Makeni in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), Makeni sees average daytime highs around 34°C and overnight lows near 22°C, with 26 mm of rain over about 7 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 36°C by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 58% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels muggy.
Winter is Makeni's best season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Makeni's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 34°C
- 2nd-warmest season
- Avg overnight low
- 22°C
- Rainfall
- 26 mm
- 7 wet days
- Avg wind
- 5 km/h
- Travel score
- 3.8
- best season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Makeni in Winter
Over the season highs climb from about 31°C in early December to 36°C by late February.
A typical winter day in Makeni reaches about 34°C and drops to 22°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is February, the coolest January.
How winter really feels in Makeni
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.
Makeni 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° / 21° | 7 | 2 | 11.5 | 3.8 |
| Feb | 35° / 23° | 6 | 1.4 | 11.7 | 2.9 |
| Mar | 36° / 24° | 24 | 5.7 | 11.9 | 2.5 |
| Apr | 34° / 25° | 51 | 10.2 | 12.2 | 2.7 |
| May | 32° / 24° | 179 | 23 | 12.4 | 2.8 |
| Jun | 29° / 23° | 306 | 28.2 | 12.5 | 2.9 |
| Jul | 28° / 22° | 405 | 29.5 | 12.5 | 3.2 |
| Aug | 28° / 22° | 469 | 29.9 | 12.3 | 3.3 |
| Sep | 29° / 22° | 413 | 29 | 12.1 | 2.9 |
| Oct | 30° / 22° | 294 | 29.7 | 11.8 | 2.8 |
| Nov | 31° / 22° | 101 | 16.3 | 11.6 | 4.0 |
| Dec | 32° / 22° | 13 | 3.1 | 11.5 | 4.8 |
Cloud cover in Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 58% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
Makeni gets around 26 mm of rain over 7 wet days across winter. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Winter
Most of winter feels muggy — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Winter
Winds average 5 km/h across winter.
Sunrise & sunset in Winter
Daylight runs from about 11 h 30 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 5.6 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Makeni
In winter, Makeni overlaps its dust season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.
Makeni's monsoon runs June–October, when most of the year's rain falls.
Makeni sees seasonal dust haze (February–April), heaviest in February.
Is winter a good time to visit Makeni?
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 Makeni. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Makeni in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, Makeni sees daytime highs around 34°C and nights near 22°C. Pack light clothes. Worth having: sun protection. About 7 days see rain.
UV index in Makeni in Winter
Clear-sky midday UV across winter averages around 10 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Makeni peaks around August 20 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 16 at about 8 (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) | 9 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 8 |
| Level | Very high | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | Very high |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 9 | Very high |
| Feb | 12 | Extreme |
| Mar | 12 | Extreme |
| Apr | 10 | Very high |
| May | 12 | Extreme |
| Jun | 12 | Extreme |
| Jul | 11 | Extreme |
| Aug | 13 | Extreme |
| Sep | 13 | Extreme |
| Oct | 11 | Extreme |
| Nov | 9 | Very high |
| Dec | 8 | Very high |
Air quality in Makeni 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 Makeni is worst in April — around 237 µg/m³ PM2.5 (very unhealthy), about 22.1× the cleanest month (August, 11 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 | 103 | 145 | 237 | 43 | 20 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 18 | 26 | 55 |
| Level | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Very unhealthy | Poor | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Unhealthy |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 98 | Unhealthy |
| Feb | 103 | Unhealthy |
| Mar | 145 | Unhealthy |
| Apr | 237 | Very unhealthy |
| May | 43 | Poor |
| Jun | 20 | Moderate |
| Jul | 13 | Moderate |
| Aug | 11 | Good |
| Sep | 12 | Moderate |
| Oct | 18 | Moderate |
| Nov | 26 | Moderate |
| Dec | 55 | Unhealthy |
Where is Makeni?
Makeni sits at 8.9°N, 12.0°W, 93 m above sea level, in Sierra Leone. The nearest listed city is Mile 91, 50 km away.
Topography around Makeni
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Makeni.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Makeni has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 205 m around an average of 104 m above sea level; within 16 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 253 m; within 80 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 936 m.
The land around Makeni is covered by artificial surfaces (45%), trees (27%) and grassland (24%) within 3 km, trees (56%) and grassland (32%) within 16 km, and trees (59%) and grassland (28%) within 80 km.
Sierra Leone travel facts
- Travel advisory
- Level 2
- Exercise Increased Caution
- Power plugs
- Type D / G
- 230 V · 50 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 24% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $846
- 2025
- Happiness
- 3.3 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Safe drinking water
- 11%
- of population, 2024
- Homicide rate
- 2.2
- per 100k, 2020
- Road deaths
- 33
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- Low
- World Bank
- 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 Makeni (8.886°, -12.0442°, elevation 93 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.