Climate Ivory Coast
Côte d'Ivoire has a good dry season for visiting, when the heat is not too hot and dry in the north, and humid and stifling in the south. The ideal shooting window is therefore from December to February. But it's really difficult to pinpoint an ideal season, as the climate varies greatly from north to south, passing through the center and east. The west coast, towards San Pedro, gets more rain in December than the east coast towards Abidjan and Assinie, but the ideal period is still from December to February for the coast and the center, then from August to September, as the south enjoys a short dry season at this time. The same applies to the central region around Bouaké and Yamoussoukro. In the north, on the other hand, the rains intensify in August-September. So, depending on your travel plans, you'll need to check the seasonality of the region you're targeting.
Dry season and rainy season
The overall climate is marked by the transition between a humid equatorial climate and a dry tropical climate. The rhythm of precipitation is regulated by the struggle between two air masses.
The African monsoon. A humid air mass of maritime origin, this is a cool, moist trade wind from the southern hemisphere, blowing from the southwest and bringing rain from April to October. In coastal areas, rainfall is also abundant in March and November, and even in December in the west, in the San Pedro region.
Harmattan. A dry continental air mass, which is a warm, dry trade wind from the northern hemisphere, blowing from the northeast, guaranteeing the dry season.
Three distinct climatic zones
The climate varies considerably between the coast in the south around Abidjan and San Pedro, the center of the country around Yamoussoukro, Bouaké and Man, and the north of the country around Korhogo.
Thesub-equatorialzone, along the coastal region, is characterized by low temperature amplitudes (25 to 30°C), high humidity (80 to 90%), and abundant rainfall averaging 1,766 mm/year in Abidjan, and 2,129 mm/year in San Pedro. There are two dry seasons in this area: a long, hot one, interspersed with a few rains from December to April, and a short one in August and September, less marked in the west. Two rainy seasons are interspersed: the long one from May to July, and the short one from October to November.
The humid tropical zone covers the forest zone, as well as the southern Savanes region. Temperatures here vary more widely than in the coastal zone, from 14 to 33°C, with humidity levels of 60 to 70%, and annual rainfall ranging from 905 mm in Bouaké or Yamoussoukro, to 1,897 mm in Man. A long rainy season from June to October and a short one from March to May alternate with a long and short dry season from November to March and July to August respectively.
The Sudanese zone, which extends over the southern part of the Savanes region around Korhogo, features relatively wide daily and annual temperature ranges (around 20°C), much lower humidity than in the south of the country (40-50%), and is characterized by the intermittent presence of a cool, dry wind, the harmattan, between December and February. There are only two seasons in this climate zone: a dry season from November to June, with some rain in April, and a rainy season from July to October. Annual rainfall averages 1,203 mm in Korhogo and 1,491 mm in Odienné.
The seasonal calendar
December - January. The weather in Côte d'Ivoire is mild all year round, with temperatures never dropping in winter. At this time of year, temperatures range from 30°C on the coast to 34°C in the northern interior. Humidity is very high on the coast, due to showers from Assainie to Tabou (especially in the west). The sea is very warm. In the interior of the country (center and north), on the other hand, humidity is very low. It doesn't rain, but it can be a little chilly when the harmattan blows, the desert wind so laden with sand and dust that it veils the sky and creates a characteristic haze in the region. Still indoors, it can get chilly at night, with daytime and night-time temperature variations ranging from 10°C at night to 38°C during the day!
February - March. The average temperature in the north and center of the country is 35°C, and in the most northerly Sudanese savannah regions the thermometer can soar to 45°C! The air is very dry in the north and center, with no rain. On the coast, it's cooler and temperatures are more stable (averaging 31°C in Abidjan and San Pedro). But they are felt more keenly in the south, where the humidity level is totally saturated, creating stifling heat. March sees some rain on the coast towards Abidjan and Assinie, but remains fairly dry on the San Pedro side.
April - May. The rains arrive on the coast, in the form of powerful showers. This is the famous African monsoon. Temperatures are fairly stable, around 32°C, and showers alternate with sunny spells. Around San Pedro, April sees reasonable rainfall (140 mm on average), but in May it soars to 400 mm, while Abidjan receives less (235 mm). In the center and north, rains cool the air (140 mm on average), making it more breathable, especially in May in the north.
June - July. On the coast, rainfall peaks in June, especially in the west (averaging almost 500 mm), where it is heavier than in Abidjan (400 mm). In July, they slow down considerably (to 200 mm and 150 mm respectively). The sky is then very cloudy and not very sunny. Likewise in the central region, June was the wettest (165 mm) compared with July (100 mm). In the north, on the other hand, it's the other way round, with showers alternating with sunny spells in June, only to be forced into July. It therefore rains more in July (250 mm) than in June (200 mm).
August - September. The coast and central regions enjoy an interesting little dry season, providing the perfect interlude for a sunny, not too wet, not too hot holiday. In August, there was barely 50 mm of rain in Abidjan, compared with 100 mm in Yamoussoukro and 150 mm in San Pedro, with the west remaining wetter. In September, there were more showers, but only in the center and east (90 mm in Abidjan, 150 mm in Yamoussoukro). On the other hand, the west coast received more rain than the north (265 mm in San Pedro vs. 200 mm in Korhogo).
October - November. The rains returned to the coast, especially in the east, although not with the same intensity as in June-July. They remain pleasant in Abidjan (between 100 and 150 mm), a little heavier in the east towards San Pedro (between 175 and 200 mm). Skies remain very cloudy. Conversely, in the center and north of the country, the rainfall dropped sharply, and the climate became drier again, with bearable temperatures and stronger sunshine. Yamoussoukro receives very little rain, as does Korhogo (average 90 mm in October, 25 mm in November).
