Mali Climate
Top 5 Cities: Bamako, Sikasso, Mopti, Koulikoro, and Kayes
This month in numbers
Mali experienced its 2nd warmest April on record, with an average temperature of 33.15°C, an anomaly of +3.1°C compared to the 1961–1990 baseline. This follows a trend of exceptional warmth, as the February–April 2026 period also ranked as the 2nd warmest on record, with an average of 29.45°C, an anomaly of +2.7°C. Globally, April 2026 was the 2nd warmest April on record for land temperatures, with a +1.1°C anomaly, and the February–April period was also the 2nd warmest globally for land temperatures, with a +1.2°C anomaly.
What changed
Mali's significant warming trend is evident in both monthly and seasonal data. The country's average temperature for April was notably higher than the historical average, contributing to the 2nd warmest February–April on record. This places Mali at 36th globally for its 1-month temperature anomaly and 55th for its 3-month anomaly, indicating a widespread warming across the region. The latest full-year average temperature for Mali in 2025 was 29.66°C, making it the 3rd warmest year on record, continuing a long-term trend of +1.40°C warming compared to the 1961–1990 baseline.
What’s driving change?
The extreme heat experienced in Mali during March and April, with temperatures regularly exceeding 40°C in some areas, was part of a broader heatwave across the Sahel region. Scientists have indicated that such an extreme heatwave would not have occurred without climate change, with temperatures being up to 1.5°C hotter than normal due to human-caused global warming. The current ENSO state is Neutral, with a strong forecast for El Niño developing in the coming months, which typically brings warmer and drier conditions to the Sahel region, potentially exacerbating heat and drought. This warming is also influenced by the effect, where landlocked regions like Mali experience more rapid temperature increases. The National Meteorological Agency (Mali-Météo) issued an extreme heat alert in March, urging residents to take precautions.
Looking ahead
The forecast indicates a high probability of El Niño developing and persisting through the second half of 2026, which typically brings warmer and drier conditions to the Sahel region, suggesting continued vigilance regarding heat and potential drought in the coming months. Mali is also proactively preparing for the upcoming rainy season, with authorities activating national flood management frameworks and allocating resources for preventative measures, following significant flood events in previous years.
Generated by Gemini from climate data and web sources
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Data Sources
Data Sources for Mali
Every figure on this page is sourced from official, openly published climate datasets. Anomalies are calculated against the 1961–1990 baseline (temperature) and 1991–2020 (rainfall, sunshine, frost) - see the Methodology & Sources page for the complete dataset list and update calendar.
FAQs
FAQs
How is the climate in Mali changing?
Mali is warming in line with the rest of the world. The page above shows the latest monthly temperature anomaly versus the 1961-1990 baseline, the long-term annual trend, and the region's rank in the historical record. The trend rate is shown as °C per decade in the headline panel; you can also see the warmest and coolest years on file.
Where does the climate data for Mali come from?
Climate data for Mali comes from Our World in Data, sourcing Copernicus ERA5 and HadCRUT5 (national temperature anomaly) and the Global Carbon Project via Our World in Data (CO₂ emissions), refreshed every month, when the upstream temperature and rainfall data are refreshed.
What is the climate baseline used on this page?
Anomalies on this page are calculated against the 1961-1990 climatological baseline, which is the standard reference period used by the Met Office, NOAA, IPCC and most national climate services. Some panels also show the source-native 1901-2000 (NOAA) or 1991-2020 (WMO) baselines for verification. See Methodology & Sources for the full reference.
Which areas does the Mali climate data cover?
The Mali climate profile covers Bamako, Sikasso, Mopti, Koulikoro and surrounding areas. Temperature, rainfall and emissions data for Mali
How often is the Mali climate update refreshed?
The Mali climate update is refreshed monthly, typically a few days after the previous month closes and the upstream provider (Met Office HadUK-Grid, NOAA Climate at a Glance, Copernicus ERA5 or the Global Carbon Project) publishes its update. See the Climate Rankings for cross-region comparisons.