Burao in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), Burao sees average daytime highs around 28°C and overnight lows near 15°C, with 4 mm of rain over about 1 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 27°C in early December to 30°C by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 76% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels dry.
Winter is Burao's best season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Burao's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 28°C
- coldest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 15°C
- Rainfall
- 4 mm
- 1 wet days
- Avg wind
- 14 km/h
- Travel score
- 8.3
- best season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Burao in Winter
Over the season highs climb from about 27°C in early December to 30°C by late February.
A typical winter day in Burao reaches about 28°C and drops to 15°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is February, the coolest January.
Burao 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 | 27° / 15° | 0 | 0.1 | 11.5 | 8.7 |
| Feb | 29° / 16° | 1 | 0.2 | 11.7 | 7.5 |
| Mar | 30° / 18° | 8 | 1.8 | 11.9 | 6.2 |
| Apr | 30° / 20° | 35 | 8.1 | 12.2 | 5.4 |
| May | 30° / 21° | 33 | 7.7 | 12.4 | 5.1 |
| Jun | 31° / 21° | 3 | 0.5 | 12.5 | 5.7 |
| Jul | 30° / 20° | 4 | 0.9 | 12.5 | 6.2 |
| Aug | 31° / 21° | 3 | 0.9 | 12.3 | 5.9 |
| Sep | 31° / 21° | 6 | 1.4 | 12.1 | 5.6 |
| Oct | 29° / 19° | 24 | 5.8 | 11.8 | 6.3 |
| Nov | 28° / 17° | 11 | 2 | 11.6 | 8.0 |
| Dec | 27° / 15° | 2 | 0.6 | 11.5 | 8.8 |
Cloud cover in Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 76% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
Burao gets around 4 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 14 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 6.4 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Burao
None of Burao's seasonal hazards peak in winter. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do.
Burao sees seasonal dust haze (June–August), heaviest in July.
Is winter a good time to visit Burao?
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 one of the better times to visit Burao for general sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Burao in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, Burao sees daytime highs around 28°C and nights near 15°C. Pack light clothes and sun protection.
UV index in Burao in Winter
Clear-sky midday UV across winter averages around 12 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Burao peaks around March 22 at about 15 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near November 22 at about 10 (extreme).
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) | 13 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 10 |
| Level | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 13 | Extreme |
| Feb | 14 | Extreme |
| Mar | 15 | Extreme |
| Apr | 15 | Extreme |
| May | 14 | Extreme |
| Jun | 12 | Extreme |
| Jul | 11 | Extreme |
| Aug | 14 | Extreme |
| Sep | 13 | Extreme |
| Oct | 13 | Extreme |
| Nov | 10 | Extreme |
| Dec | 10 | Extreme |
Air quality in Burao 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 Burao is worst in July — around 44 µg/m³ PM2.5 (poor), about 4.1× the cleanest month (November, 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) | 14 | 17 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 34 | 44 | 32 | 20 | 12 | 11 | 12 |
| Level | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Poor | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 14 | Moderate |
| Feb | 17 | Moderate |
| Mar | 14 | Moderate |
| Apr | 13 | Moderate |
| May | 15 | Moderate |
| Jun | 34 | Moderate |
| Jul | 44 | Poor |
| Aug | 32 | Moderate |
| Sep | 20 | Moderate |
| Oct | 12 | Moderate |
| Nov | 11 | Good |
| Dec | 12 | Good |
Where is Burao?
Burao sits at 9.5°N, 45.5°E, 1,041 m above sea level, in Somalia. The nearest listed city is Berbera, 117 km away.
Topography around Burao
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Burao.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Burao has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 33 m around an average of 1,041 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 150 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,659 m.
The land around Burao is covered by artificial surfaces (36%), bare terrain (32%) and grassland (22%) within 3 km, grassland (67%) and bare terrain (20%) within 16 km, and grassland (49%), shrubs (31%) and bare terrain (20%) within 80 km.
Somalia travel facts
- Travel advisory
- Level 4
- Do Not Travel
- Power plugs
- Type C / G
- 220 V · 50 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 52% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $661
- 2025
- Happiness
- 4.5 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Road deaths
- 27.4
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- Low
- World Bank
- English
- Very low
- EF EPI 399
- 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 Burao (9.5221°, 45.5336°, elevation 1,041 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.