Climate - Guinea Bissau

Index

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• Introduction
• The coast - Bissau
• Inland areas - Gabù
• Cyclones
• Best Time
• What to pack

Introduction

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In Guinea-Bissau, the climate is tropical, hot all year round, with a dry season from November to May, and a rainy season from June to October due to the African monsoon. The hottest period runs from February to May, before the rains, while the rainy season, though less hot, it's muggy. The heat is intense especially in the interior, while along the coast, where Bissau is located, it is relieved by the breeze.
The monsoon rains are definitely heavy, especially from July to September, when they can cause widespread flooding. In addition, the sky in this period is often cloudy. August is the rainiest month, and if possible, it should be avoided. The rainfall is more abundant in the central-southern part of the coast, where it exceeds 2,000 millimeters (79 inches) per year, and less abundant in the north-east, where it drops below 1,500 mm (60 in) per year.
During winter, there's good weather, and the air is dry because of the prevailing wind, the Harmattan, which blows from the desert, and can bring dust, making the sky whitish. Normally, the daytime temperature is about 30 °C (86 °F), but it can sometimes reach 40 °C (104 °F). However, this is the best time of the year.
Starting from February, both temperature and humidity gradually increase, reaching a peak between March and May, when the temperature can easily surpass 40 °C (104 °F). Starting from June, the rains lower the temperature to about 29/30 °C (84/86 °F), but moisture makes the heat muggy. However, the heat on the coast is tempered by the breeze.

The coast

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Bissau

Here are the average temperatures in Bissau, the capital, located in the central part of the coast.

In Bissau, precipitation amounts to 2,000 millimeters (79 inches) per year. Here is the average precipitation.

In Bissau, the sun often shines from November to May, while the sky is often cloudy in the rainy season, especially in the wettest period, from July to September. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.

The sea is always warm enough for swimming, although it is warmer from June to November, when the water temperature is about 28 °C (82 °F), while in March and April, it drops to 24 °C (75 °F).

Inland areas

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Gabù

Here are the average temperatures in Gabù, located in the north-east, where the heat is intense in the months preceding the monsoon.

In Gabù, 1,400 mm (56 in) of rain fall per year.

In the rainy season, the sun in the north-east shines more often than on the coast.

Tropical cyclones

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In the ocean to the west of Senegal, there is an area in which hurricanes, the tropical cyclones of the Atlantic, start to form; after they are formed, they move towards the west or the northwest and head to the Caribbean. In general, the country is not affected by hurricanes because they develop at a considerable distance, however, a hurricane can occasionally be formed a short distance from the coast and affect Guinea-Bissau as well, with rainfall as well as storm surges that can damage the coast, as happened at the beginning of September 2015 with Hurricane Fred.
Hurricanes are generally formed in this area in August and September.

Best Time

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The best time to visit Guinea-Bissau is winter, in particular, the months of December and January, which are the least hot among those in which it does not rain. It may be useful to bring a scarf for the dust brought by the wind.
For a beach holiday, the dry season, from November to May, is preferable.

What to pack

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In winter: in Bissau and on the coast, bring light clothes for the day, a sweatshirt for the evening, and a scarf for the wind-borne sand and dust. In inland areas, you can add a light jacket for the evening.
In summer: bring light clothing of natural fibers, a light sweatshirt and a light raincoat for the rain.

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