Spring in Ouagadougou really shakes things up as the dry season starts handing things over to the rainy months. You’ll notice hot days, warm nights, and humidity creeping up week by week.
This transition makes spring one of the city’s most unpredictable and lively weather seasons.
As the weeks roll on, the heat ramps up fast, and April usually takes the crown for hottest month. Then, clouds and the first seasonal rains show up, finally breaking up those endless dry skies.
You’ll get a mix of blazing afternoons, the occasional breezy evening, and the first hints of relief from those dusty Harmattan winds.
If you’re planning to get outside, you’ll see daylight lasts close to twelve hours, so there’s plenty of time to explore. The mix of rising temps, shifting winds, and more frequent rain really sets the scene for the true wet season ahead.
Overview of Ouagadougou’s Spring Climate
Spring here means very hot days, humidity on the rise, and rain picking up fast as the season goes on.
You’ll start with dry heat, but by late spring, things turn wetter and stickier.
Seasonal Temperature Patterns
During spring, daily high temperatures usually fall between 91°F and 107°F (33°C to 42°C). Early April is especially brutal, with highs around 103°F (39°C).
Nights warm up, too, with lows moving from 74°F (23°C) in March to about 80°F (27°C) by May.
You’ll still feel a difference between day and night, but as humidity climbs, that gap gets smaller. By late April, nights can sit at 82°F (28°C), which honestly feels pretty stuffy.
Spring brings some of the highest temperatures Ouagadougou ever records. You’ll want to prepare for long stretches of heat, especially in April, when the sun’s relentless and shade is scarce.
Spring Precipitation Trends
Rain picks up fast as the wet season approaches. In early March, you’ve got just a 2% chance of a wet day. By late May, that jumps to almost 45%—a clear sign the rainy season is closing in.
Average precipitation totals climb, too. Early spring might see less than 0.2 inches (5 mm) for the month, but by May’s end, it can hit 2.6 inches (66 mm) or more. Thunderstorms, often short but intense, become pretty common in May.
So, you might get long dry spells in March, then suddenly get drenched in May. If you’re visiting, it’s smart to plan outdoor stuff early in the season before the rain really gets going.
Humidity and Dew Point Changes
Humidity just takes off in spring. In early March, there’s about a 3% chance of a muggy day, but by the end of May, that number rockets up to almost 88%.
This is all about the rising dew point, which makes the air feel heavier and honestly, kind of uncomfortable.
The dew point keeps climbing, so even nights get sticky. Cooling off after sunset gets harder, and evenings can feel downright muggy.
By late spring, sweat doesn’t really evaporate well, so being outside can wear you out. If you’re not a fan of humidity, late May might feel especially tough compared to the dry start of the season.
Temperature Ranges and Daily Variations
Spring in Ouagadougou brings some of the year’s highest heat. Temperatures climb fast through March, April, and May. Days get scorching, and nights stay a lot warmer than winter.
The shift from dry to wet season changes just how much relief you get from the heat.
Average Highs and Lows by Month
In March, highs average around 37°C (99°F), and lows sit near 22°C (72°F). Rain is almost nonexistent, so the heat feels even more intense.
By April, daytime highs reach about 39°C (102°F)—the year’s peak. Nights only cool to 25°C (77°F), so you won’t get much relief after sunset.
In May, the first rains show up. Highs drop just a bit to 37–38°C (99–100°F), but humidity climbs. Lows hover near 26°C (79°F), making nights stay pretty warm.
| Month | Avg High °C (°F) | Avg Low °C (°F) | Rainfall Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| March | 37 (99) | 22 (72) | Very dry |
| April | 39 (102) | 25 (77) | Dry, rising |
| May | 37–38 (99–100) | 26 (79) | Start of rains |
Hourly Temperature Bands
Mornings start off warm, usually 22–25°C (72–77°F) by sunrise. By late morning, temps shoot up, hitting 30°C (86°F) before noon.
Mid-afternoon is the real scorcher, often 37–40°C (99–104°F). After sunset, the heat lingers, and it often stays above 30°C (86°F) until late evening. Nights rarely dip below 22–26°C (72–79°F).
Meteorologists have noticed that in April and May, temperatures spike quickly after sunrise and only cool slowly overnight. Not exactly the best time for outdoor plans, honestly.
Heat Extremes and Comfortable Periods
Spring can bring Ouagadougou’s highest historical temperatures, with readings above 40°C (104°F) happening pretty often, especially in April.
You’ll only find short windows of comfort. Early mornings are your best bet, with temps in the low 20s °C (low 70s °F). Once the sun’s up, though, it heats up fast.
By May, humidity makes the heat feel even heavier. You might get a bit of relief from clouds and rain, but the extra moisture usually cancels that out. This heat and humidity combo can be really tough for both travelers and locals.
Cloud Cover and Sunshine Patterns
Spring skies in Ouagadougou change a lot, starting clearer in March and getting cloudier by late May. Daylight stretches out, but you’ll notice solar energy levels slowly dropping, which affects how much direct sun you get.
Spring Cloud Cover Trends
Clouds build up fast as spring moves along. Early March gives you clear or partly cloudy skies about 55% of the time. By early May, overcast or mostly cloudy days hit 68%.
So, you’ll see fewer clear days as the season pushes on.
The chance of a wet day rises with cloud cover, going from 2% in March to almost 45% by late May. That’s the rainy season knocking at the door, and it changes how you plan outdoor stuff, affects visibility, and even how the heat feels.
To make it simple:
- March: clearer skies, barely any rain
- April: a mix of clear and cloudy days
- May: mostly cloudy, storms more likely
This matters for anyone farming or traveling, since more clouds mean less direct sun and the heat feels different.
Sunshine Hours and Solar Elevation
Daylight stretches out through spring. Early March days are about 11 hours 54 minutes long, and by late May, you get 12 hours 48 minutes.
Sunrises come about 40 minutes earlier, and sunsets shift later by about 13 minutes.
The sun climbs higher in the sky until mid-spring, then levels off. This changes how intense the midday sun feels.
Even though days get longer, average shortwave solar energy drops a bit, from 6.4 kWh to 5.8 kWh by late May.
More clouds block some sunlight, so you still get strong sun, but it’s more scattered. For travelers, mornings and late afternoons can feel brighter than midday if clouds are thick.
Precipitation and Rainfall Characteristics
Spring marks the switch from the dry season to wetter months in Ouagadougou. Rainfall patterns change quickly, and you’ll notice both more rainy days and heavier showers.
Wet and Dry Periods in Spring
March and April stay mostly dry. Most days pass with clear or partly cloudy skies. In May, though, the wet season starts to show up, and scattered thunderstorms become more common.
Weather stations in the area track a sharp spike in rain by late spring. You might go several days without rain, then suddenly get hit by a heavy downpour.
This transition makes planning outdoor stuff a bit tricky, since the weather can flip pretty fast.
Humidity also jumps in May, making the heat feel even more intense. March and early April still feel like the dry season, but late spring brings more unpredictable weather.
Rainfall Accumulation and Intensity
Spring rain totals climb from almost nothing in March to pretty significant amounts by May. On average, Ouagadougou gets 40–80 mm of rain in May, while March barely registers any.
Spring storms usually come as short, strong bursts. They often hit in the afternoon or evening, dumping heavy rain in just a few hours.
This can cause brief flooding in low spots, even though May’s total rainfall isn’t as high as in summer.
Rainfall can be really uneven—one neighborhood might get drenched while another stays dry during the same storm. Local weather stations keep a close eye on these wild variations.
Wind Patterns and Atmospheric Conditions
Spring winds in Ouagadougou stay pretty tame, usually light to moderate, but they do shift in direction and strength as the season moves along.
Air pressure holds steady, while small changes in wind direction hint at the coming wet season.
Typical Wind Speed and Direction
You’ll usually feel average spring winds at 3 to 9 mph. Early on, they blow from the northeast, thanks to the dry Harmattan.
As spring goes on, winds swing around toward the southwest, pulling in moisture from the Gulf of Guinea.
Calm winds mean you’re not likely to get hit by strong gusts. Instead, the breeze is just a steady part of the background.
This makes it easier to plan outdoor stuff, though the dry northeast air can still feel dusty.
Meteorologists say the tug-of-war between northeast and southwest winds sets up the rainy season. Watching these patterns helps explain why humidity rises before the real rains start.
Wind Vector Changes During Spring
Wind vectors in Ouagadougou shift gradually from March to May. Early in the season, winds come mostly from the northeast, bringing in dry continental air.
By late spring, winds turn toward the southwest, showing that moist tropical systems are taking over.
This shift is a big deal—it marks the seasonal transition. You might notice evenings feel warmer and the air gets heavier as the southwest flow grows stronger.
Humidity increases right along with this wind change.
Meteorologists track these shifts by mapping wind speed and direction over time. While speeds don’t change much, the direction really tells the story. It signals the end of the dry season and gets the region ready for summer rains.
Sunlight, Day Length, and Astronomical Data
In Ouagadougou during spring, daylight hours get longer, solar energy levels climb, and the lunar cycle keeps shaping how bright the nights feel.
All of this impacts your daily plans and how you enjoy time outdoors.
Daylight Duration and Timing
Day length in Ouagadougou shifts gradually as spring rolls in. At the start of March, you get about 11.8 hours of daylight.
By late May, daylight stretches to nearly 12.9 hours. That gives you a bit more time to enjoy the outdoors, if you ask me.
The shortest spring day comes in early March. The longest spring day shows up near the June solstice.
Sunrise creeps earlier, moving from around 6:20 a.m. in March to about 5:50 a.m. by late May. Sunset follows suit, sliding later from roughly 6:10 p.m. to 6:40 p.m.
This steady boost in daylight means you spend less time under artificial lights in the evening. Travelers can squeeze in more sightseeing, while locals get extra hours for farming or outdoor work.
Solar Flux and Energy Trends
Solar flux, the measure of solar radiation hitting the ground, climbs through spring in Ouagadougou. The city sits close to the equator, so the sun’s angle stays high, and the energy feels intense.
By April and May, the midday sun almost hangs directly overhead. You’ll notice high solar intensity, which brings more heat and UV exposure.
Between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., sunlight gets especially strong. That’s when you really want a hat, light clothing, or sunscreen, unless you enjoy sunburns.
The steady rise in solar energy helps solar power systems crank out more electricity. Households and businesses with panels see spring as a productive time.
Farmers also benefit since the higher solar input can speed up plant growth, especially when seasonal rains arrive.
Moon Phases and Lunar Data
The moon keeps up its usual cycle of new moon, first quarter, full moon, and last quarter through spring. Each phase pops up about every 7 or 8 days, so the full cycle wraps up in roughly 29.5 days.
During full moon nights, you’ll notice brighter conditions, making it easier to do things outdoors without flipping on the lights. Farmers sometimes plan late work or travel for these nights.
On new moon nights, it gets pretty dark, which works out nicely for stargazers.
The moon rises and sets at different times depending on its phase. For example, a full moon usually rises near sunset and sets near sunrise.
This predictable pattern lets you plan outdoor events, religious observances, or nighttime travel that depends on natural light.
Environmental and Geographic Influences
Ouagadougou’s spring weather reflects its spot on a flat plateau with not much change in elevation. Land cover, mostly cropland with scattered grassland, shapes how heat and moisture interact with the atmosphere. This mix influences the timing and length of the growing season.
Topography and Elevation
Ouagadougou sits at about 297 meters (974 feet) above sea level. The city spreads across the central plateau of Burkina Faso, which is mostly flat with gentle bumps here and there.
Since the topography barely changes, you don’t see big differences in temperature or rainfall over short distances. The Shuttle Radar Topography Mission mapped this low-relief landscape, so regional air masses shape the weather more than local terrain.
The modest elevation means nighttime temperatures stay a bit cooler than in coastal lowlands, but honestly, not by much. Springtime highs still often soar well above 35°C (95°F).
Land Use and Surface Types
Cropland dominates the land around Ouagadougou, with millet, sorghum, and maize as the main staples. Grassland sticks around in patches, but urban growth has brought more artificial surfaces like paved roads and concrete.
These surfaces soak up and release heat differently than open fields or vegetation. During spring, as rains just start up, croplands stay drier and reflect more sunlight. Built-up areas, on the other hand, create localized warming.
Global land cover data says the region’s surface is mostly cropland, with grassland and shrubland making up the rest. This blend affects how fast the soil heats up and how much moisture the air can grab.
Impact on Growing Season
Spring really signals the transition from the dry season to the wet one, and that shift has a direct effect on the growing season. Farmers watch for those first steady rains in May, then get to work preparing their fields. Temperatures already offer enough growing degree days for crops to mature, so it’s all about the moisture.
Rainfall, not temperature, limits how long the growing season lasts. The heat is honestly more than enough all year, but if the soil stays dry, seeds just won’t sprout.
As soon as the rains arrive, you can see vegetation respond almost instantly. Fields, grasses, and even scrappy roadside plants green up in just a few days.
It’s kind of striking how tightly climate and land use connect to these seasonal weather changes.