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Cotonou's climate is
tropical, with a hotter, dry season from December to February and a rainy season from mid-March to October, during which there is a break in August.
The city is located in southern Benin, on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea.
The harmattan, the dust-laden wind, blows in the dry period, but less often than in the north-central of the country.
Cotonou - Climate data
In Cotonou, the
average temperature of the coldest month (August) is of 26.1 °C (79.0 °F), that of the warmest month (March) is of 29.4 °C (85.0 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Cotonou - Average temperatures (1991-2020) | Month | Min (°C) | Max (°C) | Mean (°C) | Min (°F) | Max (°F) | Mean (°F) |
|---|
| January | 24 | 32 | 28 | 76 | 89 | 82.4 |
|---|
| February | 26 | 32 | 29.2 | 79 | 90 | 84.6 |
|---|
| March | 27 | 32 | 29.4 | 80 | 90 | 85 |
|---|
| April | 26 | 32 | 29.1 | 79 | 90 | 84.4 |
|---|
| May | 25 | 31 | 28.4 | 78 | 89 | 83.1 |
|---|
| June | 24 | 30 | 27.1 | 76 | 85 | 80.7 |
|---|
| July | 24 | 29 | 26.4 | 76 | 83 | 79.5 |
|---|
| August | 24 | 28 | 26.1 | 75 | 83 | 79 |
|---|
| September | 24 | 29 | 26.6 | 76 | 84 | 80 |
|---|
| October | 24 | 30 | 27.3 | 76 | 86 | 81.1 |
|---|
| November | 25 | 32 | 28.4 | 77 | 89 | 83.1 |
|---|
| December | 25 | 32 | 28.5 | 77 | 90 | 83.2 |
|---|
| Year | 25 | 30.7 | 27.8 | 77 | 87.3 | 82 |
|---|
In Cotonou,
precipitation amounts to 1310 millimeters (51.6 inches) per year: it is therefore quite abundant. It ranges from 10 mm (0.4 in) in the driest month (January) to 355 mm (14 in) in the wettest one (June). Here is the average precipitation.
Cotonou - Average precipitation| Month | Millimeters | Inches | Days |
|---|
| January | 10 | 0.4 | 1 |
|---|
| February | 35 | 1.4 | 2 |
|---|
| March | 75 | 3 | 4 |
|---|
| April | 135 | 5.3 | 7 |
|---|
| May | 195 | 7.7 | 11 |
|---|
| June | 355 | 14 | 15 |
|---|
| July | 145 | 5.7 | 8 |
|---|
| August | 65 | 2.6 | 5 |
|---|
| September | 100 | 3.9 | 8 |
|---|
| October | 125 | 4.9 | 8 |
|---|
| November | 40 | 1.6 | 4 |
|---|
| December | 20 | 0.8 | 2 |
|---|
| Year | 1310 | 51.6 | 75 |
|---|
At Cotonou, the
sea temperature ranges from 25.5 °C (78 °F) in August to 29 °C (84 °F) in March, April, May. Here are the average sea temperatures.
Cotonou - Sea temperature| Month | Celsius (°C) | Fahrenheit (°F) |
|---|
January | 27.5 | 82 | February | 28.5 | 83 | March | 29 | 84 | April | 29 | 84 | May | 29 | 84 | June | 28 | 82 | July | 26 | 79 | August | 25.5 | 78 | September | 26 | 79 | October | 27.5 | 82 | November | 28.5 | 84 | December | 28.5 | 83 | Year | 27.7 | 81.9 |
In Cotonou, there are on average around 2345
sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.
Cotonou - Sunshine hours| Month | Average | Total |
|---|
January | 7 | 215 | February | 7.5 | 210 | March | 7 | 225 | April | 7.5 | 220 | May | 7 | 215 | June | 4.5 | 140 | July | 4.5 | 135 | August | 5 | 150 | September | 5.5 | 165 | October | 6.5 | 210 | November | 8 | 245 | December | 7 | 225 | Year | 6.4 | 2345 |
Cotonou - Weather by month
Based on the period 1991-2020
In
January, the weather in Cotonou is usually very hot and muggy. The average temperature is of 28.0 °C (82 °F), with a minimum of 24.4 °C (76 °F) and a maximum of 31.6 °C (88.9 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 20 °C (68.5 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33.5 °C (92.5 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 10 mm (0.4 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 58% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 27.5 °C (81.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
In
February, the weather in Cotonou is usually very hot and muggy. The average temperature is of 29.2 °C (85 °F), with a minimum of 26.1 °C (78.9 °F) and a maximum of 32.3 °C (90.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 22.5 °C (72.5 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34.5 °C (93.5 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 35 mm (1.4 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 62% of the time.
The average humidity is 80%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 28.5 °C (83 °F). Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
In
March, the hottest month of the year, the weather in Cotonou is usually very hot and muggy. The average temperature is of 29.4 °C (85 °F), with a minimum of 26.5 °C (79.7 °F) and a maximum of 32.4 °C (90.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 22.5 °C (72 °F).
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 34 °C (93.5 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 75 mm (3 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 60% of the time.
The average humidity is 80%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 29 °C (84 °F). Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
In
April, the weather in Cotonou is usually very hot and muggy. The average temperature is of 29.1 °C (84 °F), with a minimum of 26.2 °C (79.1 °F) and a maximum of 32.1 °C (89.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 22 °C (72 °F).
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 33.5 °C (92.5 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 135 mm (5.3 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 59% of the time.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 29 °C (84 °F). Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
In
May, the weather in Cotonou is usually very hot and muggy. The average temperature is of 28.4 °C (83 °F), with a minimum of 25.4 °C (77.7 °F) and a maximum of 31.4 °C (88.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 22 °C (72 °F).
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 33.5 °C (92.5 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 195 mm (7.7 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 56% of the time.
The average humidity is 82%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 29 °C (84.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
In
June, the weather in Cotonou is usually warm to hot and muggy. The average temperature is of 27.1 °C (81 °F), with a minimum of 24.4 °C (76 °F) and a maximum of 29.7 °C (85.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 21.5 °C (71 °F).
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 32 °C (89.5 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 355 mm (14 in), distributed over 15 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 38% of the time.
The average humidity is 85%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 28 °C (82 °F). Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
In
July, the weather in Cotonou is usually warm to hot and muggy. The average temperature is of 26.4 °C (79 °F), with a minimum of 24.2 °C (75.6 °F) and a maximum of 28.5 °C (83.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 21.5 °C (71 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 30.5 °C (86.5 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 145 mm (5.7 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 35% of the time.
The average humidity is 87%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 17 kph (11 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 26 °C (79 °F). Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.
In
August, the least warm month of the year, the weather in Cotonou is usually warm to hot and muggy. The average temperature is of 26.1 °C (79 °F), with a minimum of 24 °C (75.2 °F) and a maximum of 28.2 °C (82.8 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 22 °C (71.5 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 29.5 °C (85 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 39% of the time.
The average humidity is 87%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 18 kph (11 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 25.5 °C (77.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.
In
September, the weather in Cotonou is usually warm to hot and muggy. The average temperature is of 26.6 °C (80 °F), with a minimum of 24.2 °C (75.6 °F) and a maximum of 29 °C (84.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 22 °C (71 °F).
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 31 °C (88 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 100 mm (3.9 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 46% of the time.
The average humidity is 87%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 17 kph (10 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 26 °C (79 °F). Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.
In
October, the weather in Cotonou is usually warm to hot and muggy. The average temperature is of 27.3 °C (81 °F), with a minimum of 24.4 °C (76 °F) and a maximum of 30.2 °C (86.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 22 °C (71.5 °F).
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 32 °C (90 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 125 mm (4.9 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 56% of the time.
The average humidity is 85%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 27.5 °C (81.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
In
November, the weather in Cotonou is usually very hot and muggy. The average temperature is of 28.4 °C (83 °F), with a minimum of 25.2 °C (77.4 °F) and a maximum of 31.6 °C (88.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 23 °C (73.5 °F).
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 33.5 °C (92 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 68% of the time.
The average humidity is 82%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 28.5 °C (83.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
In
December, the weather in Cotonou is usually very hot and muggy. The average temperature is of 28.5 °C (83 °F), with a minimum of 25 °C (76.9 °F) and a maximum of 32 °C (89.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 22 °C (71.5 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33.5 °C (92.5 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 20 mm (0.8 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 61% of the time.
The average humidity is 80%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 28.5 °C (83 °F). Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.