visit Kayes?
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 weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Kayes. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Kayes in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, Kayes sees daytime highs around 34°C and nights near 21°C. Pack light clothes and sun protection.
UV index in Kayes in Winter
Clear-sky midday UV across winter averages around 8 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Kayes peaks around August 18 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 19 at about 7 (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 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Level | Very high | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | Very high | Very high | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | Very high | High |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 8 | Very high |
| Feb | 11 | Extreme |
| Mar | 12 | Extreme |
| Apr | 10 | Very high |
| May | 9 | Very high |
| Jun | 10 | Very high |
| Jul | 11 | Extreme |
| Aug | 13 | Extreme |
| Sep | 12 | Extreme |
| Oct | 10 | Very high |
| Nov | 8 | Very high |
| Dec | 7 | High |
Air quality in Kayes 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 Kayes is worst in November — around 68 µg/m³ PM2.5 (unhealthy), about 4.4× the cleanest month (August, 16 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) | 57 | 67 | 61 | 50 | 48 | 41 | 22 | 16 | 20 | 60 | 68 | 57 |
| Level | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Poor | Poor | Poor | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Unhealthy |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 57 | Unhealthy |
| Feb | 67 | Unhealthy |
| Mar | 61 | Unhealthy |
| Apr | 50 | Poor |
| May | 48 | Poor |
| Jun | 41 | Poor |
| Jul | 22 | Moderate |
| Aug | 16 | Moderate |
| Sep | 20 | Moderate |
| Oct | 60 | Unhealthy |
| Nov | 68 | Unhealthy |
| Dec | 57 | Unhealthy |
Where is Kayes?
Kayes sits at 14.4°N, 11.4°W, 47 m above sea level, in Mali. The nearest listed city is Bafoulabé, 97 km away.
Topography around Kayes
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Kayes.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Kayes has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 27 m around an average of 38 m above sea level; within 16 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 328 m; within 80 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 561 m.
The land around Kayes is covered by artificial surfaces (57%) within 3 km, grassland (60%) within 16 km, and grassland (68%) and shrubs (24%) 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 Kayes (14.4478°, -11.4439°, elevation 47 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.