At a Glance
- Extreme temperatures exceed 40°C, worsening urban heat islands and public health challenges.
- Climate change intensifies Sahel cities’ heat, affecting agriculture, energy, and livelihoods.
- Rapid urbanisation amplifies heat stress, testing resilience and infrastructure in growing West African cities.
Heat is no longer just a seasonal inconvenience in West Africa; it has become a defining economic and social force.
Across the Sahel belt and deep into the region’s urban centres, temperatures regularly exceed 40°C, reshaping how cities operate, how people work, and how governments plan for the future.
From Niger to northern Nigeria and Mali, rising heat is not losing its grip on cities already strained by rapid population growth, weak infrastructure, and climate vulnerability.
Geography plays a key role. Many of West Africa’s hottest cities are close to the Sahara, exposed to dry Harmattan winds, sparse rainfall, and long dry seasons.
Urbanisation has worsened the situation, as concrete replaces vegetation, trapping heat and intensifying the “urban heat island” effect.
Climate change now accelerates this trend. Models by geologists, climatologists and geographers suggest parts of the region could experience temperatures above 50°C before the end of the century, turning extreme heat into a structural risk rather than a temporary shock.
The consequences are far-reaching. Extreme heat impacts labour productivity, public health, agriculture, and energy demand, while increasing pressure on already fragile power and water systems.
Shore Africa has chronicled 10 West African hot cities as cities expand, their ability to adapt, through smarter planning, climate-resilient housing, and heat-action policies, will decide whether they remain liveable engines of growth or slide into chronic climate stress.
1. Niamey, Niger
Peak temperature: In Niamey, Niger, peak temperatures typically occur between March and June, frequently exceeding 41°C and sometimes reaching upwards of 45°C. Regularly recording highs of 38–43°C, Niamey sits at the heart of the Sahel’s heat corridor. Limited green cover and rapid urban growth amplify heat stress, straining health services and energy access in one of the world’s poorest capitals.
2. Bamako, Mali
Peak temperature: Peak temperatures in Bamako, Mali, typically peak between March and May, with daily highs frequently reaching 39°C to 41°C. The hottest day of the year is usually around April 13, when temperatures range from 27°C to 39°C. With peak temperatures of 37–41°C, Bamako’s heat is intensified by dense development along the Niger River. Productivity losses during hot months are increasing, especially in informal sectors that rely on outdoor labour.
3. Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Peak temperature: The peak temperature in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, can reach up to 49°C (121°F), with the highest temperatures typically occurring during the hot, dry season in March and April. Daytime highs during this period often exceed 40°C (104°F). Extreme heat shapes daily life in Ouagadougou, where temperatures hover above 40°C during peak months. Weak cooling infrastructure and rapid population growth leave residents highly vulnerable to climate-driven heat risks.
4. Maiduguri, Nigeria
Peak temperature: Maiduguri, Nigeria, experiences extreme peak temperatures, with record highs reaching 47°C, typically occurring in May. The region consistently sees temperatures between 42°C and 44°C during the hottest months. Northern Nigeria’s heat epicentre, Maiduguri often surpasses 40°C. Conflict-driven urban pressure compounds climate stress, increasing health risks and deepening the city’s vulnerability to prolonged heatwaves.
5. Kano, Nigeria
Peak temperature: In Kano, Nigeria, peak temperatures typically reach between 102°F (39°C) and 106°F (41°C) during the hottest months, which are generally March to May. While the average daily highs in the hottest season often exceed 95°F (35°C), extreme, rare, hot days can exceed 106°F (41°C). As northern Nigeria’s commercial hub, Kano combines economic activity with extreme heat. Rising temperatures are raising energy demand, testing the resilience of households and small businesses alike.
6. Sokoto, Nigeria
Peak temperature: The highest recorded temperature is 45°C. Often among Nigeria’s hottest cities, Sokoto faces prolonged dry seasons and minimal rainfall. Agricultural livelihoods around the city are increasingly threatened by heat-driven yield declines.
7. Zinder, Niger
Peak temperature: Peak temperatures in Zinder, Niger, are highest between March and May, with mean maximum temperatures reaching approximately 42.8°C. Temperatures in the region often exceed 45°C during this intensely hot period. Zinder, the third largest city in Niger, experiences persistent extreme heat, worsened by proximity to the desert and limited urban planning. Climate stress accelerates rural-urban migration into an already fragile urban system.
8. Agadez, Niger
Peak temperature: Agadez, Niger, experiences extreme heat, with peak temperatures frequently soaring to around 47°C during intense heatwaves. Located in the Sahara desert region, the city experiences maximum temperatures often exceeding 45°C between March and June. The highest recorded temperature in the wider region is 49.5°C. A historic desert city, Agadez endures some of the region’s most punishing heat. Tourism and trade face seasonal disruptions as temperatures become more extreme.
9. Timbuktu, Mali
Peak temperature: Timbuktu, Mali, experiences extreme, sweltering heat, with peak temperatures typically occurring in April, May, and June. Average maximum temperatures during these months reach approximately 43°C, often exceeding 44°C on the hottest days. Situated near the Sahara’s edge, Timbuktu’s extreme heat and arid climate threaten heritage preservation and economic activity, highlighting the fragile balance between climate and culture.
10. Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
Peak temperature: Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, experiences its peak temperatures during the dry season, specifically from March to May, with average daily highs frequently exceeding 38°C. The hottest month is typically April, with average highs around 36.5°C to 37°C and potential to reach higher during heatwaves. Although slightly more temperate than Sahel capitals, rising heat in Bobo-Dioulasso erodes its agricultural advantage, demonstrating how climate change is reshaping regional economic patterns.
