Skip to main content

 Climates to travel
 World climate guide
 
 
 Home
 Africa
 N.America
 S.America
 Antarctica
 Asia
 Caribbean
 Europe
 M.East
 Oceania
 All the countries
 Home
 Africa
 N.America
 S.America
 Antarctica
 Asia
 Caribbean
 Europe
 M.East
 Oceania
 All the countries

Climate - Democratic Republic Congo


Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine

Flag - Democratic Republic Congo

Map - Democratic Republic Congo

You are here: Home --> Africa --> Democratic Republic Congo



Index


  • Introduction
  • Equatorial climate - Kisangani, Gemena, Kinshasa
  • Tropical climate
  • Tropical climate with long dry season - The coast, Lubumbashi
  • Mountains - Goma

Introduction



In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire), a huge country in central Africa, there are two kinds of climate:
- equatorial, hot and humid all year round with no dry season, in the central area crossed by the Equator and occupied by a vast rain forest (the second in the world after the Amazon);
- tropical, hot all year round but with a dry season, usually of short duration, in both the areas to the north and south of the Equator. The dry season occurs in opposite periods, from December to February (i.e. the boreal winter) north of the Equator and from June to September (i.e. the austral winter) south of the Equator.

The rains occur in the form of downpours or thunderstorms (actually, Congo is the country that receives the greatest number of lightning strikes in the world), usually in the afternoon, all year round in the equatorial zone, and in the long rainy season in the two tropical areas.
The amount of sunshine in much of the Democratic Republic of Congo is not very good because the strong solar radiation often causes cloudiness during the day, most likely by noon and in the afternoon. On the other hand, because of moisture evaporating from the ground, mists often occur in the early morning, while on the coast, fog and low clouds often form because of a cool sea current. The situation is different in the southernmost part (see Lubumbashi), where the dry season is more pronounced, and during the austral winter (May to September), the sky is often clear.
In any case, the sun at the Equator is very strong, and requires adequate protection even when the sky is cloudy, especially at high altitudes.
The country is largely occupied by the huge basin of the Congo River and its tributaries.
Most of the country is located at an altitude between 300 and 800 meters (1,000 and 2,600 feet), which are often sufficient to temper a bit the climate; in some areas, such as the southeast, the altitude is between 800 and 1,300 meters (2,600 and 4,300 feet), while in the easternmost part, near the lakes of the Rift Valley, there are also high mountain ranges.

Equatorial climate



Congo, equatorial climate zone

In the equatorial zone, temperatures are stable throughout the year.

Kisangani

Here are the average temperatures of Kisangani, located near the Equator, 400 meters (1,300 feet) above sea level.
Kisangani - Average temperatures
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January203125.5688877.9
February193125668877
March203125.5688877.9
April203125.5688877.9
May203125.5688877.9
June193024.5668676.1
July192924668475.2
August192924668475.2
September193024.5668676.1
October203025688677
November203025688677
December203025688677
Year19.630.224.8567.386.477

The rains in the equatorial zone are abundant, and hover around 1,700/2,000 millimeters (67/78 inches) per year. There are two maxima in rainfall, at the two zenith passages of the sun (that is, when it shines directly overhead in the sky at mid-day, which occurs in late March and late September), and given the soil thermal inertia, the rainiest months are usually April-May and October-November. The least rainy periods are generally January-February and June-July, when, however, more than 100 mm (4 in) of rain usually fall per month.
This is the average rainfall in Kisangani.
Kisangani - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January903.59
February1154.59
March1656.513
April1807.115
May1606.313
June1154.58
July1154.57
August1556.19
September1857.314
October2309.117
November2158.515
December1656.512
Year189074.4141

In Kisangani, the amount of sunshine is not very high; however, the sunniest period is the relatively dry one of January and February. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.
Kisangani - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January7215
February7200
March6185
April6180
May6185
June5150
July5155
August4125
September5150
October5155
November6180
December6185
Year5.72065

Tropical climate



Congo, areas with tropical climate

Both to the north and the south of the equatorial zone (respectively, zone 1 and 2 on the map), the climate is tropical, since there is a clear dry season. The rainfall in the tropical climate zones is normally between 1,000 and 1,700 mm (40 and 67 in) per year. Also, the temperature varies to a greater extent, and it's lower in the winter dry season and higher in the summer rainy season, but especially in spring, at the end of the dry season.

Gemena

Here are the average temperatures of Gemena, in the north-west (zone 1), at 400 meters (1,300 feet) above sea level.
Gemena - Average temperatures
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January193125668877
February203326.5689179.7
March203226689078.8
April213126708878.8
May213126708878.8
June203025688677
July202924.5688476.1
August202924.5688476.1
September203025688677
October203025688677
November193024.5668676.1
December193125668877
Year19.930.625.267.88777.5

In Gemena, 1,650 mm (65 in) of rain fall annually, with a maximum in the period from August to October. The dry season is short and lasts from December to February, a period when some showers are still possible. Here is the average precipitation.
Gemena - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January351.44
February552.26
March1254.911
April1455.712
May1656.514
June1556.112
July1807.112
August2158.515
September1957.716
October2158.517
November1204.711
December451.86
Year165065136

In Gemena and in the north, the sun shines a little more often in the dry winter period than in the rainy summer period.
Gemena - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January7215
February7200
March6185
April6180
May6185
June5150
July5155
August5155
September5150
October6185
November6180
December7215
Year5.92160

In the tropical zone of the southern hemisphere (zone 2), both temperature and rainfall follow a reversed pattern.

Kinshasa

The capital, Kinshasa, is located in the west, at about 300 meters (1,000 feet) above sea level, and at 4 degrees south latitude. Temperatures are high and fairly stable throughout the year, but in the austral winter (June to August), they become more pleasant. Here are the average temperatures.
Kinshasa - 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

Rainfall in Kinshasa amounts to 1,400 millimeters (55 inches) per year. Within the rainy season, from October to May, you can notice two peaks corresponding with the zenith passages of the sun (in April and November). Here is the average precipitation.
Kinshasa - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January1556.110
February1355.310
March1706.713
April1957.715
May1254.911
June70.31
July100
August40.21
September351.44
October1355.311
November2551016
December1706.714
Year138554.6106

In Kinshasa, the sun does not shine very often: the average does not go beyond 4/5 hours of sunshine a day all year round.
Kinshasa - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January4.5135
February5140
March5.5165
April5155
May5.5165
June5145
July4.5135
August5155
September4.5140
October5150
November4.5135
December4125
Year4.81740

Tropical climate with long dry season



Congo, area having a tropical climate with a long dry season

The coast

Along the short coastline overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, rainfall drops below 1,000 mm (40 in) per year because of the Benguela current, which arrives in the area in winter, and is able to inhibit the formation of rain clouds; on the other hand, the cold current is able to bring a bit of cool air, and to create fog and low clouds.
Here are the average temperatures of Banana, located on the coast.
Banana - Average temperatures
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January223026728678.8
February223026728678.8
March223026728678.8
April233026.5738679.7
May222825728277
June202522.5687772.5
July182521.5647770.7
August192522667771.6
September212623.5707974.3
October232725738177
November232825.5738277.9
December232825.5738277.9
Year21.527.724.570.781.876

In this area, rainfall amounts to as low as 800 mm (31.5 in) per year; the rains are not particularly abundant, except maybe in April. In the austral winter, because of the cold sea current, it never rains. Here is the average precipitation.
Banana - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January702.85
February1254.98
March1305.19
April1706.712
May602.45
June000
July000
August000
September50.21
October200.85
November1204.77
December803.16
Year78030.758

On the coast, the sun does not shine often in the rainy season, while in the cool and dry period, owing to the aforementioned fogs and low clouds, it shines even less frequently.
Banana - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January4130
February4.5135
March5160
April5.5160
May4120
June3.5110
July3.5105
August2.580
September265
October2.570
November3.5110
December4120
Year3.71360

The sea temperature is high in the summer months, while it becomes a bit cool in winter, when it drops to 22 °C (72 °F) in July and August. However, this coastal stretch, apart from the socio-political conditions of the country, does not lend itself to beach tourism because of the frequent cloud cover.
Here are the average sea temperatures.
Banana - Sea temperature
MonthCelsius (°C)Fahrenheit (°F)
January2781
February2882
March2984
April2882
May2679
June2475
July2272
August2272
September2373
October2577
November2781
December2781
Year25.778.2

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is more extended to the south than to the north of the Equator (it stretches from the 13th parallel South to the 5th parallel North), in addition, in the south, there are some areas located at higher elevations. The result is that the austral winter is more pronounced in some areas, where it is dry and sunny, but also very cool or even cold at night.

Lubumbashi

Lubumbashi is located in the far south, in the former province of Katanga, at 1,300 meters (4,250 feet) of altitude. Here, in winter (June to mid-August), the temperature at night can drop to as low as 0 °C (32 °F). Additionally, the temperature increases in the second half of the dry season, between mid-August and October. Here are the average temperatures.
Lubumbashi - Average temperatures
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January162621617969.8
February162621617969.8
March162621617969.8
April142720.5578168.9
May102618507964.4
June82516.5467761.7
July82516.5467761.7
August92718488164.4
September133021.5558670.7
October153123598873.4
November162822618271.6
December162621617969.8
Year13.126.919.9555.580.568

In Lubumbashi, the winter dry season is very evident (it practically never rains from May to September) and long (it lasts more than six months). Precipitation amounts to 1,200 mm (47 in) per year, with a maximum in summer (December to February), when the rains are abundant and exceed 250 mm (10 in) per month. Here is the average precipitation.
Lubumbashi - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January2551024
February2551022
March26010.220
April602.49
May50.22
June000
July000
August000
September50.21
October351.45
November1656.517
December2551024
Year124048.8124

In Lubumbashi and in the far south, the sun shines regularly in the dry winter season, especially from May to September.
Lubumbashi - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January5150
February5145
March6180
April9265
May10310
June10.5315
July10.5330
August9.5300
September10.5310
October9280
November6.5200
December4130
Year82915

Mountains



Congo, areas with a mountain climate

In the easternmost part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, there are mountain ranges, related to the East African Rift. In the Rift, we also find a number of lakes, such as Lake Albert, located at 615 meters (2,000 feet) above sea level; Lake Edward, at 915 meters (3,000 ft); Lake Kivu, at 1,465 meters (4,805 ft); Lake Tanganyika, at 770 meters (2,500 ft); and Lake Mweru, at 920 meters (3,020 ft).
The mountains have an influence on precipitation: the western side is more rainy, while the eastern side is sheltered from humid currents, so much so that in the central and southern part of Lake Tanganyika, the rainfall drops below 1,000 mm (40 in) per year.

Goma

Here are the average temperatures of Goma, located at 1,500 meters (5,000 feet) above sea level, on the shores of Lake Kivu. Although we are at the Equator, at this altitude, temperatures are pleasant all year round during the day and cool at night.
Goma - Average temperatures
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January142519.5577767.1
February142519.5577767.1
March142519.5577767.1
April142519.5577767.1
May142519.5577767.1
June132519557766.2
July132519557766.2
August132519557766.2
September132519557766.2
October132519557766.2
November132519557766.2
December132418.5557565.3
Year13.424.919.1556.176.866.5

Rainfall in Goma amounts to 1,250 millimeters (50 inches) per year; from June to August, the rains are fairly rare and not abundant. Here is the average precipitation.
Goma - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January1154.517
February953.717
March1104.320
April1405.522
May1355.317
June451.87
July301.25
August652.68
September1154.514
October1505.920
November1455.723
December1204.720
Year126549.8190

In Goma, the sunniest period is the relatively dry one that goes from June to August.
Goma - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January5.5175
February5.5160
March5160
April5.5160
May5.5170
June7215
July7.5230
August5.5175
September6185
October5.5175
November6175
December5.5165
Year5.92135

The most imposing mountains of the country are the Ruwenzori mountains, which are located in the far east, on the border with Uganda, almost at the Equator. The highest mountain is Mount Stanley, in Margherita Peak, at 5,109 meters (16,762 ft) of altitude, where there is also a glacier. These mountains are very wet, since they receive constant rainfall and are often covered with clouds; they are home to a variety of environments, which change with altitude: between 2,000 and 3,000 meters (6,600 and 9,800 ft), there is a montane forest; above 3,000 meters (9,800 ft), there are species that are able to withstand the frost at night as well as the strong solar radiation during the day; finally, above 4,000 meters (13,000 ft), we find a moorland similar to that found in the Alps. The Ruwenzori Mountains on the Congolese side are protected in the Virunga National Park (which is also a World Heritage Site by UNESCO), which extends to the south, beyond Lake Edward, to the other imposing mountain range, still on the border with Uganda, precisely the Virunga Mountains.
West of Lake Kivu, we find the Mitumba Mountains, whose highest peaks are Mount Kahuzi, 3,308 meters (10,853 ft), and Mount Biega, 2,790 meters (9,154 ft). They are part of the Kahuzi-Biega National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which, however, has been declared at risk because of illegal hunting and poaching.
South of the Virunga Mountains are the Itombwe Mountains, which culminate in Mount Mohi, at 3,475 meters (11,401 ft).

Giant lobelia in Rwenzori

Back to top

When to go and what to pack in Democratic Republic Congo

© Copyright Climatestotravel.com. 

Back to Africa

All the countries


Share this page:
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Whatsapp Email

 See also (cities or regions):

 Kinshasa

 Nearby countries:

 Angola
 Burundi
 Central African Republic
 Congo
 Rwanda
 South Sudan
 Tanzania
 Uganda
 Zambia

 Continents:
 Africa
 North America
 South America
 Antarctica
 Asia
 Caribbean
 Europe
 Middle East
 Oceania

 Search in the website:


Home About Contact Us Link Policy
Home
About
Contact Us
Link
Policy