Bamako's Climate
Bamako sits on the banks of the Niger River in south-western Mali, deep in inland West Africa, with a hot tropical savanna climate (Köppen Aw) all year round. The year splits into two clear seasons: a long dry season from November to May with clear skies, low humidity and the dust-laden harmattan wind blowing off the Sahara, and a wet season from June to September when the West African monsoon delivers showers and short thunderstorms. The hottest stretch is March to May before the rains, when daytime highs often reach 36–41°C and occasionally top 42°C; the rest of the year is milder but still warm.