Winter in Yaoundé never brings snow or freezing air, but you’ll still notice a change in the atmosphere. Most days feel warm, hovering near 85°F, while nights cool off to about 67°F. Skies stay pretty cloudy, and rainfall is light.
This mix of steady warmth and less rain stands out from the heavy downpours that hit most of the year.
The air feels humid, but it’s not as overwhelming as during peak rainy months. Clouds hang around, yet December, January, and February bring shorter, drier showers, making travel plans a bit more reliable.
These months usually offer some of the most comfortable conditions for exploring the city and nearby landscapes.
You’ll see winter in Yaoundé shape everything, from how much sun you get to how easy it is to get around without getting soaked. If you know the season’s temperature patterns, cloud cover, rainfall, and humidity, you can plan activities with a bit more confidence.
Winter Temperature Patterns in Yaoundé
Winter here stays warm and stable, with only small changes between day and night. Freezing weather never shows up, but you’ll notice steady highs, mild lows, and a humid feel that definitely shapes your comfort.
Average Highs and Lows
During winter, high temperatures usually hit around 85°F (29°C). It’s rare for them to drop below 80°F (27°C) or climb above 91°F (33°C).
So, afternoons stay warm and don’t swing wildly.
Low temperatures hover around 68°F (20°C). Nights feel mild, rarely dipping below 62°F (17°C). Heavy clothing? You won’t need it, even in the coolest hours.
This narrow gap between highs and lows makes the climate predictable. Outdoor plans feel safer, since you’re not dealing with extreme cold or heat.
| Temperature | Average | Rare Low | Rare High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily High | 85°F / 29°C | 80°F / 27°C | 91°F / 33°C |
| Daily Low | 68°F / 20°C | 62°F / 17°C | 71°F / 22°C |
Coldest and Warmest Winter Days
The coldest day usually lands in early January. Temperatures then range from about 66°F (19°C) at night to 84°F (29°C) in the afternoon.
Even then, it’s still pretty comfortable compared to winter in a lot of other places.
The warmest days tend to show up in late February. Daily highs might reach 87°F (31°C), with lows around 69°F (21°C).
Honestly, the difference between the coldest and warmest winter days is just a few degrees. You get steady warmth all season.
If sudden weather shifts throw you off, this stability matters. You won’t get record lows or highs that ruin your plans. Yaoundé’s winter climate just stays steady and easy to adapt to.
Average Hourly Temperature Trends
Hourly weather data shows that Yaoundé’s temperatures change gradually during the day. Early mornings start off near 66–68°F (19–20°C). By mid-afternoon, the air warms up to about 84–86°F (29–30°C), then cools again after sunset.
The pattern doesn’t really have sharp drops or spikes. Warm afternoons, mild evenings, and nights that are comfortable for sleeping without heating—that’s the norm.
Since the average hourly temperature almost never leaves the 65–85°F (18–29°C) range, you don’t have to brace for cold mornings or hot afternoons. This steady rhythm makes winter days in Yaoundé feel balanced and predictable.
Cloud Cover and Sky Conditions
During winter, you’ll notice frequent cloud cover and long stretches of overcast skies. Clearer skies do happen, but they’re not the norm.
This mix shapes how much sunlight you get each day.
Overcast and Mostly Cloudy Days
In winter, Yaoundé tends to stay mostly cloudy or overcast. Cloud cover usually ranges from 65% to 75%, so the sky is covered most of the time.
Gray skies dominate, especially in December and January.
Overcast conditions cut down on direct sunlight, which can make things feel cooler, even when the air is warm. Humidity stays high, so the air often feels heavy, even if the sun isn’t out.
Rainfall drops in winter, but the clouds stick around. You probably won’t see bright blue skies very often, even during the drier stretch of the year.
Instead, you get a softer, diffused daylight—consistent but a little less vibrant.
Mostly cloudy days also make it tough to catch sunsets and sunrises, since clouds block the horizon. If you’re planning outdoor activities, expect subdued lighting rather than clear, sunny conditions.
Clear and Partly Cloudy Periods
Clear skies do break through sometimes. January is the best for this—clear or partly cloudy about 30% of the time—so if you want sunshine, that’s your month.
When the clouds move aside, daylight feels stronger, more direct. Those moments are a nice contrast to the usual gray.
The air might still feel humid, but the brighter skies make everything look a little more open and inviting.
For visitors, these clearer periods are perfect for sightseeing or snapping photos. Landmarks and landscapes pop under natural light. If you plan outdoor excursions around these windows of clearer weather, you’ll probably enjoy the city more.
Precipitation and Rainfall During Winter
Rainfall drops off sharply in Yaoundé during winter. You’ll get shorter showers, fewer wet days, and lower overall totals, so planning outdoor activities feels safer.
Wet Day Probability
In winter, the odds of a wet day hit their lowest point. That’s a day with at least 1 millimeter of measurable precipitation.
December and January usually bring the driest conditions, with chances often dropping below 10–15% most days. By February, rain chances rise a little, but they stay much lower than during the wet season.
This means you can expect several dry days in a row. No wonder so many visitors pick this time of year—plans are less likely to get wrecked by sudden downpours.
Sliding 31-Day Rainfall
If you look at sliding 31-day rainfall averages, you get a clearer sense of the trends through winter. This just means adding up rainfall over each moving 31-day period.
December’s sliding 31-day total is usually close to 20 mm. January is the driest, with totals around 19 mm. February starts to climb to about 40 mm, hinting at the slow shift toward the wetter spring.
These numbers are way lower than the hundreds of millimeters you’ll see from May to October. So, winter gives you the most consistent stretch of dry weather in Yaoundé.
Rainfall Accumulation Patterns
In winter, rainfall accumulates slowly. Unlike the wet season, when totals shoot up week after week, winter totals just stay low and steady.
December and January often add up to less than 50 mm combined. February gives a little more, but the whole season’s total is still modest compared to the yearly average of over 1,500 mm.
Winter ends up being the least disruptive season for getting around, hitting up outdoor markets, or sightseeing. You can plan things knowing that heavy rainfall probably won’t mess with your schedule.
Humidity and Dew Point Analysis
Yaoundé’s winter days feel warm, but the air still packs a lot of moisture. Humidity and dew point numbers explain why the air can feel heavy, even if the temperature seems moderate.
Typical Humidity Ranges
Humidity in Yaoundé stays high through winter. Average relative humidity usually sits between 79% in January and 83–85% in February and March. It’s a bit lower than in the rainy season, but still very humid.
So, mornings and evenings often feel damp, and sweat doesn’t really evaporate. The air rarely drops below 70% humidity, so even sunny days can feel sticky.
- Lowest humidity: January, around 79%
- Typical range: 79–85%
- Highest in winter: March, usually above 83%
Because of this, you might notice slower drying for clothes, heavier air indoors, and a bigger need for ventilation.
Dew Point and Comfort Levels
The dew point in Yaoundé during winter usually runs between 66°F (19°C) and 70°F (21°C). That means it’s consistently humid. When dew points stay above 65°F, the air feels muggy, and outdoor activities might feel a bit less comfortable.
Dew point numbers barely budge in winter, so you almost never get crisp or dry days. The air stays moist, and nights can feel warmer than the thermometer says.
For comfort:
- Dew point under 60°F (16°C): Rare, feels comfortable
- Dew point 60–65°F (16–18°C): Occasional, a bit humid
- Dew point above 65°F (18°C): Common, feels muggy
This steady pattern is why you might feel warmer than the actual temperature would suggest, even when highs are just around 85°F.
Sunlight, Solar Elevation, and Moon Phases
In Yaoundé, daylight hours barely change in winter. Sunrise and sunset times shift a little, but not much. The sun’s position and the moon’s phases follow predictable patterns that affect light, visibility, and solar energy.
Hours of Daylight and Twilight
You get nearly 12 hours of daylight each day in Yaoundé during winter. The shortest day is in late December with about 11 hours and 54 minutes. By late February, the longest day stretches to about 12 hours and 2 minutes.
Sunrise usually falls between 6:05 AM and 6:28 AM. Sunset ranges from 6:00 PM to 6:28 PM. These changes happen slowly, so you probably won’t notice much day to day.
Twilight adds extra light before sunrise and after sunset. Civil twilight lasts about 25–30 minutes, giving you time for outdoor activities even when the sun isn’t up. Unlike higher latitudes, you won’t get long winter nights here.
Solar Elevation Angles
The solar elevation—the angle of the sun above the horizon—stays pretty high in Yaoundé, even in winter. Around midday, the sun often hits 60–70 degrees above the horizon, which keeps things warm and solar energy steady.
Because this elevation doesn’t drop much, shortwave solar energy stays stable. On average, daily solar energy is close to 5.1 kWh per square meter, rarely dropping more than 0.3 kWh. That means you get reliable sunlight for both natural lighting and solar power systems.
The sun’s path shifts a bit from southeast to southwest during the season, but it’s a minor change. You won’t see the low, weak sunlight that’s so common in winter for temperate climates.
Moon Phases and Visibility
The moon goes through its usual monthly cycle, shifting from new moon to full moon and then back again. Each phase changes how much of the moon you can actually see at night.
In Yaoundé, the moon rises and sets at pretty regular times, and honestly, there’s not much seasonal difference. Full moon nights light up the city, making it a lot easier to get around or hang out outside without needing extra lights.
When the moon is new, the skies get darker, which is perfect for stargazing if that’s your thing.
You’ll notice the moon shows up about 50 minutes later each day. That’s just how it goes, so the timing changes gradually as the month rolls on.
Wind, Topography, and Environmental Factors
Yaoundé’s winter isn’t just about warmth. Light winds, a bit of elevation, and the city’s landscape all play a part. These factors shape how comfortable it feels, how air moves, and even how the city connects with the natural world around it.
Wind Speed and Direction
Winter brings gentle breezes here. Average wind speeds hover between 2.4 and 3.3 miles per hour. The air feels calm most days, and you won’t get many gusty surprises.
Winds mostly come from the west, especially as winter goes on. Sometimes, up to 80% of hourly wind readings point westward.
This steady breeze helps clear out humidity and pollutants, keeping the air fresher.
Since Yaoundé sits inland, you miss out on those strong coastal winds. The mild air makes outdoor plans pleasant, but it also means less natural ventilation compared to windier places.
Elevation and Topographical Influences
Yaoundé sits at about 2,382 feet (727 meters) above sea level. That height keeps things a bit cooler than the lowland tropics.
Nights here actually feel refreshing, and the days aren’t as scorching as in coastal cities.
The city’s landscape isn’t flat, but the changes are gentle. Within 2 miles, elevation only shifts by around 322 feet, so you get rolling hills more than anything dramatic.
But if you look out 50 miles from the city, the terrain gets wild, with elevation differences of over 3,500 feet.
The Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) data backs this up, showing how hills and valleys shape airflow and rain patterns. Higher ridges can block or steer the wind, and valleys tend to trap humidity. That’s why microclimates can pop up in different neighborhoods.
Land Use and Vegetation
Land cover really matters in Yaoundé. Inside the city, about 93% of the surface is artificial—think buildings and pavement everywhere.
All that concrete means the city holds onto heat, especially at night.
Step outside the city, and things change. Within 10 miles, you’ll find cropland (39%) and tree cover (25%). Go out to 50 miles, and forest (49%) and farmland (33%) take over.
These numbers come from global land cover datasets that track what’s growing or built all over the world.
The mix of trees and crops around Yaoundé helps cool things down. Shade, evapotranspiration, and breezier air balance out the city’s heat.
So, Yaoundé’s climate is more interesting than just what the thermometer says.
Impact on Travel and Local Activities
Winter in Yaoundé feels warm and a lot drier than the wet months. Less rain and steadier sunshine change how people get around and how crops do in the countryside.
Travel Considerations in Winter
You’ll usually get daytime temps between 24–26 °C, with nights dropping to around 19–20 °C. December and January bring light rain—just a few quick showers here and there.
Roads stay open and easy to use since heavy flooding rarely happens this time of year.
Flights in and out of Yaoundé mostly run on schedule during winter. Visibility is good, and there’s less cloud cover, making travel plans less stressful.
If you’re driving, you’ll notice road conditions are way better than during the rainy season.
Tourists can actually enjoy city tours, hikes, and cultural events without worrying about the weather. Humidity is still there, but it’s not as intense as in the peak rainy months, so being outside feels more manageable.
For packing, stick to lightweight clothes. A light jacket helps at night, but you probably won’t need an umbrella most days.
Growing Season and Agriculture
The winter climate keeps the growing season active, even if rainfall drops off a bit. Farmers count on leftover soil moisture from earlier rains and the occasional light shower.
Crops like maize, beans, and vegetables keep growing, but sometimes farmers need to irrigate during really dry spells.
Average temperatures stay warm enough to give steady growing degree days (GDDs), a key measure for crop development. In Yaoundé, the consistent heat rarely puts plants under temperature stress in winter.
Shorter, reliable sunny periods help crops get enough photosynthesis, so they usually mature right on schedule. Still, when rain is limited, late-season planting can struggle to germinate.
Many farmers tweak their planting plans to catch the last November rains.
Livestock get a break too, since drier ground means fewer muddy pastures and less trouble with waterborne pests. This makes winter a pretty stable time for farm work, though folks still have to keep an eye on water use.