The climate in Ivory Coast

Climate zone: tropics

High humidity and hot temperatures make the weather in Ivory Coast pleasant at times but also tropical humid. It is warm to hot all year round, inviting bathing at average water temperatures of 27 degrees. The warmest and rainiest part of the country is Lacs. The coldest is Comoé. Due to less rain, the best time for traveling is from December to March. Most precipitation falls from May to October.

Temperature records of the last 74 years

The hottest temperature measured from 1949 to January 2023 was reported by the Gagnoa weather station. In July 2018, the record temperature of 45.7 °C was reported here. The hottest summer from July to September, based on all 13 weather stations in Ivory Coast , was recorded in 1963 with an average temperature of 25.4 °C. This average temperature will normally be measured every four to six hours, thus also including the nights. Normally, this value is 24.7 degrees Celsius.

The coldest day in these 74 years was reported by the Abidjan weather station. Here the temperature dropped to 4.7 °C in July 2018. Abidjan lies at an altitude of eight meters above sea level. The coldest winter (January to March) was in 1971 with an average temperature of 26.2 °C. In Ivory Coast, it is usual to have about 1.0 degrees more at 27.2 °C for this three-month period.

The most precipitation fell in June 1960. With 40.0 mm per day, the Abidjan 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 Tabou. The driest region is near Bondoukou.

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. There are 14 stations in Ivory Coast itself. In 2 cases, neighboring but nearby weather stations were also used to obtain more accurate values.