Spring in Yamoussoukro means you’ll notice the weather changing, and it really shapes what you do day to day or how you plan a trip. You can expect warm temperatures that slip from the mid-90s °F to the high 80s °F, with humidity climbing and rain showers becoming more common.
This season brings hot afternoons, more clouds, and wetter days, all of which give the city’s climate its springtime character.
Mornings usually start off warm and a bit muggy. By afternoon, thick clouds roll in, and you might get caught in a sudden downpour.
Rain chances jump as spring goes on, so it’s smart to keep an umbrella handy. Meanwhile, daylight stretches a bit longer, offering more time to explore, even if the skies are often gray.
Winds blow steadily from the south, and the humidity stays high. That heaviness in the air can make it feel hotter than the thermometer says.
These conditions shape when it actually feels nice to be outside in Yamoussoukro.
Overview of Yamoussoukro’s Spring Climate
Spring marks a real change from dry to wet. You’ll notice warm, steady temperatures, but the rain picks up fast.
Sunny spells and rainy days both show up, and you’ll see how they impact what’s possible each day.
Location and Climate Classification
Yamoussoukro sits smack in the middle of Ivory Coast, about 213–226 meters (700–740 feet) above sea level. Being inland, you miss the coastal stickiness, but the tropical climate still dominates.
The city falls under the Aw classification in the Köppen system, which means tropical savanna—think high temps all year, with wet and dry seasons trading off.
Average annual temperatures hover around 26–28°C (79–83°F). You don’t get wild extremes here; it’s the rain and the sun that really make each season feel different.
So, spring acts as a transition. Dryness fades, the rains move in, and you see the effects on agriculture, travel, and what you can do outdoors.
Spring Weather Patterns
Spring runs from March to May in Yamoussoukro. Rainfall starts off moderate in March and ramps up to heavy by May.
- March: about 100 mm (4 in) of rain
- April: around 120 mm (4.7 in)
- May: up to 150 mm (6 in), making it one of the wettest months
Temperatures stay pretty steady, between 21°C (70°F) at night and 33°C (92°F) during the day. Humidity makes it feel even warmer.
You’ll get 12 to 12.3 hours of daylight, so there’s time to get out and about. Sun still peeks through, but clouds and rain become more common as the months go by.
By late spring, you might go from sunshine to a heavy downpour in a matter of minutes.
Comparison to Other Seasons
Spring stands out mainly because of the rain. Winter (December–February) is the driest, with as little as 15–40 mm (0.6–1.6 in) of rain.
Spring’s rainfall can be three to ten times higher, especially in May.
Summer (June–August) gets even wetter, with rain peaking near 165–170 mm (6.5–6.7 in) per month. Sunshine drops off in summer, sometimes down to just 3 hours a day in August.
By autumn (September–November), the rains start to back off, going from soaked in September to much drier by November.
Spring feels like a steady build-up, each month bringing more rain but still enough sun to balance things out.
If you’re visiting, spring means warm weather and long days, but you’ll want to be ready for showers, especially as May approaches.
Average Spring Temperatures
Spring in Yamoussoukro keeps things warm, with only minor changes in highs and lows. You’ll get hot afternoons, mild nights, and a slow uptick in humidity as the weeks go by.
Monthly Temperature Ranges
In spring, daily high temperatures drop a little—from about 94°F (34°C) in early March to around 88°F (31°C) by late May. It’s not a huge shift, but you’ll notice it, especially with more clouds overhead.
Nighttime lows stay steady, averaging 73°F (23°C). The warmest nights usually show up in mid-April, sometimes reaching 74°F (23–24°C).
By late May, nights cool down just a touch, balancing out those hot days.
This pattern means you don’t get big temperature swings from month to month. Spring is all about consistency, with just a few degrees separating the start and end.
Day and Night Temperature Variations
Afternoons in Yamoussoukro climb into the upper 80s and low 90s °F (31–34°C). Evenings cool off, but you probably won’t need a jacket.
Nights usually sit in the low to mid-70s °F (21–24°C).
The gap between day and night temps is pretty small, giving you a narrow daily temperature range. Unlike places with big day-night swings, Yamoussoukro’s tropical climate keeps things even.
That predictability is handy if you’re planning to be outside. You can count on warm mornings, hot afternoons, and only slightly cooler nights.
Temperature Extremes in Spring
Extreme temperatures don’t really happen here in spring. Highs rarely go over 98°F (37°C), and lows hardly ever dip below 70°F (21°C).
For context, the absolute hottest time of year is usually February, with highs up to 94°F (34°C). The coldest is January, when lows can touch 66°F (19°C).
So, in spring, you’re right in the comfortable middle. It’s one of the more stable times, temperature-wise.
Rainfall and Rainy Days During Spring
Spring in Yamoussoukro marks the move from dry to wet. Rainfall jumps up fast, and rainy days become more common. It’s the lead-in to the heart of the rainy season.
Monthly Rainfall Totals
Rain totals rise sharply from March through May. Early March sees about 1.9 inches (48 mm) over 31 days, while late May brings around 5.9 inches (150 mm).
This climb signals the arrival of the West African rainy season. March stays the driest, but May gets downright soaked.
Here’s what a typical spring looks like:
| Month | Average Rainfall |
|---|---|
| March | ~50 mm (2 in) |
| April | ~100 mm (4 in) |
| May | ~150 mm (6 in) |
Numbers bounce around year to year, but the upward trend stays the same.
Frequency of Rainy Days
Rain chances rise fast in spring. Early March brings about a 36% chance of rain each day, but by late May it jumps to over 70%.
That works out to roughly 11 rainy days in March and 20 or more in May. April lands somewhere in the middle, usually with 15 to 18 wet days.
Rain tends to come as showers or thunderstorms, often in the afternoon or evening. They don’t always last long, but they can be intense.
Typical Rainfall Patterns
Rain in spring doesn’t fall evenly. Early on, showers are hit or miss, sometimes skipping a few days. By April and May, rain becomes more routine, with only short breaks between wet spells.
Storms can build up fast in the muggy air, unleashing heavy rain for a short time. Roads sometimes flood, but the water usually drains away pretty quickly.
Expect muggy conditions to go along with the rain. Humidity often hits near 100%, especially as the season goes on.
Humidity and Relative Humidity Levels
Humidity in Yamoussoukro changes with the seasons, and you really feel it as spring rolls in. With the wet season on the way, moisture rises, and it affects both your comfort and even the air quality.
Average Humidity by Month
Relative humidity climbs each month in spring. March averages about 72%—sticky, sure, but not unbearable.
By April, it’s up to 78%, and May often comes in at 82–84%.
This jump links to moist air moving in from the Gulf of Guinea. The dry season’s influence fades, so mornings get damper and evenings stay warm.
| Month | Average Relative Humidity |
|---|---|
| March | ~72% |
| April | ~78% |
| May | ~82–84% |
Humidity also shifts during the day. Early mornings can feel extra damp, but if there’s a breeze, afternoons sometimes feel a bit better.
Nights stay muggy, which isn’t great for sleeping unless you’ve got AC or a good fan.
Impact on Comfort and Air Quality
When humidity rises, your body struggles to cool off by sweating. Outdoor activities feel more draining, especially during hot, humid afternoons.
Clothes might feel damp and less breathable, which is just part of life here in spring.
High humidity also changes air quality. The air feels heavier, and while dust drops compared to the dry season, mold and mildew risks go up inside.
If you’re sensitive to air quality, spring humidity can be tough. Fans or dehumidifiers help indoors, and mornings are usually the best time to get outside.
Sunshine Hours and Daylight
Spring in Yamoussoukro brings some changes in sunlight, though nothing too dramatic. Sunshine hours are limited because of the clouds, but daylight length barely changes—always close to 12 hours.
Average Daily Sunshine
You won’t get as much sun in spring as in other seasons. By March, clouds start taking over, and by May, sunny days are rare.
On average, you’ll see 3 to 5 hours of sunshine per day. The wet season brings more overcast skies and rain, cutting down on bright days.
So, while it’s still warm, you might find outdoor plans hampered by the lack of sun. Mornings sometimes offer the clearest skies before clouds roll in.
Length of Daylight Hours
Daylight hours barely budge in Yamoussoukro. In spring, days last between 12.1 and 12.4 hours.
Sunrise comes just after 6:00 a.m., and sunset falls around 6:15 to 6:30 p.m.
The difference between the shortest and longest days is less than half an hour. That’s just how it is near the equator.
For travelers, this means you don’t need to worry about major daylight swings. Whether it’s March or May, you get nearly the same amount of usable daylight each day, even if the sun hides behind clouds.
Wind Speed and Weather Influences
In spring, Yamoussoukro’s wind speeds stay moderate, but they shift as the wet season arrives. The wind’s strength and direction help shape cloud cover, rain patterns, and even how comfortable the air feels.
Typical Wind Speeds in Spring
In spring, Yamoussoukro usually gets average wind speeds between 4 to 6 miles per hour. That’s gentle—most days, you won’t notice strong gusts, but the wind still affects daily weather.
Winds tend to feel a bit stronger early in the season, especially in March. The city’s just shifting out of the dry months, so breezes pick up a little.
By May, the wind calms down as heavier rains and higher humidity start to set in. You’ll probably notice the air feeling heavier, but the wind sticks around just enough.
When the air’s humid, even a moderate breeze can help. Sometimes, evenings feel more comfortable as the wind mixes with cooler nighttime air.
| Month | Avg. Wind Speed (mph) | Comfort Effect |
|---|---|---|
| March | ~6.0 | Slight relief from heat |
| April | ~5.7 | Humid but tolerable |
| May | ~5.4 | Feels muggy, less relief |
Seasonal Wind Patterns
Spring winds in Yamoussoukro mostly follow bigger seasonal changes that happen across West Africa. From March to May, winds start to shift as the rainy season approaches, and they bring more moisture inland.
At the start of spring, winds usually come from the northeast. They tend to carry drier air left behind from the harmattan season.
But as you get further into April and May, the southwest monsoon flow really picks up. This flow brings in humid air from the Atlantic Ocean.
That shift in wind direction is a big reason why you see more clouds and rain. The extra moisture in the air makes the daytime heat feel heavier, even if it’s not quite the hottest part of the year yet.
You’ll probably notice more clouds building up in the afternoons and sometimes a few gusts during storms. Still, strong winds don’t usually stick around for long.
These seasonal wind patterns don’t really create dangerous conditions—they’re more of a heads-up that the wetter months are coming.