Freetown weather in December

December in Freetown: sweltering, a little rain, with muggy air — fine if you can take 35°C afternoons.

Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis

Freetown🇸🇱 Sierra Leone · Gulf of Guinea · City74
  1. 78Jan
  2. 77Feb
  3. 79Mar
  4. 72Apr
  5. 61May
  6. 51Jun
  7. 50Jul
  8. 49Aug
  9. 48Sep
  10. 56Oct
  11. 66Nov
  12. 74Dec

#4 of 12 months in Freetown · #619 of 1413 destinations to visit in December · comfort 74/100 (tier B)

Days
28°C
Nights
26°C
Wet days
9
Sun
10.3 h
Humidity
78%
Daylight
12 h
Freetown, Sierra Leone
Photo: Tappiah Sesay · Pexels

Traveller notes on Freetown in December

Other months in Freetown

Forum posters describe August as the worst month for rain in Sierra Leone, with July a close second, and posters generally rate September as still solidly within the rainy season, if trending slightly better as the peak passes. Posters consistently name November through May as the dry season and the more comfortable overall window for visiting, implying September remains genuinely challenging weather-wise. Posters do flag one real upside to the rainy season: it's considered prime time for surfing along Sierra Leone's coast, for anyone interested in learning or already keen to surf. Posters generally rate September as wet and travel-disrupting, but not without its own specific appeal for visitors prioritizing surf conditions over dry, easy sightseeing.
Tripadvisor community · September · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Forum posters consistently name November through May as Sierra Leone's dry season and the easier window for getting around, with March sitting comfortably within it - a sharp contrast to August and July, which posters specifically call out as the worst months for rain. Posters describe the dry season overall as tropical and pleasant, with great beaches and seafood on offer around Freetown without the logistical headaches that heavy rain brings to road travel during the wetter half of the year. Posters do note Freetown's coastal humidity stays high year-round regardless of season, so a March visit still calls for light, breathable clothing even without the rain itself to contend with.
Tripadvisor community · March · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

Add your own note from Freetown's card on the map.

Freetown climate normals — December

Daytime high28°C / 83°F🔥 sweltering
Nighttime low26°C / 79°F
Feels like (high)35°C / 95°F
Sea temperature30°C / 85°F♨️ bath-warm
Rainfall30 mm / 1.2 in🌦 some rain
Rainy days9 days
Humidity78%💦 very humid
Dew point23°C / 74°F
Sunshine10.3 h/day
Daylight11.6 h
Wind11 km/h / 7 mph
Air quality (US AQI)96🙂 moderate

Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.

Crowds in Freetown in December

How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.

BusyChristmas and Boxing Day, school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it(estimated)

JFMAMJJASOND

Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet

Best months for Freetown's weather

Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).

Fair weatherFreetown's weather peaks January–March.

JFMAMJJASOND

Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather

What's on in Freetown in December

Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.

  • Season

    The dry months

    20 Nov – 20 Apr · usuallyDry season

    The stretch when the peninsula beaches south of the city are usable and the road round to River No. 2 is not washed out. It is also when the water shortages bite hardest in the hill neighbourhoods.

  • Season

    Harmattan haze

    1 Dec – 20 Feb · usuallyDust season

    Saharan dust reaches this far down the coast through the driest weeks and takes the view of the hills with it. Sensitive chests notice it; so does anyone hoping for a clean sunset over Lumley. Source ↗

  • Holiday

    Christmas and Boxing Day

    24 Dec – 2 JanChristmas & New YearCrowdedClosures

    Both 25 and 26 December are public holidays and the diaspora comes home for them. Flights and the peninsula beach bars are at their fullest of the year, and the city centre is dead for about a week. Source ↗

What's on around the world in December →

Where is Freetown?

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Freetown in December — FAQ

Is December a good time to visit Freetown?
December in Freetown: sweltering, a little rain, with muggy air — fine if you can take 35°C afternoons. It ranks #4 of 12 months for Freetown on SeasonMap's comfort score (74/100).
What is the weather like in Freetown in December?
In December, Freetown averages a daily high of 28.4°C and a low of 26.3°C, with about 30 mm of rain over roughly 8.7 rainy days.
What is the air quality in Freetown in December?
Freetown has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 96 in December.