Nairobi Temperature by Month

The average annual maximum temperature in Nairobi, Kenya is 26°C (79°F), with little variation between seasons. This page covers monthly averages, day-night differences, and how Nairobi compares to cities worldwide.

The temperature in Nairobi changes very little across the seasons, maintaining a similar climate throughout the year. Maximum daytime temperatures range from a comfortable 24°C (75°F) in July to a comfortable 29°C (84°F) in February. Nighttime lows range from 16°C (61°F) in February to 14°C (57°F) in July.

The chart below illustrates the average maximum day and minimum night temperatures in Nairobi by month:

The coolest part of the day is typically between 4 AM and 6 AM, while 3 PM is usually the warmest, when solar heating is at its peak. February, the city's warmest month, averages 266 hours of sunshine.

The chart below shows the average temperature throughout the year:

Nairobi's average annual maximum temperature is 26°C (79°F). To put that in context, here's how it compares to a few well-known destinations:

Barcelona, Spain has an annual average of around 21°C (70°F), with warm summers and mild, fairly short winters.

Zermatt, Switzerland averages just 4°C (39°F) annually due to its altitude, with very cold winters and cool summers even at its warmest.

Boston, USA averages 16°C (61°F) annually, with four distinct seasons and cold winters that rival northern Europe.

Adelaide, Australia averages 21°C (70°F) a year, with warm summers, mild winters, and relatively low rainfall year-round.

Temperature alone doesn't tell the whole story, humidity plays a big role in how warm or cold it actually feels. High humidity in summer makes the heat feel more intense, particularly once temperatures climb above 25°C. In winter, the same humidity can make cold air feel sharper than the thermometer suggests.

In Nairobi, July is the coolest month, with average highs of 24°C (75°F) and humidity around 74%, considered high. In February, the warmest month, temperatures average 29°C (84°F) with 62% humidity, conditions that feel high. For a full picture, see our humidity page.

Climate temperature data is typically calculated as a 30-year average. This smooths out year-to-year variability and gives a more reliable picture of what a place is actually like, rather than what happened in any single unusual year.

The readings come from a range of sources, land-based weather stations, ocean buoys, ships, and satellites. That data is collected by weather services around the world, then pooled, quality-checked, and averaged to produce the climate records you see here.

For cities and regions with significant elevation, altitude is one of the biggest factors shaping local temperatures. As a rule of thumb, temperatures fall by around 6°C for every 1,000 metres gained, so a city at 2,000 metres will typically be around 12°C cooler than a city at sea level in the same region. Higher ground also tends to see more dramatic day-to-night temperature swings, since thinner air loses heat faster after sunset.

For more on Nairobi's weather, including monthly rainfall, sunshine hours, and humidity, visit our Nairobi climate page.