Climate & Weather Guide in Burkina Faso

Climate zones, seasonal temperatures, rainfall patterns, and best travel times

Burkina Faso has a hot tropical continental climate with a strong north-south rainfall gradient and a long dry season. Most of the country experiences a unimodal rainy season from about June to September, while the north is much drier and more Sahelian. Current climatology for 1991-2020 indicates a national mean temperature near 28 C, with the south around 27 C and the north reaching about 29 C. Annual rainfall typically ranges from roughly 500 mm in the north to about 1,000 mm in the south, making water availability and heat the main lifestyle factors for residents and expats.

Summer Average

30-35°C

Winter Average

22-28°C

Climate Types

Semi-arid and Tropical savanna

Annual Rainfall

500-1000 mm

Sunshine Hours

2,800-3,300 hrs/yr

Average Humidity

25-65%

Regional Climate Variations

Northern Sahelian Belt

The far north is the driest part of Burkina Faso, with a semi-arid Sahelian climate, very short rainy season, and high evaporation. Annual rainfall is commonly below 600 mm, and temperatures stay very hot for much of the year. This zone is the most challenging for rain-fed farming and is more suited to pastoral livelihoods. Dust, heat, and water scarcity are the defining features, especially in the dry season.

Summer:33-39°C

Winter:20-26°C

Low rainfall

Very hot, dry, dusty, and highly seasonal, with a short burst of rain and a long harsh dry season.

Central Sudanian Plateau

The central belt has a transitional tropical savanna climate and is the most representative zone for much of the country’s population and economic activity. Rainfall is moderate by national standards, typically between 600 and 900 mm, and the rainy season is longer than in the north but still clearly seasonal. Temperatures remain high year-round, though nights can feel slightly more comfortable in the cooler season. Cities in this belt experience intense heat but somewhat better agricultural potential than the north.

Summer:31-37°C

Winter:18-25°C

Low to moderate rainfall

Hot and seasonally wet, with a pronounced dry season and the strongest balance between heat, rainfall, and settlement opportunities.

Southern Sudanian Zone

The south is the wettest part of Burkina Faso and has a more humid tropical savanna feel. It receives over 900 mm of rain in a normal year, supporting more reliable crop production and denser vegetation than the rest of the country. The rainy season lasts longer here, but the climate remains hot, with only limited relief in the coolest months. For residents, this is the most agriculturally favorable zone, though humidity and heavy rains can make the wet season feel intense.

Summer:29-35°C

Winter:19-26°C

Moderate rainfall

Warm to very hot, greener, and more reliably rainy than the rest of the country, with the best conditions for farming and vegetation.

Burkina Faso is a hot, landlocked West African country with a clear north-to-south shift from dry Sahelian conditions to wetter tropical savanna in the south. For residents and expats, the biggest practical considerations are heat, a long dry season, and strong regional differences in water availability and agricultural potential.

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