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Climate - Congo


Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine

Flag - Congo

Map - Congo

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Index


  • Introduction
  • North - Ouésso
  • Center-south - Pointe-Noire, Brazzaville

Introduction



In the Republic of Congo, an African country crossed by the Equator, the climate is equatorial (hot and humid all year round, with no real dry season) in the north, and tropical (hot and humid, with a dry and cooler season in winter) in the center and south.
In the north, the temperatures are high throughout the year, and the air is muggy, even though the altitude of a few hundred meters makes it a little more bearable than if it was at sea level. In the center-south, the temperature decreases from June to September, especially along the coast, where it becomes a bit cool during the day, and on the hills of the Plateaux Department, when it becomes a bit cool at night.
The amount of rainfall ranges from 1,500 to 2,000 millimeters (60 to 79 inches) per year in the north, while in the south it drops below 1,500 mm (60 in), and reaches a low of 1,200 mm (47 in) on the coast. In the center and south, the dry season, which corresponds to the winter of the southern hemisphere, runs from June to August in the center, from June to September in the south (see Brazzaville), and from mid-May to mid-October on the coast (see Pointe-Noire).
The amount of sunshine is not excellent throughout Congo, and it does not get better in the austral winter, even in the center-south where it is the dry season. On the other hand, in the period from October to April, between one rain shower and another, the sun comes out.

The north



In the north (see Ouésso, Impfondo), temperatures are stable during the year, however, they slightly decrease in July and August, even though we are north of the equator.

Ouésso

Here are the average temperatures of Ouésso, located in the north, at 350 meters (1,150 ft) of altitude.
Ouesso - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January203226.1689079
February213327699280.6
March213327.2709180.9
April223327.3719181.1
May223226.8719080.2
June213125.9708778.7
July213025.3698677.5
August213025.5708677.8
September213125.8698778.5
October213126708878.8
November213125.9698878.6
December213125.9698878.6
Year20.931.526.1569.788.779

Although, as mentioned, there is no real dry season in the north, there are two rainier periods due to the zenith passages of the sun (that is, when it shines directly overhead in the sky at mid-day) and two relatively dry periods, that is, December to February and June to August. In addition, the more you go to the north, the more evident is the first dry period (the one that goes from December to February) because we are moving away from the equator and entering the area where the rainfall regime is typical of the Northern Hemisphere (ie with a dry winter). The result is that the rainfall in the north is better distributed, so the area is covered by forest, while the central and southern areas are covered by savanna.
Here is the average precipitation in Ouesso.
Ouesso - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January552.24
February803.15
March1505.99
April1305.18
May1505.911
June1154.59
July803.16
August1556.110
September2208.713
October2208.714
November1505.911
December853.36
Year159062.6106

In the north, the sun does not shine very often. However, it can be seen a little more often in the hotter period, from January to May, and less often in the cooler period, in July and August.
Ouesso - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January5155
February6170
March5155
April6180
May6185
June5150
July4125
August4125
September4120
October5155
November5150
December5155
Year51825

Center-south



Pointe-Noire

As mentioned, in the center-south, which is located south of the equator, and especially on the coast, the temperature decreases from June to September. This happens because of a cool sea current that arrives in winter, the Benguela Current.
Here are the average temperatures of Pointe-Noire, located on the coast.
Pointe Noire - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January243027.2758781
February243127.5758881.5
March243127.8768882.1
April243127.7768881.8
May243026.8758580.2
June212724.4718175.9
July202623687973.4
August202623.2697973.7
September222724.5728176.1
October242926.2758379.1
November242926.7758580
December243026.8758580.2
Year2328.925.973.484.178.5

On the coast, there is a clear dry season due to the Benguela Current, which almost completely inhibits rain cloud formation. Here is the average precipitation in Pointe-Noire.
Pointe Noire - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January1505.910
February2108.310
March2258.912
April1807.111
May903.55
June100
July000
August20.11
September130.54
October702.810
November1656.512
December1455.79
Year125049.384

On the coast, the sun does not shine often even in the dry season, since the Benguela Current generates fogs and low clouds, which reduce sunshine. Here are the sunshine hours at Pointe-Noire.
Pointe Noire - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January5155
February5140
March5155
April5150
May4125
June4120
July4125
August4125
September260
October395
November4120
December5155
Year4.21520

The sea is warm enough for swimming from October to May, while it gets a little cool, but remains after all acceptable, in July and August, when it drops to 22 °C (72 °F).
Pointe Noire - Sea temperature
MonthCelsius (°C)Fahrenheit (°F)
January2882
February2983
March2984
April2883
May2679
June2475
July2272
August2272
September2475
October2678
November2780
December2780
Year25.978.6

Brazzaville

In the capital, Brazzaville, which is situated at 320 meters (1,050 feet) above sea level, in the south-east, along the Congo River, which gives its name to the country, daytime temperatures are about 31 °C (88 °F) from September to January, they go up to 32/33 °C (90/91 °F) from February to April, and then they drop to around 28/29 °C (82/84 °F) from June to August. At night, it can be cool from June to August, while during the day it can be very hot for most of the year, but especially from mid-August to October, i.e. at the end of the dry season and before the rains begin. Here are the average temperatures.
Brazzaville - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January223126.7728880.1
February233227.1738980.8
March233227.6739081.6
April233327.7739181.8
May223126.9728880.5
June202924.6698476.3
July192823.6678374.5
August202924.5688476.2
September213126.2718879.2
October223126.6728879.9
November223126.6728879.9
December223126.5728779.7
Year21.730.726.157187.379

In Brazzaville too, the sun does not shine very often, also, there is no big difference between the different periods of the year.
Brazzaville - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January4125
February5140
March5155
April5150
May4125
June4120
July4125
August5155
September4120
October4125
November5150
December4125
Year4.41610

In Brazzaville, rainfall amounts to 1,350 mm (53 in) per year, with two maxima in April and November, while it hardly ever rains from June to September. Here is the average precipitation.
Brazzaville - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January1204.79
February1254.98
March1857.310
April2108.313
May1355.38
June20.10
July100
August20.10
September30.13
October1405.59
November2258.913
December1957.712
Year134552.985

North of Brazzaville, on the Koukouya Plateau, it rains more than in the capital, around 1,800/2,000 mm (70/80 in) per year, with two maxima in March-April and October-November.

Congo, elephants

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 See also (cities or regions):

 Brazzaville
 Dolisie
 Impfondo
 Ouesso
 Pointe Noire

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 Angola
 Cameroon
 Central African Republic
 Democratic Republic Congo
 Gabon

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