Climate Insights for Mali

The climate in Mali is cool. The average annual temperature is 7°C and approximately 752mm of precipitation falls per year. July is the wettest month, receiving around 113mm of rainfall. Mali is in the Northern Hemisphere. Summer begins at the end of June and lasts through September. The summer months are: July, August, June. The coldest months are January, December, February, when temperatures can drop to -14°C. Snowfall occurs from January to December, with around 85cm accumulating over the season.

Mali has a wide annual temperature range, spanning 38°C from the coldest to warmest months. July is the warmest month, though highs remain moderate at 24°C with a mean of 18°C. The coldest month is January, when overnight lows fall to -14°C and the daily average is -7°C. On average, daily temperatures fluctuate by about 11°C between overnight lows and afternoon highs. The sharpest temperature change occurs between February and March, with a 8°C shift in average temperatures.

Mali is a relatively dry area, receiving approximately 752mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 63mm per month. The wettest month is July, averaging 113mm of rainfall. August and September also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is December, with just 9mm. That's 104mm less than July, the wettest month. Rainfall is heavily concentrated in certain months, creating a distinct wet and dry season. Visitors should plan around these patterns, as the difference between peak and low months is dramatic. Snowfall is a regular feature from January to December, with around 85cm accumulating over the season. March typically sees the most snow at around 17cm.

Mali is mildly breezy, with an average annual wind speed of 12km/h. For context, sustained winds below 12km/h are generally light, while anything above 25km/h is considered strong. The windiest month is May, averaging 14km/h, though still comfortable for most outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in December, with average winds dropping to 10km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. There is moderate seasonal variation in wind speed, with a 4km/h gap between the calmest and windiest months. Wind tends to pick up during the summer months. The seasonal averages are 10km/h in winter, 13km/h in spring, 13km/h in summer, 12km/h in autumn.

It is currently spring in Mali, which began on March 20, 2026. Mali is in the Northern Hemisphere, where spring begins in March, summer in June, autumn in September, and winter in December. The warmest period peaks in July at around 24°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in January near -14°C. Summer is next, beginning on June 21, 2026 — 88 days from now.

The best time to visit Mali is during June, when the weather is most comfortable for travellers. During these months, average temperatures hover around 16°C with modest rainfall averaging 89mm per month. By contrast, July can be uncomfortably hot with highs reaching 24°C, while January is the coldest period with lows dropping to -14°C. Despite being the best months overall, some rain is still likely — pack a waterproof layer and plan a mix of indoor and outdoor activities.

The table below shows monthly climate averages for Mali based on historical weather data. Min and max temperatures represent typical overnight lows and afternoon highs for each month, shown in degrees Celsius (°C). Precipitation is measured in millimetres (mm) and indicates the average total rainfall per month. Snow is measured in centimetres (cm) and reflects average monthly snowfall accumulation. Wind speed is the average sustained speed in kilometres per hour (km/h). All values are based on averages from over 10 years of historical weather data. The current month is highlighted for quick reference.