When you arrive in Yaoundé during the summer, you immediately notice how different the weather feels from other places. The air stays warm but never gets scorching, and the skies frequently shift between cloudy and overcast.
Expect average daytime highs around 77°F to 79°F, making summer the coolest stretch of the year in Yaoundé.
Humidity shapes the way the climate feels here. Even when temperatures drop a bit, the air feels heavy and damp, especially when frequent rainfall rolls in.
Showers happen often and bring a steady rhythm to daily life. People plan outings and activities around the rain.
This mix of cooler temperatures, high humidity, and regular rain gives Yaoundé’s summer its unique personality. If you understand these patterns, you’ll know what to pack and how to plan your visit.
Overview of Yaoundé’s Summer Climate
Yaoundé sits in a humid region where warm temperatures mix with plenty of rainfall and heavy cloud cover. Its tropical location and higher elevation shape the city’s daily weather in distinct ways.
Tropical Climate Characteristics
During summer, you’ll feel steady warmth, with highs near 77–79°F (25–26°C) and lows around 67–68°F (19–20°C). Nights stay humid, and the air rarely cools off much.
Rain falls often, with wet days making up more than half the season. By late summer, rain becomes even more likely, and monthly totals often top 150 mm (6 inches).
Most days, cloud cover dominates. The sky stays overcast or mostly cloudy about 75–78% of the time, so direct sunshine is limited.
Daylight hours stick close to 12 hours per day, so sunrise and sunset times don’t change much.
Humidity stays high, usually above 95%, making the air feel warmer than the thermometer suggests.
Köppen Climate Classification
Yaoundé falls under the tropical wet and dry climate (Aw) in the Köppen system. This means a long rainy season and a shorter dry season.
From April through October, you’ll notice frequent rains. December through February feels drier and more comfortable.
Summer sits right in the heart of the wet season, so expect peak rainfall and cloud cover.
Unlike arid climates, Yaoundé doesn’t swing wildly in temperature. Rainfall, not heat, drives seasonal changes.
You’ll get year-round warmth, but comfort depends on how much rain and humidity you run into.
Geographical Influence on Weather
Yaoundé sits at about 2,300–2,400 feet (700–730 meters) above sea level. This higher ground keeps temperatures a bit cooler than in Cameroon’s lower-lying tropical areas.
Rolling hills and dense vegetation surround the city. These features trap moisture and add to the frequent cloud cover.
Local hills also influence wind. Summer breezes stay light, averaging 2–3 mph, and usually drift in from the west.
Combined with the city’s elevation, this keeps Yaoundé’s climate steady, humid, and not oppressively hot.
Typical Summer Temperatures in Yaoundé
Yaoundé stays warm and humid through the summer, with only small shifts between daytime highs and nighttime lows. Steady conditions mean you won’t face sharp extremes, making the climate pretty predictable.
Average Daily Highs and Lows
In summer, daily highs usually hover near 79°F (26°C). They don’t often drop below 74°F (23°C) or climb above 85°F (29°C).
This narrow range means you won’t see big swings from one day to the next.
Nighttime lows average about 68°F (20°C), with most nights between 65°F (18°C) and 70°F (21°C). Cooler evenings offer a bit of relief, though humidity sticks around.
Yaoundé’s elevation of about 2,382 feet (726 meters) keeps temperatures moderate compared to Cameroon’s coast. Mornings and evenings are usually the best times for outdoor activities.
Monthly Temperature Variations
From June through August, temperatures barely budge. July and August run a little cooler, with highs closer to 77°F (25°C), while June feels a bit warmer.
Average lows in July and early August dip to about 67°F (19°C). By late August, temperatures nudge up again, but not by much.
For travelers, you don’t need to change your wardrobe much between months. A light jacket for evenings and breathable clothes for daytime work well.
Rainfall and cloud cover, not temperature, change the most across summer.
Record High and Low Temperatures
Yaoundé’s summer climate stays stable, but records show it can get a bit hotter or cooler. The record high during this period can hit the upper 80s°F (around 31°C), only a little warmer than usual.
The record low in summer has dropped to about 65°F (18°C). These numbers show how little the city’s temperatures really vary.
Because of this consistency, people see Yaoundé weather as reliable. You won’t run into dangerous heat waves or sudden cold snaps, which makes it one of Central Africa’s more predictable climates.
Rainfall and Humidity Patterns
In Yaoundé, summer weather revolves around frequent rains, high humidity, and brief breaks of drier air. Steady warmth is a given, but it’s the moisture and rain timing that shape comfort and travel plans.
Summer Rainfall Amounts
Rainfall during summer is no joke. June, July, and August each get well over 70 mm of precipitation.
June averages about 157 mm (6.2 in), July drops near 74 mm (2.9 in), and August climbs again to about 114 mm (4.5 in).
Rain falls in heavy bursts, not evenly across the season. You’ll often see downpours in the afternoon or evening, while mornings start clearer.
Because the city sits over 700 meters up, rainfall gets intense but rarely overwhelming like in lower equatorial regions. Still, summer counts as one of the wetter times of year, so carrying rain gear just makes sense.
Humidity Levels During Summer
Humidity in Yaoundé stays high all year, and summer is no exception. From June through August, average relative humidity ranges from 79% to 85%.
Even when the rain lets up, the air never really feels dry. Mornings start humid, and cloud cover lingers most of the day.
This makes the heat feel stronger than the actual 27–29°C (81–84°F) readings.
High humidity and frequent showers mean clothes dry slowly. Outdoor activities can feel sticky.
If you’re sensitive to muggy air, plan indoor activities during the sticky afternoon hours.
Rainy Days and Dry Spells
Summer brings plenty of rainy days, but it doesn’t pour nonstop. July records about 18–20 wet days, while June and August see around 20–22 days with measurable rainfall.
Short dry spells pop up, especially in July when rain totals dip. These breaks give you a chance to explore the city more comfortably.
Rain usually falls in short, intense showers, not all-day storms. You can often get outside in the morning before the heaviest downpours arrive.
This rhythm really defines Yaoundé’s summer weather.
Sunshine and Cloud Cover
Yaoundé’s summer feels dimmer and more humid than other times of year, thanks to limited sunshine and frequent clouds. Daylight hours are short, and the sun often hides behind thick cloud layers.
Average Daily Sunshine Hours
In summer, you’ll get fewer hours of direct sun compared to the dry season. August averages about 2.8 hours of sunshine per day, which is the lowest of the year.
December sees over 6 hours, but that’s well outside the summer months.
This lack of sunshine comes from heavy rains and stubborn cloudiness from June through September.
If you’re planning outdoor activities, mornings sometimes offer brief clear skies, but afternoons usually bring overcast conditions.
Here’s a quick look at sunshine hours by month:
| Month | Avg. Daily Sunshine (hours) |
|---|---|
| June | ~3.5 |
| July | ~3.0 |
| August | ~2.8 |
| September | ~3.2 |
Shorter sunshine periods can make photography, sightseeing, or even drying laundry a challenge. You might want to schedule key activities for the brighter parts of the day, usually late morning.
Typical Cloud Cover in Summer
Cloud cover in Yaoundé during summer is high and unrelenting. On average, skies are overcast or mostly cloudy about 75–80% of the time.
This gives the city a muted, gray light and adds to the humid feel.
Cloudiness peaks in July and August when rain is most frequent. Even on dry days, thick gray skies are common.
Clear sunsets and stargazing? Not much chance during this season.
Some travelers actually prefer the cloud cover for city walks, since it keeps the heat down a bit, though humidity stays high.
Cloud patterns shape daily routines. Locals often plan errands and travel around the likely afternoon storms that build up under heavy clouds.
Wind and Atmospheric Conditions
In summer, Yaoundé’s air feels heavy and still, but subtle wind shifts and pressure changes do make a difference. These conditions affect how comfortable it feels, how much rain falls, and even visibility.
Prevailing Wind Patterns
Winds stay light during summer. You’ll notice calm or gentle breezes, with average speeds usually below 10 mph (16 km/h).
Strong winds rarely show up, and when they do, they usually come with passing storms.
Yaoundé sits away from coastal trade winds but still gets moist air from the Atlantic. These southwesterly flows bring in humidity and frequent clouds.
Because the city sits at about 707 meters (2,320 feet), breezes can feel cooler in the evenings. Nights outdoors can be more comfortable, even if the air stays damp.
Air Pressure and Seasonal Changes
Air pressure in Yaoundé doesn’t swing much through the year. In summer, you might notice small drops tied to heavy rain and thunderstorms.
These changes aren’t dramatic, but they help trigger the frequent afternoon showers that mark the season.
The tropical savanna climate keeps pressure patterns pretty uniform. You won’t see the big swings found in temperate places.
Instead, the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) moves northward during these months, drawing in moist air.
Steady pressure and high humidity create a dense, heavy atmosphere. Even light activity outside can feel tiring, especially early in the afternoon before rain cools things down.
How Yaoundé’s Summer Weather Compares to Other Seasons
Yaoundé usually stays warm all year, but the mix of rain, humidity, and sunshine really shifts depending on the season. In the summer, you’ll notice steady temperatures, but there’s a lot more rainfall compared to the dry season. The city goes through pretty clear changes when it flips between wetter and drier times.
Differences From the Dry Season
During summer, you’ll probably deal with frequent rain. Monthly totals usually land somewhere between 114 mm and 157 mm. That’s way more than the 19–43 mm you get in the peak of the dry season, which runs from December to February. The extra rain makes humidity spike, and honestly, the air can feel pretty heavy.
Daytime highs don’t really change much throughout the year, hanging around 27–29°C (81–84°F). Still, the dry season feels nicer. With less humidity and clearer skies, you’ll catch more sunshine—often 5–6 hours a day. In summer, you might only see 2–3 hours of sun.
Traveling around is just easier in the dry season. Roads stay less muddy, and you won’t have to cancel outdoor plans as often. On the other hand, summer showers can drag on for hours, which kind of ruins any sightseeing or day trips you might have in mind.
Seasonal Weather Transitions
Summer really feels like a bridge between the two wetter peaks in Yaoundé’s climate. Rainfall drops off after those heavy April and May showers, but then it creeps up again in September and October.
So, you get this mid-year lull. It’s wet, sure, but nowhere near the worst of it.
You’ll probably notice the temperature shifting a bit, though it’s pretty subtle. Highs dip just a little—from 30°C in spring down to about 28°C in July and August.
The lows? They hang around 19–20°C. These changes seem minor, but they’re a good reminder of how the climate smooths itself out over the year.
Sunshine hours bounce around too. July usually brings the least, sometimes less than 3 hours a day.
After that, sunlight starts to pick up again as November gets closer. This back-and-forth with daylight and cloud cover really shows how Yaoundé’s weather prefers slow transitions over dramatic seasonal shifts.