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Climate in Burkina Faso


Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine

Flag - Burkina Faso

Map - Burkina Faso

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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. On the other hand, 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.

The climate in detail


  • The seasons
  • The center-north - Dori, Ouagadougou
  • The south - Bobo-Dioulasso
  • When to go
  • What to pack

The seasons



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.
Although the winter is normally warm, 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.
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).
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. In the south, the heat records are around 42/44 °C (108/111 °F), and has been set 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.
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).

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

Climate chart - Dori
In Dori, rainfall amounts to only 500 mm (20 in) per year, and it exceeds 50 mm (2 in) per month only from June to September, with a peak in August.
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.

Northern Burkina Faso

Ouagadougou

Climate chart - Ouagadougou
In the capital, Ouagadougou, located in the center of the country, the rains amount to 785 mm (31 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.
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.
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.

The south



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

Bobo-Dioulasso

Climate chart - Bobo Dioulasso
In Bobo-Dioulasso, the second city of the country, precipitation amounts to 1,000 mm (40 in) per year.
In Bobo-Dioulasso, the scorching heat is rarer in the dry months, while from July to September, the maximum temperature does not go above 30-31 °C (86-88 °F) on average. So, paradoxically, the south is not as hot as the north.

In Gaoua, rainfall amounts to 1,100 mm (43.5 in) per year.

Gaoua

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

When to go



The best time to visit Burkina Faso is winter, especially the months of December and January: the weather is good, it's hot but the air is dry. Sometimes at night it can be a bit cold, especially in the north, while during the day it can get hot everywhere, but especially in the south.
By February, the heat increases and becomes intense starting from the south, then spring is very hot everywhere.
Summer is rainy, and particularly intense showers can sometimes cause flooding.
All in all, even November, which is a hot month, can be chosen because it is not so different from December and January, especially in the south.

What to pack



In winter: bring light clothes for the day, long, loose-fitting and of natural fabric (cotton or linen), a desert turban for the wind-borne sand and dust, sunglasses (even graduated instead of contact lenses), a jacket and a sweater for the evening, desert boots or sandals.
In summer: bring light, tropics-friendly clothes, a light sweatshirt, a light raincoat (or umbrella) for the rain showers.

Climate data - Burkina Faso


Temperatures: °C, Precipitation: mm
Bobo Dioulasso (460 meters)
Bobo Dioulasso, location on the map
Bobo Dioulasso, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.192225252423222222222119
Max temp.333638373533313031343534
Precip.0015551001352052701957050
Prec. days001489131614710
Humidity21%20%29%48%62%71%79%83%80%69%41%26%
Day length116118121124126128127125122119116115
Sun hours998888767999

Bogandé (295 meters)
Bogandé, location on the map
Bogandé, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.172024282826242323242017
Max temp.323639403936333133363634
Precip.0001040951751951052500
Prec. days00014610128300
Sun hours99989887891010

Boromo (270 meters)
Boromo, location on the map
Boromo, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.172024272624232222231917
Max temp.343740403835323132353735
Precip.00545801202002601605500
Prec. days001368121512500
Humidity21%19%24%40%55%65%76%81%79%66%39%26%
Day length115118121124127128127125122119116115
Sun hours998887767999

Dédougou (300 meters)
Dédougou, location on the map
Dédougou, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.182124272624232323232119
Max temp.343639393835333133363735
Precip.00525651101902551454500
Prec. days001258121411500
Humidity19%16%19%32%48%61%73%81%79%62%30%22%
Day length115117121124127128128125122118115114
Sun hours99888887891010

Dori (280 meters)
Dori, location on the map
Dori, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.161823272927252425251916
Max temp.333640424239363436393834
Precip.00552570130185751500
Prec. days0000359117200
Humidity23%19%18%23%35%49%62%72%66%46%28%25%
Day length114117121125128129129126122118115113
Sun hours9998988889109

Fada NGourma (310 meters)
Fada NGourma, location on the map
Fada NGourma, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.182125272624232323232018
Max temp.343740403835323132353735
Precip.00530801151802501454500
Prec. days001378111410400
Sun hours998888767899

Gaoua (300 meters)
Gaoua, location on the map
Gaoua, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.162024262523232222222016
Max temp.343738373532313031343635
Precip.510308012513518523519090150
Prec. days012589111314810
Humidity26%26%38%53%66%73%79%82%82%74%54%34%
Day length116118121124126127127124122119116115
Sun hours998888766899

Ouagadougou (300 meters)
Ouagadougou, location on the map
Ouagadougou, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.172024272725232323242018
Max temp.343639403836333233363734
Precip.0052560852002301403000
Prec. days000257121410400
Humidity20%17%19%33%50%61%72%79%75%58%32%24%
Day length115117121124127128128125122118116114
Sun hours998888767999

Ouahigouya (340 meters)
Ouahigouya, location on the map
Ouahigouya, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.182024282826242323242118
Max temp.323639414037343234373734
Precip.0005401051702401304000
Prec. days00014711139400
Humidity20%16%16%24%39%52%67%77%72%52%26%22%
Day length114117121125128129128125122118115113
Sun hours9998988789109

Po (320 meters)
Po, location on the map
Po, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.182225262523222222222118
Max temp.343739383633313031343635
Precip.0510551001401952951805500
Prec. days001479121412600
Humidity21%20%28%45%61%70%79%84%83%72%42%27%
Day length116118121124126128127125122119116115
Sun hours998888767999



See also the temperatures month by month

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 See also (cities or regions):
 Bobo Dioulasso
 Boromo
 Dédougou
 Dori
 Gaoua
 Ouagadougou
 Ouahigouya
 Po

 Weather by month:
 January
 February
 March
 April
 May
 June
 July
 August
 September
 October
 November
 December

 Nearby countries:
 Bobo Dioulasso
 Bogandé
 Boromo
 Dédougou
 Dori
 Fada Ngourma
 Gaoua
 Ouagadougou
 Ouahigouya
 Po

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