The climate in Cameroon

Climate zone: tropics

The climate in Cameroon is very warm, with an annual average of 31 degrees, but has few truly tropical and sticky months. It is warm or hot yearlong. The warmest and rainiest part of the country is Far North. The coldest is West. Due to less rain, the best time for traveling is from November to March. The most rain days occur from from May to October.

Temperature records of the last 71 years

The hottest temperature measured from 1952 to January 2023 was reported by the Garoua weather station. In April 2021, the record temperature of 45.3 °C was reported here. The hottest summer from July to September, based on all 13 weather stations in Cameroon below 1,210 meters altitude, was recorded in 1995 with an average temperature of 26.1 °C. This average temperature will normally be measured every four to six hours, thus also including the nights. Normally, this value is 24.0 degrees Celsius.

The coldest day in these 71 years was reported by the Ngaoundere weather station. Here the temperature dropped to 6.0 °C in January 2001. Ngaoundere lies at an altitude of 1,104 meters above sea level. The coldest winter (January to March) was in 1975 with an average temperature of 23.9 °C. In Cameroon, it is usual to have about 2.2 degrees more at 26.1 °C for this three-month period.

The most precipitation fell in August 1960. With 39.7 mm per day, the Douala weather station recorded the highest monthly average of the last 71 years.

Data basis and methodology

The data from the individual measuring stations are based on the archives of the German Weather Service, individual values averaged and supplemented by own elements. In order to determine a representative national average, average values were first calculated for each part of the country, which were then summarized at the national level. Thus, if a disproportionate number of weather stations are located in a small area, their number does not affect the national average.