The climate in the Central African Republic

Climate zone: tropics

The climate in the Central African Republic is very warm, with an annual average of 33 degrees, but has few truly tropical and sticky months. It is warm or hot yearlong. The warmest and rainiest part of the country is Vakaga. The coldest is Nana-Mambéré. 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 74 years

The hottest temperature measured from 1949 to January 2023 was reported by the N'dele weather station. In February 2010, the record temperature of 45.8 °C was reported here. The hottest summer from July to September, based on all 13 weather stations in Central Africa below 1,020 meters altitude, was recorded in 1953 with an average temperature of 25.3 °C. This average temperature will normally be measured every four to six hours, thus also including the nights. Normally, this value is 24.4 degrees Celsius.

The coldest day in these 74 years was reported by the Bria weather station. Here the temperature dropped to 9.0 °C in January 2003. Bria lies at an altitude of 584 meters above sea level. The coldest winter (January to March) was in 1989 with an average temperature of 23.4 °C. In Central Africa, it is usual to have about 2.8 degrees more at 26.2 °C for this three-month period.

The most precipitation fell in September 1961. With 20.0 mm per day, the Bossembele weather station recorded the highest monthly average of the last 74 years. Incidentally, the region with the most rainfall for the whole year is around Bossembele. The driest region is near Birao.

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.