Niamey experiences one of the hottest climates on Earth, with relentless heat dominating nearly every month of the year.

The brief wet season from June to September provides the only meaningful rainfall, transforming dust into mud but offering little relief from the heat.

Temperatures routinely exceed 40°C during the hottest months of April and May, while even the 'cooler' December and January nights barely dip below 15°C.

The Harmattan wind sweeps dust from the Sahara across the city between November and March, coating everything in fine particles and drying out skin and throats.

Light-colored, loose cotton becomes less a fashion choice and more a survival strategy under Niamey's unforgiving sun.