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Climate in 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).

The climate in detail


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

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

Climate chart - Kandi
In Kandi, located in the north, at an altitude of 300 meters (985 feet), the maximum temperatures exceed 39 °C (102 °F) in March and April, while they drop to 30 °C (86 °F) in August.
As mentioned, in the north the rainiest period is shorter. In Kandi, 1,000 mm (40 in) of rain fall per year, of which more than 100 mm (4 in) per month from May to September.
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.

Cotonou

Climate chart - 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. In Cotonou, the largest city, located on the coast, not far from Porto-Novo, highs reach around 32.5 °C (90.5 °F) in March, while they drop to 28 °C (82.5 °F) in August.
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.
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.
The temperature of the sea is high throughout the year, although it is a bit warmer in the winter months.

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.

Climate data - Benin


Temperatures: °C, Precipitation: mm
Bohicon
Bohicon, location on the map
Bohicon, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.232525252423232223232423
Max temp.353636343331302931323435
Precip.530751251551751401101401202015
Prec. days12591012989921
Humidity61%67%72%77%81%84%85%84%85%83%77%68%
Day length121212121212121212121212
Sun hours777776434687

Cotonou
Cotonou, location on the map
Cotonou, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.242627262524242424242525
Max temp.323232323130292829303232
Precip.103575135195355145651001254020
Prec. days12471115858842
Humidity78%80%80%81%82%85%87%87%87%85%82%80%
Day length121212121212121212121212
Sun hours777775456787
Sea temp282829292928262526282928

Kandi (300 meters)
Kandi, location on the map
Kandi, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.182125272624232322232017
Max temp.343739393634313031343634
Precip.0010401051452002651954000
Prec. days0013810141714400
Humidity26%24%28%44%61%71%79%83%82%72%42%30%
Day length121212121313131212121212
Sun hours1010999986791010

Natitingou (450 meters)
Natitingou, location on the map
Natitingou, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.182124252423222221211918
Max temp.353738363432302931333535
Precip.002590110140225265255105105
Prec. days0036911141818910
Humidity33%35%47%62%72%79%84%85%85%78%56%40%
Day length121212121313131212121212
Sun hours998887545798

Parakou (380 meters)
Parakou, location on the map
Parakou, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.202324242322222222222120
Max temp.353737363331292930323435
Precip.51040851301701902102059055
Prec. days0135911121315711
Humidity28%32%48%62%72%77%82%84%82%77%55%35%
Day length121212121313131212121212

Savè (200 meters)
Savè, location on the map
Savè, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.222424242423222222222322
Max temp.363737353432302930323435
Precip.52070110130150160125155115205
Prec. days014569121212721
Humidity47%52%62%70%75%80%82%84%83%80%69%54%
Day length121212121213121212121212



See also the temperatures month by month

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 Bohicon
 Cotonou
 Kandi
 Natitingou
 Parakou
 Savè

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