Gambia Weather Radar

Gambia climate

The Gambia, Africa's smallest mainland country, has a tropical Sudanese climate defined by two sharply contrasting seasons. The rainy season runs from June to October, driven by the southwest monsoon bringing moisture from the Atlantic, while the dry season from November to May features the dusty Harmattan wind and virtually no precipitation. The narrow country stretches along both banks of the Gambia River, which heavily influences local humidity and weather patterns.

Temperatures are hot year-round, with the hottest period occurring in March to May when maximums regularly exceed 40°C in the interior before the rains provide relief. The Atlantic coast around Banjul and the resort areas of Kololi and Kotu benefit from cooling sea breezes that keep temperatures several degrees lower than inland locations. Annual rainfall averages around 900mm, though this varies significantly from year to year due to Sahel-zone climate variability.

Banjul sits on an island at the mouth of the Gambia River, where the coastal location provides some of the most comfortable conditions in the country, with average temperatures around 27°C in the cooler season. The dry season offers ideal conditions for tourism, with clear skies and low humidity from November through April. During the wet season, intense thunderstorms can cause flash flooding along the riverbanks, and the lush green landscape transforms dramatically from the parched brown of the dry months.