Nouakchott vs Dakhla: which is sunnier?
🇲🇷 Mauritania vs 🇪🇭 Western Sahara · 601 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Nouakchott and Dakhla are virtually tied for annual sunshine — about 3,619 vs 3,691 hours a year. Nouakchott has the higher Sunshine Score in 2 of 12 months; the other 10 are within 2 points.
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
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At a glance
| Nouakchott | Dakhla | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 3,619 | 3,691 |
| Sunniest month | January (100/100) | January (100/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 97/100 | 96/100 |
| Rain / year | 106 mm | 58 mm |
| Warmest sea | 29°C / 84°F | 22°C / 72°F |
| Peak midday UV | 11 (extreme) | 11 (extreme) |
Nouakchott vs Dakhla month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nouakchott | Dakhla | Nouakchott | Dakhla | Nouakchott | Dakhla | Nouakchott | Dakhla | |
| January | 100 | 100 | 23° | 24° | 2 | 2 | 20° | 18° |
| February | 100 | 99 | 24° | 25° | 2 | 3 | 21° | 19° |
| March | 99 | 99 | 25° | 27° | 7 | 5 | 21° | 18° |
| April | 100 | 100 | 25° | 27° | 1 | 1 | 22° | 19° |
| May | 100 | 100 | 26° | 28° | 0 | 2 | 23° | 19° |
| June | 100 | 100 | 28° | 30° | 1 | 1 | 24° | 20° |
| July | 98 | 100 | 28° | 32° | 13 | 0 | 26° | 20° |
| August | 94 | 89 | 29° | 33° | 32 | 5 | 29° | 22° |
| September | 94 | 88 | 31° | 33° | 32 | 14 | 28° | 21° |
| October | 97 | 96 | 30° | 30° | 14 | 20 | 28° | 21° |
| November | 100 | 99 | 27° | 27° | 2 | 3 | 23° | 21° |
| December | 100 | 100 | 25° | 25° | 0 | 2 | 21° | 20° |
The sunnier month by month: Jan even · Feb even · Mar even · Apr even · May even · Jun even · Jul even · Aug Nouakchott · Sep Nouakchott · Oct even · Nov even · Dec even.
When to pick which
- November–February: too close to call — Nouakchott averages 100/100, Dakhla 100/100. Daytime highs are similar (25°C vs 25°C). See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: too close to call — Nouakchott averages 100/100, Dakhla 100/100. Dakhla is the warmer, around 27°C daytime highs vs 25°C.
- June–August: too close to call — Nouakchott averages 97/100, Dakhla 96/100. Dakhla is the warmer, around 32°C daytime highs vs 28°C.
- September–October: Nouakchott (average score 96/100 vs 92). Daytime highs are similar (31°C vs 32°C).
Sea temperature
Nouakchott's sea gets warmer: 29°C / 84°F at its peak vs 22°C. Swimmable water (21°C+): Nouakchott about 11 months a year, Dakhla about 4 months a year. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.
Full month-by-month guides: Nouakchott weather by month · Dakhla weather by month.
More comparisons: Nouakchott vs Dakar · Nouakchott vs Serekunda · Dakhla vs Gran Canaria · Dakhla vs Tenerife · Dakhla vs Fuerteventura · all head-to-heads