The climate in the Republic of the Congo

Climate zone: tropics

High humidity and hot temperatures make the weather in the Republic of the Congo pleasant at times but also tropical humid. It is warm or hot yearlong. The warmest and rainiest part of the country is Likouala. The coldest is Lékoumou. Due to less rain, the best time for traveling is from June to August. Most precipitation falls from March to December.

Temperature records of the last 74 years

The hottest temperature measured from 1949 to January 2023 was reported by the Impfondo weather station. In February 2005, the record temperature of 39.9 °C was reported here. The hottest summer from July to September, based on all 14 weather stations in the Congo below 790 meters altitude, was recorded in 2020 with an average temperature of 25.1 °C. This average temperature will normally be measured every four to six hours, thus also including the nights. Normally, this value is 23.7 degrees Celsius. The average maximum daily temperature at that time was 29.5 °C.

The coldest day in these 74 years was reported by the Impfondo weather station. Here the temperature dropped to 1.7 °C in November 2005. Impfondo lies at an altitude of 327 meters above sea level. The coldest winter (January to March) was in 1974 with an average temperature of 24.5 °C. In the Congo, it is usual to have about 1.3 degrees more at 25.7 °C for this three-month period.

The most precipitation fell in February 1992. With 31.4 mm per day, the Dolisie 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 Gamboma. The driest region is near Dolisie.

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.