Country guides Africa
Climate in Central African Republic
The Central African Republic has a tropical climate with hot temperatures and year-round humidity, but there are regional variations. The north has a drier, hotter climate, while the more tropical south and the western highlands experience cooler temperatures.
The Central African Republic has two wet and two dry seasons, but there is not much variation in temperature throughout the year. The heaviest rain arrives between May and June, and again between October and November, although in the south it can rain at any time of year. The north is semi-arid (the northeast is desert) and receives only about half the amount of precipitation as the south annually.
The average annual temperatures in Bangui range from 70°F to 84°F (21°C to 29°C) in July and August, and from 70°F to 93°F (21°C to 34°C) in February. Between December and March the Harmattan - a hot, dry, dust-laden wind that blows in from the Sahara Desert - affects the north of the Central African Republic.
The south is prone to flooding during the rainy seasons. The Central African Republic is currently a war zone and a dangerous destination, but the best time to visit the country weather-wise is in the dry season, between December and March.