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Climate - Benin


Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine

Flag - Benin

Map - Benin

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The climate in Benin, a small African country overlooking the Gulf of Guinea, is tropical, with a dry season in winter and a rainy season due to the African monsoon, which runs from May to September in the extreme north and from mid-March to October in the south. Along the coast, there's a pause in the rainy season in August.
Precipitation is below 1,000 millimeters (40 inches) per annum in the extreme north, where the dry season lasts nearly seven months, while in the rest of the country, it ranges between 1,000 and 1,300 mm (40 and 51 in).

Index


  • The seasons
  • The cities - Kandi, Cotonou
  • When to go
  • What to pack

The seasons



Winter, from November to January, is hot: it's often scorching in the north, where highs can exceed 35 °C (95 °F), while it's less hot along the coast, where highs are around 31/32 °C (88/90 °F), but it's also more humid and with a bit of cloudiness in the morning.
In the center and north, a wind from the desert blows in winter, called Harmattan, which can fill the sky with dust, making it whitish and creating a peculiar mist in the early hours of the day. Moreover, in the north, nights are cool, and the temperature can drop to 13/15 °C (55/59 °F); in the past decades, in the far north the temperature has reached as low as 10 °C (50 °F).
From February to May, the temperature increases further in the north, often reaching 40 °C (104 °F). In the extreme north, the W National Park, where the temperature can reach 45 °C (113 °F), is particularly hot; the Pendjari National Park is very hot as well, here, however, the rains arrive a few weeks earlier, bringing a bit of relief.

Pendjari National Park

The first showers begin in March in the far south, and gradually move from the ocean to the north. In the north-central inland areas, the wettest period is from July to September; in these months, the daytime temperature remains around 28/29 °C (82/84 °F) along the coast and around 30/32 °C (86/90 °F) in the north, but relative humidity is high and cloud cover is frequent.
The rains cease in early October in the extreme north, and gradually recede towards the south; on the coast, they cease about a month later. With the return of the warm northeast winds, the temperature rises again, while the air returns to be dry in inland areas.

The cities


Kandi

Here are the average temperatures of Kandi, located in the north, at an altitude of 300 meters (985 feet).
Kandi - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January17.733.825.8649378.4
February21.236.729709884.1
March25.339.432.37710390.2
April26.939.333.18010391.5
May25.736.531.1789888
June24.133.628.8759283.9
July2331.227.1738880.8
August22.630.226.4738679.6
September22.531.226.8728880.3
October22.83428.4739383.2
November19.63627.8679782
December17.534.325.9639478.6
Year22.434.728.4572.394.483.5

As mentioned, in the north the rainiest period is shorter. In Kandi, more than 100 mm (4 in) fall per month from May to September. Here is the average precipitation.
Kandi - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January000
February20.10
March100.41
April401.63
May1054.18
June1455.710
July2007.914
August26510.417
September1957.714
October401.64
November20.10
December100
Year100539.671

In the north, the sun shines very often in the long dry period, from October to April, but there are numerous sunny periods even in the rainy season. However, the least sunny month is the wettest, namely August. Here are the average sunshine hours per day in Kandi.
Kandi - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January9.5295
February9.5275
March9275
April9265
May9285
June8.5260
July7.5230
August6.5200
September7.5220
October9280
November10295
December9.5295
Year8.73180

Cotonou

On the coast, the temperatures are more stable than in inland areas, however, here too, the coolest months are actually those of the summer, when the prevailing currents come from the sea. Here are the average temperatures in of Cotonou, the largest city, located on the coast, not far from Porto-Novo.
Cotonou - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January24.431.628768982.4
February26.132.329.2799084.6
March26.532.429.4809085
April26.232.129.1799084.4
May25.431.428.4788983.1
June24.429.727.1768580.7
July24.228.526.4768379.5
August2428.226.1758379
September24.22926.6768480
October24.430.227.3768681.1
November25.231.628.4778983.1
December253228.5779083.2
Year2530.727.87787.382

As mentioned, on the coast the rains are more abundant and the rainy period is longer, however, the rainy season knows a break from mid-July to the end of August. Here is the average precipitation in Cotonou.
Cotonou - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January100.41
February351.42
March7534
April1355.37
May1957.711
June3551415
July1455.78
August652.65
September1003.98
October1254.98
November401.64
December200.82
Year131051.675

Along the coast, the sun shines quite often in the dry season, however, a bit of cloudiness can form even in this period. In the rainy season, the sun shines quite rarely, even during the August break.
Cotonou - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January7215
February7.5210
March7225
April7.5220
May7215
June4.5140
July4.5135
August5150
September5.5165
October6.5210
November8245
December7225
Year6.42345

The temperature of the sea is high throughout the year, although it is a bit warmer in the winter months, as can be seen from the following table.
Cotonou - Sea temperature
MonthCelsius (°C)Fahrenheit (°F)
January27.582
February28.583
March2984
April2984
May2984
June2882
July2679
August25.578
September2679
October27.582
November28.584
December28.583
Year27.781.9

In the capital, Porto-Novo, near the eastern part of the coast, the wettest month is by far June, with more than 300 mm (12 in) of rain, then, from mid-July to late August, the rains decrease (while cloudiness remains widespread), while they rise again in September and October but without excesses, to around 140/150 mm (5.5/6 in) per month.

When to go



The best time to visit Benin is from November to January: the air is dry and the weather is usually good. It is true that it's hot during the day, especially in the north, but less so than in the following period, from February to May.
The rainiest and sultriest months are May and June on the coast, while they are July, August and September in the center-north.

What to pack



In winter: in Cotonou and the coast, bring light clothes for the day, a light sweatshirt for the evening, and a light scarf for the wind-borne sand and dust. In the north, bring light clothing, a sweatshirt and a light jacket for the evening, and a scarf for the desert wind. For women it's best to avoid shorts and miniskirts.
In summer: bring light clothing of natural fibers, a light sweater and a light raincoat for the rain showers.

For women, it's best to avoid shorts and miniskirts.

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