Matam in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), Matam sees average daytime highs around 34°C and overnight lows near 20°C, with 3 mm of rain over about 0 wet days across the season. It is the coldest season of the year and the 3rd-wettest season.
Across winter, daytime highs hold fairly steady around 34°C. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 52% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels dry.
Winter is Matam's best season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Matam's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 34°C
- coldest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 20°C
- Rainfall
- 3 mm
- 0 wet days
- Avg wind
- 17 km/h
- Travel score
- 3.9
- best season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Matam in Winter
Across winter, daytime highs hold fairly steady around 34°C.
A typical winter day in Matam reaches about 34°C and drops to 20°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is February, the coolest January.
How winter really feels in Matam
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.
Matam 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° / 19° | 1 | 0.1 | 11.2 | 4.7 |
| Feb | 35° / 21° | 1 | 0.1 | 11.5 | 3.2 |
| Mar | 38° / 24° | 0 | 0 | 11.9 | 1.2 |
| Apr | 41° / 27° | 0 | 0 | 12.3 | 0.0 |
| May | 42° / 29° | 0 | 0.1 | 12.7 | 0.0 |
| Jun | 41° / 29° | 10 | 1.7 | 12.9 | 0.1 |
| Jul | 37° / 27° | 42 | 5.9 | 12.8 | 1.7 |
| Aug | 35° / 27° | 90 | 10.2 | 12.5 | 2.6 |
| Sep | 36° / 27° | 64 | 7.7 | 12.1 | 2.3 |
| Oct | 38° / 27° | 13 | 2.5 | 11.6 | 1.0 |
| Nov | 37° / 24° | 0 | 0 | 11.3 | 1.9 |
| Dec | 34° / 20° | 2 | 0.2 | 11.1 | 3.9 |
Cloud cover in Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 52% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
Matam gets around 3 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 17 km/h across winter.
Sunrise & sunset in Winter
Daylight runs from about 11 h 06 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 5.5 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Matam
In winter, Matam overlaps its dust season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.
Matam sees dust haze year-round, heaviest in June.
Is winter a good time to visit Matam?
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 Matam. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Matam in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, Matam sees daytime highs around 34°C and nights near 20°C. Pack light clothes and sun protection.
UV index in Matam in Winter
Clear-sky midday UV across winter averages around 9 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Matam peaks around August 20 at about 12 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 19 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 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 9 | 8 | 7 |
| Level | Very high | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | 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 | 11 | Extreme |
| May | 10 | Extreme |
| Jun | 10 | Very high |
| Jul | 11 | Extreme |
| Aug | 12 | Extreme |
| Sep | 12 | Extreme |
| Oct | 9 | Very high |
| Nov | 8 | Very high |
| Dec | 7 | High |
Air quality in Matam 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 Matam is worst in February — around 105 µg/m³ PM2.5 (unhealthy), about 4.7× the cleanest month (August, 22 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) | 99 | 105 | 82 | 78 | 83 | 75 | 37 | 22 | 28 | 45 | 49 | 89 |
| Level | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Poor | Moderate | Moderate | Poor | Poor | Unhealthy |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 99 | Unhealthy |
| Feb | 105 | Unhealthy |
| Mar | 82 | Unhealthy |
| Apr | 78 | Unhealthy |
| May | 83 | Unhealthy |
| Jun | 75 | Unhealthy |
| Jul | 37 | Poor |
| Aug | 22 | Moderate |
| Sep | 28 | Moderate |
| Oct | 45 | Poor |
| Nov | 49 | Poor |
| Dec | 89 | Unhealthy |
Where is Matam?
Matam sits at 15.7°N, 13.3°W, 22 m above sea level, in Senegal. The nearest listed city is Ouro Sogui, 9.0 km away.
Topography around Matam
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Matam.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Matam has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 13 m around an average of 14 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 124 m.
The land around Matam is covered by grassland (44%) within 3 km, grassland (64%) within 16 km, and grassland (64%) and shrubs (23%) within 80 km.
Senegal travel facts
- Travel advisory
- Level 1
- Exercise Normal Precautions
- Power plugs
- Type C / D / E / K
- 230 V · 50 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 36% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $1,955
- 2025
- Happiness
- 4.8 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Safe drinking water
- 27%
- of population, 2024
- Homicide rate
- 0.3
- per 100k, 2015
- Road deaths
- 23.5
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- Lower middle
- World Bank
- English
- Very low
- EF EPI 442
- 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 Matam (15.6559°, -13.2554°, elevation 22 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.