Cameroon presents a remarkable range of climatic conditions across its diverse landscapes. This variety stems from its geography and atmospheric influences. Cameroon’s climate features distinct zones, from humid coastlines to arid northern reaches.
Geographical and Atmospheric Influences
Cameroon’s climate is shaped by key factors, starting with its location near the equator, stretching between approximately 2° and 13° North latitude. This equatorial proximity ensures consistently high temperatures throughout the year in many parts of the country. The Atlantic Ocean, specifically the Gulf of Guinea, brings moist maritime air inland, affecting coastal regions.
Varied topography, including coastal plains, central plateaus, and mountainous regions like Mount Cameroon, creates distinct microclimates. High elevations generally experience cooler temperatures and higher rainfall compared to lower-lying areas. The seasonal movement of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), a band of low pressure near the equator, dictates the timing and intensity of wet and dry seasons across different parts of the country.
Equatorial Climate Belt
The southern regions of Cameroon, generally situated between 2° and 5° North latitude, experience an equatorial climate. This climate is characterized by consistently high temperatures, typically averaging between 20°C and 28°C, along with high humidity. Rainfall in this belt is abundant and well-distributed throughout the year, supporting dense rainforest ecosystems.
This equatorial belt has two main variations. The extreme south and coastal areas, such as Douala and Kribi, exhibit an equatorial type with four seasons, featuring two wet seasons and two comparatively drier seasons. These coastal areas receive very high annual rainfall, with some locations recording over 10,000 mm annually. Slightly inland, around cities like Yaoundé, the equatorial climate typically features two distinct seasons: one long wet season and one long dry season, though overall precipitation remains substantial, often ranging from 1,500 to 2,500 mm per year.
Tropical and Semi-Arid Climates
Moving northward from the equatorial belt, Cameroon transitions into tropical and semi-arid climates. The central-northern regions, including the Adamawa Plateau, experience a tropical climate, sometimes referred to as tropical savanna. This zone has more distinct wet and dry seasons than the south, and temperatures show greater seasonal variations. Rainfall is less abundant and concentrated within the wet season, generally from April to October, with annual totals typically around 1,300 to 1,500 mm. These conditions support savanna grasslands and influence agricultural practices and livestock farming in the area.
Further north, in the extreme northern parts of Cameroon, a semi-arid climate, known as the Sahelian type, prevails. This is the driest and hottest region of the country, characterized by a very long dry season lasting up to eight months. The short wet season brings irregular, less substantial rainfall, with annual precipitation often below 600-760 mm. Temperatures in this region often reach extremes, frequently exceeding 40°C during the dry season, and there are significant daily and seasonal temperature swings. The sparse vegetation consists mainly of drought-resistant shrubs and grasses, adapted to these harsh conditions.
Seasonal Weather Dynamics
The north-south movement of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) generally establishes a broad wet season from April or May to October or November across much of the country, followed by a dry season from November or December to March or April. The length and intensity of these seasons vary from south to north.
Temperatures remain high throughout the year in the southern regions, typically ranging from 20°C to 25°C with minimal seasonal fluctuation. In contrast, central and northern areas experience more pronounced seasonal temperature shifts, with warmer seasons seeing averages between 25°C and 30°C. The dry season in the north often brings the highest temperatures of the year. Rainfall distribution also shows a clear gradient, decreasing significantly from the coast inland and from south to north, reflecting the significant differences in annual precipitation across Cameroon.