Dakar enjoys a tropical climate tempered by Atlantic breezes, making it more bearable than many cities at this latitude.

The wet season brings occasional downpours that clear quickly, so waterproof layers matter more than umbrellas that turn inside-out in the coastal wind.

Temperatures hover between 18°C and 30°C year-round, with the hottest months arriving just before the rains break the heat.

Humidity spikes during the rainy months but the constant ocean wind keeps conditions from becoming oppressively sticky.

Fine Saharan dust during the harmattan winds can coat everything in sight, making sealed bags and sunglasses essential rather than optional.