Zaria in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), Zaria sees average daytime highs around 31°C and overnight lows near 16°C, with 1 mm of rain over about 0 wet days across the season. It is the 2nd-warmest season and the driest season of the year.
Over the season highs climb from about 31°C in early December to 34°C by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 65% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels dry.
Winter is Zaria's best season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Zaria's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 31°C
- 2nd-warmest season
- Avg overnight low
- 16°C
- Rainfall
- 1 mm
- 0 wet days
- Avg wind
- 13 km/h
- Travel score
- 6.1
- best season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Zaria in Winter
Over the season highs climb from about 31°C in early December to 34°C by late February.
A typical winter day in Zaria reaches about 31°C and drops to 16°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is February, the coolest January.
How winter really feels in Zaria
Once humidity and wind are folded in, winter brings about 19 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.
Zaria 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 | 30° / 16° | 0 | 0 | 11.4 | 6.7 |
| Feb | 33° / 18° | 1 | 0.1 | 11.6 | 4.8 |
| Mar | 36° / 21° | 2 | 0.4 | 11.9 | 2.7 |
| Apr | 36° / 24° | 19 | 4.1 | 12.2 | 2.1 |
| May | 34° / 24° | 79 | 13.4 | 12.5 | 2.9 |
| Jun | 30° / 22° | 110 | 16.6 | 12.6 | 4.0 |
| Jul | 28° / 21° | 150 | 22.8 | 12.6 | 4.1 |
| Aug | 27° / 21° | 233 | 25.9 | 12.4 | 3.9 |
| Sep | 29° / 21° | 169 | 22.9 | 12.1 | 3.9 |
| Oct | 30° / 20° | 55 | 9.3 | 11.8 | 4.8 |
| Nov | 31° / 17° | 0 | 0.1 | 11.5 | 5.5 |
| Dec | 30° / 16° | 0 | 0.1 | 11.4 | 6.8 |
Cloud cover in Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 65% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
Zaria gets around 1 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 13 km/h across winter.
Sunrise & sunset in Winter
Daylight runs from about 11 h 24 min in early December to 11 h 48 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 6.2 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Zaria
In winter, Zaria overlaps its dust season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.
Zaria's monsoon runs June–September, when most of the year's rain falls.
Zaria sees seasonal dust haze (February–June), heaviest in April.
Is winter a good time to visit Zaria?
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 Zaria for sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Zaria in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, Zaria sees daytime highs around 31°C and nights near 16°C. Pack light clothes and sun protection.
UV index in Zaria in Winter
Clear-sky midday UV across winter averages around 6 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Zaria peaks around August 18 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 21 at about 5 (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) | 6 | 6 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 5 |
| Level | High | High | Extreme | Very high | Very high | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | Moderate |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 6 | High |
| Feb | 6 | High |
| Mar | 10 | Extreme |
| Apr | 9 | Very high |
| May | 9 | Very high |
| Jun | 10 | Extreme |
| Jul | 11 | Extreme |
| Aug | 13 | Extreme |
| Sep | 12 | Extreme |
| Oct | 11 | Extreme |
| Nov | 9 | Very high |
| Dec | 5 | Moderate |
Air quality in Zaria 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 Zaria is worst in February — around 127 µg/m³ PM2.5 (unhealthy), about 4.3× the cleanest month (July, 30 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) | 119 | 127 | 118 | 86 | 52 | 41 | 30 | 31 | 48 | 79 | 95 | 114 |
| Level | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Poor | Poor | Moderate | Moderate | Poor | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Unhealthy |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 119 | Unhealthy |
| Feb | 127 | Unhealthy |
| Mar | 118 | Unhealthy |
| Apr | 86 | Unhealthy |
| May | 52 | Poor |
| Jun | 41 | Poor |
| Jul | 30 | Moderate |
| Aug | 31 | Moderate |
| Sep | 48 | Poor |
| Oct | 79 | Unhealthy |
| Nov | 95 | Unhealthy |
| Dec | 114 | Unhealthy |
Where is Zaria?
Zaria sits at 11.1°N, 7.7°E, 644 m above sea level, in Nigeria. The nearest listed city is Soba, 39 km away.
Topography around Zaria
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Zaria.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Zaria has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 68 m around an average of 633 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 197 m; within 80 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 355 m.
The land around Zaria is covered by artificial surfaces (63%) and cropland (20%) within 3 km, cropland (78%) within 16 km, and cropland (81%) within 80 km.
Nigeria travel facts
- Travel advisory
- Level 3
- Reconsider Travel
- Power plugs
- Type D / G
- 230 V · 50 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 13% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $1,224
- 2025
- Happiness
- 4.8 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Safe drinking water
- 30%
- of population, 2024
- Homicide rate
- 15.7
- per 100k, 2023
- Road deaths
- 20.7
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- Lower middle
- World Bank
- English
- High
- EF EPI 569
- 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 Zaria (11.1113°, 7.7227°, elevation 644 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.