Ziguinchor in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), Ziguinchor sees average daytime highs around 35°C and overnight lows near 20°C, with 3 mm of rain over about 1 wet days across the season. It is the 2nd-warmest season and the 3rd-wettest season.
Over the season highs climb from about 34°C in early December to 37°C by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 55% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels dry.
Winter is Ziguinchor's best season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Ziguinchor's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 35°C
- 2nd-warmest season
- Avg overnight low
- 20°C
- Rainfall
- 3 mm
- 1 wet days
- Avg wind
- 10 km/h
- Travel score
- 3.3
- best season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Ziguinchor in Winter
Over the season highs climb from about 34°C in early December to 37°C by late February.
A typical winter day in Ziguinchor reaches about 35°C and drops to 20°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is February, the coolest January.
How winter really feels in Ziguinchor
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.
Ziguinchor 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 | 34° / 19° | 1 | 0.1 | 11.3 | 3.8 |
| Feb | 36° / 20° | 1 | 0.1 | 11.6 | 2.5 |
| Mar | 38° / 22° | 0 | 0 | 11.9 | 1.5 |
| Apr | 38° / 22° | 0 | 0 | 12.3 | 1.4 |
| May | 37° / 23° | 2 | 0.3 | 12.6 | 2.1 |
| Jun | 34° / 25° | 51 | 7.2 | 12.7 | 3.0 |
| Jul | 31° / 25° | 277 | 23.5 | 12.7 | 3.0 |
| Aug | 30° / 24° | 391 | 27.8 | 12.4 | 2.8 |
| Sep | 31° / 24° | 307 | 25.5 | 12.1 | 2.7 |
| Oct | 33° / 25° | 128 | 18.4 | 11.7 | 3.0 |
| Nov | 34° / 23° | 16 | 2.8 | 11.4 | 3.4 |
| Dec | 34° / 20° | 1 | 0.3 | 11.3 | 3.7 |
Cloud cover in Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 55% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
Ziguinchor gets around 3 mm of rain over 1 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 10 km/h across winter.
Sunrise & sunset in Winter
Daylight runs from about 11 h 18 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 5.7 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Ziguinchor
In winter, Ziguinchor overlaps its dust season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.
Ziguinchor sits in the Atlantic hurricane belt; the season peaks August–October.
Ziguinchor's monsoon runs July–September, when most of the year's rain falls.
Ziguinchor sees seasonal dust haze (February–July), heaviest in June.
Is winter a good time to visit Ziguinchor?
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 Ziguinchor. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Ziguinchor in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, Ziguinchor sees daytime highs around 35°C and nights near 20°C. Pack light clothes and sun protection.
Sea temperature near Ziguinchor in Winter
The nearest coast averages about 25°C across winter — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.
The sea at the nearest coast (about 50 km away) is warmest in October at about 29°C and coldest in January near 24°C.
The water stays above 20°C all year — warm enough for a swim any month.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°C) | 24 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 26 |
| Comfort | Refreshing | Refreshing | Warm | Warm | Warm | Warm | Tropical | Warm | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Warm |
| Sea temperature (°C) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 24 | Refreshing |
| Feb | 24 | Refreshing |
| Mar | 25 | Warm |
| Apr | 25 | Warm |
| May | 26 | Warm |
| Jun | 28 | Warm |
| Jul | 28 | Tropical |
| Aug | 28 | Warm |
| Sep | 28 | Tropical |
| Oct | 29 | Tropical |
| Nov | 29 | Tropical |
| Dec | 26 | Warm |
UV index in Ziguinchor 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 Ziguinchor peaks around March 17 at about 13 (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 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 7 |
| Level | Very high | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | High |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 8 | Very high |
| Feb | 11 | Extreme |
| Mar | 13 | Extreme |
| Apr | 11 | Extreme |
| May | 11 | Extreme |
| Jun | 11 | Extreme |
| Jul | 12 | Extreme |
| Aug | 13 | Extreme |
| Sep | 12 | Extreme |
| Oct | 11 | Extreme |
| Nov | 9 | Very high |
| Dec | 7 | High |
Air quality in Ziguinchor 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 Ziguinchor is worst in February — around 100 µg/m³ PM2.5 (unhealthy), about 5.2× the cleanest month (August, 19 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) | 81 | 100 | 84 | 57 | 49 | 55 | 31 | 19 | 23 | 42 | 56 | 74 |
| Level | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Poor | Poor | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Poor | Unhealthy | Unhealthy |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 81 | Unhealthy |
| Feb | 100 | Unhealthy |
| Mar | 84 | Unhealthy |
| Apr | 57 | Unhealthy |
| May | 49 | Poor |
| Jun | 55 | Poor |
| Jul | 31 | Moderate |
| Aug | 19 | Moderate |
| Sep | 23 | Moderate |
| Oct | 42 | Poor |
| Nov | 56 | Unhealthy |
| Dec | 74 | Unhealthy |
Where is Ziguinchor?
Ziguinchor sits at 12.6°N, 16.3°W, 19 m above sea level, in Senegal. The nearest listed city is Bignona, 27 km away.
Topography around Ziguinchor
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Ziguinchor.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Ziguinchor has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 31 m around an average of 12 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 50 m; within 80 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 57 m.
The land around Ziguinchor is covered by artificial surfaces (55%) within 3 km, trees (37%) within 16 km, and trees (33%) and water (27%) 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 Ziguinchor (12.568°, -16.2733°, elevation 19 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.