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Climate - Chad


Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine

Flag - Chad

Map - Chad

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Chad - The climate in short



The climate in Chad is desert in the north, semi-desert in the center, and tropical with a wet season in the south.
In fact, the summer rains, which are brought by the African monsoon, affect only the center-south of the country, and in a progressively more substantial manner as you proceed towards the south.
As a result, the rainfall is lower than 50 millimeters (2 inches) per year in the north, it reaches 200 mm (8 in) in the center, and exceeds 1,000 mm (40 in) in the south. The rains occur from May to early October, although in the far south, some showers and thunderstorms occur as early as in April. Winter is dry everywhere.

The climate in detail


  • The north - Faya-Largeau
  • The center - Lake Chad, N'Djamena
  • The south - Moundou
  • When to go
  • What to pack

The north



In the north, in the Sahara desert, winter is sunny and pleasantly warm during the day. In the Ennedi plateau, which lies in the north-east, temperatures are a bit lower, and even lower in the Tibesti Range, where we find a lunar landscape, and also the highest point of the country, Emi Koussi, 3,445 meters (11,300 feet) high. Every now and then, at night, the temperature can approach freezing (0 °C or 32 °F) at lower altitudes, while this happens quite often in the mountains. By contrast, during the day, the temperature can reach 30 °C (86 °F) even in winter, at least at low altitudes.
The rest of the year in the desert area is really hot, with highs around or above 40 °C (104 °F) from April to October; the highest recorded temperatures are about 50 °C (122 °F).
Throughout the year, the wind can raise sand storms across the desert area.

Faya-Largeau

Faya-Largeau, where is located
Faya-Largeau, where is located
In Faya-Largeau, highs in January are around 26 °C (79 °F) and lows around 14 °C (57 °F). The hottest months, albeit slightly, are May and June, while later, in July and August, the area is reached by southern currents, the extreme offshoot of the monsoon, which are almost never able to bring some rainfall, but prevent a further increase in temperature. Here are the average temperatures.
Faya-Largeau - Average temperatures
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January142620577968
February152922598471.6
March183426649378.8
April223930.57210286.9
May2541337710691.4
June2642347910893.2
July264133.57910692.3
August2640337910491.4
September2640337910491.4
October233730739986
November183124.5648876.1
December142821578269.8
Year21.135.728.357096.383

The rains here are very rare: in July 2010, a strong thunderstorm hit Faya-Largeau, such as had not been seen in living memory. Here is the average precipitation.
Faya-Largeau - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January000
February000
March000
April000
May100
June20.10
July30.11
August110.41
September100
October000
November000
December000
Year200.72

In the desert area, the sun regularly shines throughout the year, in fact, it is one of the sunniest areas in the world. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.
Faya-Largeau - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January10305
February10.5290
March10305
April10.5310
May11345
June11335
July11335
August10.5320
September10.5310
October10.5320
November10.5310
December10305
Year10.43790

In the mountainous area of the Tibesti, it's hot during the day, but nights can be cool even in summer. In the Tibesti Massif, the rainfall is slightly higher than in the surrounding area, though it's still at desert levels, in fact, it slightly exceeds 100 mm (4 in) per year. However, in this area, there are also fresh water springs (oases) as well as salt lakes.

Tibesti, Chad

The center



Continuing south, the influence of southern air masses becomes more remarkable in summer, when there is a decrease in temperature as well as an increase in cloudiness and humidity.

Lake Chad

Lake Chad, where is located
Lake Chad, where is located
In the area of Lake Chad, from 200 to 300 mm (8 to 12 in) of rain fall per year. Lake Chad is a shallow lake, which has almost halved over the past 50 years, however, its size varies between the seasons and from year to year according to rainfall. It is not necessarily going to disappear, but its future depends on both the possible changes of the monsoon rains due to global warming. Furthermore, the tributaries of the lake are exploited by man to irrigate the fields and to bring water to the main cities.

N'Djamena

N'Djamena, where is located
N'Djamena, where is located
Continuing south, the rains become even more abundant. In the capital, Ndjamena, to the south of the lake, rainfall amounts to 510 mm (20 in) per year, with the first rains in May, a maximum in July and August, and the last rains in early October.
Here is the average precipitation.
Ndjamena - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January000
February000
March001
April100.43
May2516
June5029
July1455.713
August1756.915
September853.39
October200.83
November001
December000
Year51020.160

Here, we are close enough to the Equator (12 degrees north latitude) to have high temperatures even in winter, around 30 °C (86 °F) during the day, and sometimes even above, although the air is dry and nights are cool. This is still the least hot period of the year, in fact, by February the temperature starts to rise, reaching a peak between April and May, when it often exceeds 40 °C (104 °F).
In summer, the monsoon gradually lowers the temperature again, down to 32 °C (90 °F) in August, although high humidity makes the heat sultry and therefore less tolerable than in winter.
After the monsoon, there is time for a new increase in the heat, which returns to be intense in October and November.
Here are the average temperatures.
Ndjamena - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January14.832.623.7599174.7
February18.236.127.1659780.8
March22.639.831.27310488.1
April26.241.9347910793.3
May26.840.833.88010592.9
June25.53831.87810089.2
July23.634.128.8749383.9
August22.731.527.1738980.8
September23.133.928.5749383.3
October22.637.430739986
November19.136.928669882.4
December15.533.724.6609376.3
Year21.736.42971.197.584

In N'Djamena, the sun shines regularly in the long dry season, while in the rainy season, the hours of sunshine decrease a little; the least sunny month is August.
Ndjamena - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January9.5300
February10275
March9280
April9275
May9285
June8.5260
July7215
August6.5200
September7.5230
October9285
November10300
December10305
Year8.83205

The south



Further south, we enter the area of the savannah, where the landscape becomes definitely green during the rainy season. Floods are frequent, especially after the most intense downpours and in the years when the rains are more abundant. The Zakouma National Park is located in the south-east, in an area where precipitation is between 800 and 900 mm (31 and 35 in) per year, and it's open only in the dry season, from December 1st to May 31th.

Moundou

Moundou, where is located
Moundou, where is located
In the far south, annual rainfall even exceeds 1,000 mm (40 in), as happens in Moundou, where it amounts to 1,100 mm (43 in), with the first showers occurring already in April, and with more than 200 mm (8 in) of rain per month from July to September. Here is the average precipitation.
Moundou - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January000
February001
March50.22
April401.65
May903.59
June1505.912
July26010.215
August28511.219
September2007.913
October552.27
November20.12
December000
Year108542.785

Although we are 400 meters (1,300 feet) above sea level, here, it's definitely hot even in December and January, with highs around 35 °C (95 °F), but fortunately, the temperatures at night drop a lot, to around 16/17 °C (61/63 °F). The hottest month is March, when highs are normally around 40 °C (104 °F). In summer, the monsoon lowers the temperature to around 30/31 °C (86/88 °F), but the heat becomes stifling.
Here are the average temperatures.
Moundou - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January16.834.225.5629477.9
February20.237.428.8689983.8
March2439.331.67510388.9
April25.838.532.27810189.9
May24.535.129.8769585.6
June22.532.227.3739081.2
July21.830.826.3718779.3
August21.729.825.8718678.4
September21.730.726.2718779.1
October22.13327.5729181.6
November18.935.227.1669580.8
December16.234.425.3619477.6
Year21.434.227.770.493.582

In the south, the amount of sunshine in the dry season decreases more than in the rest of the country and for a longer period, in fact, the sunshine hours drop to 6/7 per day from June to September.
Moundou - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January9280
February9250
March8250
April8235
May8240
June7210
July6185
August5.5170
September6185
October7.5235
November9.5280
December9.5290
Year7.72810

In Sarh, the climate is similar to that of Moundou.

Moissala, Chad

When to go



The best time to visit Chad is winter, and in particular the months of December and January: the sky is clear, even though sometimes the north-east wind, the Harmattan, can raise dust, creating a typical haze. During the day, it is very hot in the south, but nights are generally cool, while in the north, it can get cold at night, while the temperature becomes pleasant during the day.
Already in February, the temperature rises significantly in the south, approaching 40 °C (104 °F).

What to pack



In winter: during the day, bring long, light and loose-fitting clothing of natural fabric (cotton or linen), especially in the south, where it is hot even in winter; 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, and desert boots or sandals. For the Tibesti and for nights outdoors in the desert, warm clothes, a warm jacket, gloves, and a hat.

In summer: for the desert, bring loose-fitting, light-colored clothing, light and long shirts and pants, a wide-brimmed hat, a light scarf, sunglasses, comfortable and breathable shoes, and a desert turban. A sleeping bag and a sweater for overnight stays outdoors. For the Tibesti, at high altitudes, a jacket and a sweater. For N'Djamena and the south, tropics-friendly and light clothing, an umbrella or a light raincoat for the rain showers, and a light sweatshirt.
It's better for women to avoid shorts and miniskirts.

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