Nairobi monthly weather averages

What's the weather like in Nairobi?

Nairobi has a subtropical highland climate (Cwb) under the Köppen climate classification. This means that it is warm/temperate with cool to cold evenings. The city is located at an elevation of 1,795 meters (5,889 ft), which helps to moderate the temperatures.

The warmest month of the year in Nairobi is February, with an average temperature of 20.5 °C (69 °F). The coldest month is July, with an average temperature of 16.5 °C (62 °F). The city receives an average of 1,000 mm (39 in) of rainfall per year, which is is quite concentrated over two main rainy seasons: the long rains from March to May and the short rains from October to November.

The best time to visit Nairobi is during the dry season, which runs from June to October. During this time, the weather is warm and sunny, with very little rain. However, it is important to note that the city can still be quite hot during the day, so it is important to stay hydrated and wear sunscreen.

If you are planning to visit Nairobi during the rainy season, don't forget to pack a raincoat and umbrella. The rain can be quite heavy at times, so it is important to be prepared. However, on the other hand, the rainy season is also a great time to see the city's lush vegetation and beautiful flowers.

No matter when you decide to visit Nairobi, you are sure to have a wonderful time. The city is full of culture, history, and natural beauty. With its friendly people and delicious food, Nairobi is a great place to explore.

Average daytime temperature

The bar chart below shows the average monthly peak daytime temperatures at Nairobi

Nairobi average temperature chart (Celsius) Nairobi average temperature chart (Fahrenheit)
Average monthly temperatures in Nairobi (degrees centigrade and fahrenheit)
  Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
°C 24.6 25.6 25.5 24 22.5 21.4 20.5 21.1 23.4 24.5 22.9 23.3
°F 76.3 78 77.8 75.1 72.4 70.4 68.9 70 74.2 76 73.2 74

Please note: these are the average peak daytime temperatures (usually around mid-afternoon) so do not show daytime / night highs and lows. To see the daily range of temperatures have a look at the temperature max / min chart below.

Average rainfall & rainy days

The graph below shows the average rainfall and number of rainy days per month.

Nairobi monthly rainfall chart (mm) Nairobi monthly rainfall chart (inches)
Average monthly rainfall in Nairobi (mm and inches)
  Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
mm 58 49 93 244 186 42 22 27 29 67 151 99
inches 2.3 1.9 3.7 9.6 7.3 1.6 0.9 1.1 1.1 2.6 6 3.9
Rainy days 9 8 13 20 18 7 6 7 6 9 20 12

Average annual rainfall in Nairobi: 1101.8mm (433.8 inches)

Average daily sunshine

The bar chart below shows the average daily sunshine hours in Nairobi

Nairobi average daily sunshine chart
Average daily sunshine Nairobi
  Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Hrs sunshine 9.6 9.6 8.8 7.2 6.3 5.4 4.4 4.5 6.6 7.8 7.1 8.7

Day / night temperatures

The graph below shows the daily range of temperatures for each month.

Nairobi average minimum / maximum temperatures (Celsius) Nairobi average minimum / maximum temperatures (Fahrenheit)
Maximum and minimum daily temperatures in Nairobi (degrees centigrade and fahrenheit)
  Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Min °C 11.9 12.1 13.3 14 13.1 11.2 10.3 10.5 10.9 12.5 13.1 12.6
Max °C 24.9 25.9 25.8 24.2 22.7 21.6 20.8 21.4 23.8 24.8 23.2 23.6
Min °F 53.4 53.8 55.9 57.2 55.6 52.2 50.5 50.8 51.5 54.4 55.5 54.7
Max °F 65.1 66.2 67.1 66.4 64.2 61.5 59.9 60.6 63.1 65.5 64.6 64.6

Sea temperature

The graph below shows the average sea temperature.

Nairobi average sea temperature chart (Celsius) Nairobi average sea temperature chart (Fahrenheit)
Average sea temperature around Nairobi in degrees centigrade and fahrenheit
  Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
°C 28 28.1 28.8 29 28.2 27.2 26.4 26.2 26.5 27.2 27.8 28.2
°F 82.4 82.5 83.9 84.3 82.8 80.9 79.5 79.2 79.7 80.9 82.1 82.7

Wind speed

The graph below shows the average wind speed.

Nairobi average winspeed by month (km/h) Nairobi average winspeed by month (mph)
Average wind speed in Nairobi (mph and kmh)
  Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
km/h 15 16 15 13 11 10 10 10 12 14 15 15
mph 9 10 9 8 7 6 6 7 7 9 9 9

A monthly average windspeed of over 16km/h or 10mph suggests a location is fairly windy.

Relative humidity

The graph below shows the average relative humidity.

Nairobi relative humidity averages
Average relative humidity in Nairobi
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
60% 58% 62% 68% 74% 72% 73% 71% 64% 62% 70% 66%
Nairobi

Other monthly averages

UV index Best time to go?

Nairobi weather stats

Nairobi weather statistics
Hottest month: March 25.5°C 77.9°F
Driest month: July 22mm 0.9ins
Sunniest month: February 9.6hrs
Coldest month: July 20.5°C 68.9°F
Wettest month: April 244mm 9.6ins
Warmest sea: April 29°C 84.2°F
Map showing location of Nairobi (-1.28333, 36.81667) Nairobi map pin © Google

Top Kenya locations