Lagos is hot and humid all year. What changes is the rain, and the rain decides a great deal: whether a road is passable, whether the power stays on, whether you get to work.
The year, roughly
| Months | Season | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| December to February | Dry season, with the harmattan | Dusty haze, cooler mornings, little rain |
| March | Dry and hottest | The most uncomfortable heat of the year |
| April to July | The long rains | Heavy downpours, peaking around June. Flooding |
| August | The “August break” | A drier pause in the middle of the rains |
| September to October | The short rains | Rain returns, usually lighter |
| November | Drying out | The rains end |
The seasons are not punctual. Each year the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMet, publishes a seasonal forecast for the rains’ onset and end by region, which is worth reading in February.
The rains, and flooding
When it rains in Lagos, it pours, and a great deal of the city floods. Parts of Victoria Island, Lekki and Ikoyi, and low-lying areas across the mainland, can be under water within an hour of a heavy storm. Drains blocked by refuse make it worse, which is why the state’s sanitation and drain-clearing efforts pick up before the rains.
What it means for you:
- Traffic stops. A heavy afternoon storm can double a commute. Rain across the evening rush is worst.
- Plan around the forecast. If heavy rain is due in the afternoon, leave early or stay put.
- Never drive into floodwater you cannot see the bottom of. Open drains are hidden beneath it, and cars are swept off roads in Lagos most rainy seasons.
- Ask about flooding before you rent. Ask the neighbours, not the agent, what the street does in June, and look at the watermarks on walls.
The harmattan
Between December and February, a dry wind from the Sahara carries fine dust south. In Lagos it is milder than in the north, but it brings haze, dry skin and lips, coughs, and dust on every surface. People with asthma feel it.
Keep moisturiser, lip balm and water to hand, and keep windows closed on the haziest days. Flights are occasionally delayed when visibility drops.
Heat
The hottest, stickiest stretch is usually February to April, before the rains break. Drink more water than feels necessary, and take the middle of the day slowly if you are outside. A power cut in the heat of the afternoon is when a generator, or a rechargeable fan, earns its keep.
Health and the seasons
Malaria is a risk all year in Lagos and rises in and after the rains, when mosquitoes breed in standing water. Sleep under a net, use repellent, and treat any fever as possibly malaria until a test says otherwise.
Cholera and other water-borne illnesses also rise with flooding. Drink sealed or boiled water, especially in the rains.
When to visit
The driest, most comfortable months to visit are November to February, which is also when Lagos is busiest - “Detty December” fills flights and hotels and pushes prices up. The rainy season is cheaper and quieter, and an afternoon storm is something to plan around rather than to fear.