Climate Congo Brazzaville
Crossed by the equator, Congo-Brazzaville enjoys a tropical climate, with temperatures hovering around 25°C for most of the year. Like most countries in the inter-tropical zone, it has alternating dry and wet seasons. The main rainy season extends from October to December. Rainfall is frequent, particularly in November and December, with temperatures reaching 35°C. This is followed by a short dry season in January and February, characterized by high temperatures (30-35°C). From March to April, there's a short rainy season, with violent storms, before the main dry season from May to September. During this period, rain is almost non-existent and temperatures can drop to 15-16°C. However, this is the best time to visit the country, especially in August for game-watching.
A land of different climates
Although the Republic of Congo enjoys a tropical climate, there are climatic variations from region to region. In the north of the country, the climate is more equatorial, characterized by high humidity and rainfall in excess of 1,700 mm, with an average temperature of between 24 and 26°C. The south-west of the country enjoys a humid tropical climate, with average annual rainfall ranging from 1,200 mm in the south to 1,700 mm in the highlands near Gabon. The average monthly temperature is between 21 and 27°C. During the short dry season, rainfall is spaced out and storms are less violent. The sub-equatorial climate, in the Plateaux and Cuvette regions, is intermediate between the northern and south-western climates; average annual rainfall is around 1,600 mm, with a more marked dry season. In terms of climate, almost the entire Congo has an equatorial rainfall pattern, with maximum temperatures and rainfall interspersed with milder dry seasons. There is no real dry season in the north (Sangha and Likouala), with only a slowdown in rainfall from December to February and in July.
Pleasant temperatures all year round
Average annual temperatures, between 23 and 26°C, are fairly uniform. However, in the dry season, temperatures drop significantly, with the thermometer reading as low as 15°C. June and August are the coldest months, with temperatures not rising until mid-August. Their spatial distribution is mainly a function of relief. They are slightly lower in the higher regions (Batéké Plateau, Cataract Plateau, Western Sangha, Chaillu Massif and Mayombe) than in the lower regions (Congolese Basin, Niari Depression, coastal region). The annual temperature range is small (1.5 to 4.7°C). It is more pronounced in the south than in the north of the country. The daily temperature range is also modest, varying from 4 to 5°C. The air is also very humid, with an average humidity level of 80%. This rate is higher throughout the country during the rainy season. Daily highs are reached around 12pm and lows around 6am. Due to its location on the equator, daytime and night-time periods are of equal importance: the sun rises at 6am and sets at around 6pm. As elsewhere in Africa, nights fall very quickly but are pleasant.
