The climate in Gabon

Climate zone: tropics

High humidity and hot temperatures make the weather in Gabon pleasant at times but also tropical humid. It is warm or hot yearlong. The warmest and rainiest part of the country is Moyen-Ogooué. The coldest is Ogooué-Lolo. 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 Tschibanga weather station. In September 2015, the record temperature of 40.8 °C was reported here. The hottest summer from July to September, based on all 15 weather stations in Gabon below 600 meters altitude, was recorded in 2008 with an average temperature of 25.8 °C. This average temperature will normally be measured every four to six hours, thus also including the nights. Normally, this value is 23.6 degrees Celsius. The average maximum daily temperature at that time was 28.0 °C.

The coldest day in these 74 years was reported by the Mvengue weather station. Here the temperature dropped to 9.5 °C in April 2012. Mvengue lies at an altitude of 444 meters above sea level. The coldest winter (January to March) was in 1976 with an average temperature of 24.9 °C. In Gabon, it is usual to have about 1.0 degrees more at 25.9 °C for this three-month period.

The most precipitation fell in March 2010. With 97.6 mm per day, the Port Gentil 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 Cocobeach. The driest region is near Tschibanga.

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.