Central African Republic Weather Radar

The Central African Republic lies in the heart of the African continent, with a tropical climate that transitions from equatorial conditions in the south to Sudanese savanna in the north. The southern regions receive rainfall for nine to ten months of the year with totals exceeding 1,800mm, while the northern Sahel-influenced areas have a shorter rainy season of five to six months and totals around 800mm. The country sits between the Congo Basin rainforest and the Sahel, creating a rich transitional climate zone.

The wet season is driven by the northward migration of the Intertropical Convergence Zone, bringing intense thunderstorms that are among the most electrically active on Earth. The Central African Republic falls within the global maximum for lightning frequency, and storms can be spectacularly violent with torrential downpours and strong winds. The dry season from November to March in the north brings the Harmattan wind, carrying Saharan dust and significantly reducing visibility, while the south remains more humid even during its brief drier period.

Bangui on the Ubangi River in the southwest has a tropical wet-and-dry climate with temperatures averaging 26°C year-round and annual rainfall around 1,500mm. The city experiences intense humidity during the wet season and relatively pleasant conditions during the drier months. Birao in the far northeast has a much drier Sahel climate with extreme heat exceeding 40°C before the rains arrive. The Dzanga-Sangha rainforest in the southwest is one of the wettest areas, with dense forest maintained by near-constant moisture and warm temperatures.