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Climate - Burkina Faso


Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine

Flag - Burkina Faso

Map - Burkina Faso

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Index


  • Introduction
  • The center-north - Dori, Ouagadougou
  • The south - Bobo-Dioulasso

Introduction



In Burkina Faso, the climate is tropical, with a rainy season in the summer months due to the African monsoon, and a dry season in winter. In the north, the rainy season is shorter and less intense, so the climate is semi-arid, while in the south the rains last longer and are able to feed a lusher vegetation, in fact there are nature reserves, which have the flora and fauna of the savannah.
The temperatures in Burkina Faso are high throughout the year. In winter, the air is dry because of the prevalence of the northeast winds, and highs are around 30/32 °C (86/90 °F) in the north and 32/33 °C (90/91 °F) in the south, even in the coolest months, ie December and January, but sometimes they can be higher. The prevailing wind, called Harmattan, blows from the north-east and is able to lift dust, making the sky whitish, but it can also cause real sandstorms. Storms can also occur in spring because of the clash with moist air masses that come from the ocean and advance towards the interior.
Starting from February, the temperature begins to rise, and the heat becomes scorching. In the south, the first rains occur quite early, and are able to increase the humidity but also to hinder the increase of temperature; on the other hand, in the north and partly in the center, the heat increases until April and May, when highs reach normally 40/42 °C (104/108 °F). In May and June, the first significant rains coming from the south may be preceded or accompanied by whirlwinds and tornadoes, which are caused by the clash with the preexistent dry air masses.
Between July and September, when the monsoon manifests its greatest effects, the temperature drops everywhere, with highs about 28/32 °C (82/90 °F), but high humidity makes the heat uncomfortable. However, even in summer there can still be some scorching days, in the pauses between the rainy periods, especially in the north, where the monsoon is less intense and consistent.
In October and November, the heat starts to increase again with the withdrawal of the monsoon, more in the north, where highs return to about 40 °C (104 °F), than in the south, where they remain around 35 °C (95 °F).
As we said, in Burkina Faso, it's hot all year round; however, in winter, sometimes it can get a bit cold at night. The cold records are around 6/7 °C (43/45 °F) in the north and 10 °C (50 °F) in the south. The highest recorded temperatures are impressive, especially in the north, where they are around 47/48 °C (117/118 °F), and has been recorded in April and May, while in the south they are around 42/44 °C (108/111 °F), and has been recorded between February and April, and even in January in the extreme south, where the sun's rays in winter are stronger because of the proximity to the Equator.

The center-north



The northern part of Burkina Faso belongs to the climate zone of the Sahel, in fact, the northernmost region is called "Sahel Region", where less than 600 millimeters (23.5 iches) of rain fall per year.

Dori

In Dori, rainfall amounts to only 450 mm (17.5 in) per year, and it exceeds 50 mm (2 in) per month only from June to September, with a peak in August. Here is the average precipitation.
Dori - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January000
February000
March30.11
April50.21
May200.84
June552.26
July1204.711
August1606.312
September702.88
October100.42
November000
December000
Year44517.645

In Dori, temperatures are high all year round; the hottest periods, which are often scorching, are those that precede and follow the rainy season, that is, March-May and mid-September to November. Here are the average temperatures.
Dori - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January163224.1609075.3
February193627.4669781.3
March234031.57310488.7
April274234.48010894
May294235.58410795.9
June273933.18110291.6
July253630.4779686.8
August243428.9769284
September253630.3779686.5
October253931.97710289.5
November203728.6679983.4
December173425.3629377.5
Year23.137.230.0573.598.986

Northern Burkina Faso

Ouagadougou

In the capital, Ouagadougou, located in the center of the country, the rains amount to nearly 750 mm (30 in) per year and are concentrated from May to early October, while in the rest of the year they are sporadic, especially in winter, when it hardly ever rains, as happens in the rest of the country. Here is the average precipitation.
Ouagadougou - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January000
February100
March50.21
April2513
May652.68
June1003.910
July1756.914
August2158.516
September1204.711
October351.45
November100
December000
Year74529.368

In Ouagadougou it is hot all year round as well, but from April to October the temperatures are a bit lower than in the north, because it is more easily reached by humid air masses from the south, especially in the rainy season. Here are the average temperatures.
Ouagadougou - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January183325.4649277.7
February203628.3699782.9
March253931.97610389.4
April274033.78110492.6
May273832.68110190.7
June253530.2779686.3
July233328749182.4
August233127738880.7
September233327.9739182.2
October243629.9759785.8
November213728.6699883.4
December183426.1649478.9
Year22.835.529.057395.884.5

In Ouagadougou, the sun shines all year round; however, in the rainy season, and in particular from July to September, the sunshine duration decreases a little. In the extreme south, where it rains more often, this decrease is more evident.
Ouagadougou - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January9.5285
February9.5265
March8.5265
April8.5255
May9275
June9265
July7.5240
August7225
September7215
October9275
November9.5290
December9285
Year8.63135

The south



In the south, the rainfall exceeds 1,000 mm (40 in) per year, and the rainy season is longer.

Bobo-Dioulasso

In Bobo-Dioulasso, the second city of the country, precipitation amounts to 1,000 mm (40 in) per year, while in Gaoua, it amounts to 1,200 mm (47 in) per year.
Here is the average precipitation in Bobo Dioulasso.
Bobo Dioulasso - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January100
February30.10
March150.63
April451.85
May1003.99
June1305.111
July1957.715
August27010.619
September1706.715
October602.47
November80.31
December100
Year100039.485

In Bobo-Dioulasso, the scorching heat is rarer in the dry months, while from July to September, the maximum temperature does not go above 29-30 °C (84-86 °F) on average. So, paradoxically, the south is not as hot as the north.
Bobo Dioulasso - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January203326.2679179.2
February233629.2739684.6
March253831.47810088.5
April263731.4789988.5
May243529.8769585.6
June233327.7739181.9
July223026.2728779.2
August223025.7718578.2
September223126.3718779.3
October223327.8729282
November223528.2719582.8
December203326.7689280
Year22.533.62872.592.482.5

The Karfiguela falls are located in the south, near Banfora, in the rainiest region of the country.

Gaoua
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When to go and what to pack in Burkina Faso

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 See also (cities or regions):

 Bobo Dioulasso
 Boromo
 Dédougou
 Dori
 Gaoua
 Ouagadougou
 Ouahigouya
 Po

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 Togo

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