Nigerian Weather is Warm Throughout the Year!
Nigerian Weather Are you planning to visit Nigeria and was wondering what Nigerian weather is like? I can tell you that on the average, Nigerian climate is warm. The average annual temperature for most areas of the country is above 20°C (68°F).However the climatic condition of the country varies from region to region. Even though Nigeria lies within the tropical zone the climate is not entirely tropical in nature. Nigerian climate is more tropical in the south; while in the north the climate is hot with temperatures reaching as high as 45°C (113°F). As in other West African countries Nigerian climate is influenced by its geographic location In the south, the average highs and lows for January are 31/20°C (88/68°F)while in June it will be 28/23°C.(82/74°F). In a northern city like Kano or Kaduna, the temperature could reach a high of 45°C (113°F) in May and a low of 6°C (49°F) during the harmattan period. You will experience warmer temperatures during the dry season and cooler temperatures during the harmattan period. The dry season runs from February to April in the south and from March to June in the North. Best time to visit For me the best time to visit Nigeria is from September to November because during this period Nigerian weather is at its best.The skies are clearer, the temperature is moderate and the humidity is low.Another good time to visit Nigeria is during the harmattan period which is from early December to February. During this period the weather is cooler throughout most of the country and the humidity is still low. However there is more dust on the air and some days could be foggy. But you will be very comfortable wearing a jeans trouser, a sweat shirt, a jacket and a sun glass. You can also visit Nigeria in the months of March to May. This is not the best period if you are visiting Nigeria for the first time. Not only is the temperature highest during this period, the humidity is uncomfortably high too. My last visit to Nigeria was during the month of April and the humidity made me very uncomfortable despite the fact that I was born and raised here! Whatever is the color of your skin, if you visit Nigeria during this period, make sure you bring lots of sun block. Wet and Dry Season There is no summer or winter in Nigeria; instead what you have is dry season and rainy season. And then in between you have an interesting type of weather called harmattan.In the south, the rainy season fully gets underway in April-May, though some areas may experience some rainfall as early as February. The climatic condition in the north is not uniform, in the Jos Plateau area, rain can begin as early as April while farther north it will not be until June or July before rain fully commences. Rainfall begins to slow down in October eventually stopping by November. The peak of the rainy season throughout the country is August. In Lagos, for instance there will be a week in August when it rains everyday. You will not want to visit Lagos during this period. Also in the month of August, the rain eases off for about a week in most of the south, this break is commonly known as the August break. Rainfall Rainfall is another factor affecting Nigerian weather. The amount of rainfall a region receives determines the climatic outlook of that region. The average annual rainfall in the northern region is about 500 to 700 millimeter (20-28 inches) compared to an average of 2500 millimeter (98 inches) in the southeast and average of 4000 millimeter (157 inches) in the Niger delta area.Harmattan The harmattan season begins from late November to February. This is the period when the northeast wind blows cool but dry winds from the Sahara desert. Growing up as a child in eastern Nigeria, the harmattan signals the beginning of the Christmas season for us. If you are visiting Nigeria this period, a sun glass is a must have especially if you will be going to the north.Even though the harmattan is more felt in the northern region, it still affects the entire country except for a narrow strip along the southwest coast. In some years a strong harmattan can reach as far south as Lagos.
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