Cameroon Climate
Top 5 Cities: Yaoundé, Douala, Garoua, Kousséri, and Bafoussam
This month in numbers
Cameroon experienced its 8th warmest April on record, with an average temperature of 26.77°C, marking an anomaly of +1.2°C compared to the 1961–1990 baseline. The period of February–April 2026 was the 4th warmest on record for Cameroon, with an average temperature of 27.16°C, a significant +1.7°C above the baseline. Globally, April 2026 was the 2nd warmest April on record for land temperatures, with the February–April period also ranking as the 2nd warmest globally.
What changed
Cameroon's recent warmth is part of a broader trend, with the country experiencing its warmest year on record in 2025, at 25.56°C. The long-term trend shows a warming of +1.16°C against the 1961–1990 baseline. This region's 3-month anomaly of +1.69°C places it 121st out of 234 regions globally. The National Observatory on Climate Change (ONACC) had previously forecast a generalised rise in temperatures and severe dryness from December 2025 to February 2026.
What’s driving change?
The elevated temperatures in Cameroon are being driven by several factors, including the , where tropical regions are experiencing warming close to human heat tolerance limits. The National Observatory on Climate Change (ONACC) also highlighted the influence of a stronger Harmattan wind and the retreat of the Intertropical Front as contributing to the increased temperatures and marked dry season experienced earlier in the year. Additionally, the country has been grappling with extreme weather events. In February 2026, fires in the Far North region caused extensive destruction, affecting numerous households and leading to significant material losses. Heavy rainfall in early February 2026, despite being the dry season, caused loss of life and material damage in several localities, linked to a cooling of the equatorial Pacific Ocean. Furthermore, heavy rains in late March led to flooding in cities like Yaoundé and Douala. In mid-May, Douala experienced severe flooding that resulted in the tragic drowning of a five-year-old child. More broadly, Cameroon faces a convergence of extreme weather risks, including intense heat in the north and storms and heavy rainfall further south, a trend that is increasing in frequency and intensity.
Looking ahead
Average to above-average rainfall is expected between May and July 2026, with a potential for increased flooding risk in southern maize-growing regions between July and August 2026.
Sources:
Generated by Gemini from climate data and web sources
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Data Sources
Data Sources for Cameroon
Every figure on this page is sourced from official, openly published climate datasets. Anomalies are calculated against the 1961–1990 baseline (temperature) and 1991–2020 (rainfall, sunshine, frost) - see the Methodology & Sources page for the complete dataset list and update calendar.
FAQs
FAQs
How is the climate in Cameroon changing?
Cameroon is warming in line with the rest of the world. The page above shows the latest monthly temperature anomaly versus the 1961-1990 baseline, the long-term annual trend, and the region's rank in the historical record. The trend rate is shown as °C per decade in the headline panel; you can also see the warmest and coolest years on file.
Where does the climate data for Cameroon come from?
Climate data for Cameroon comes from Our World in Data, sourcing Copernicus ERA5 and HadCRUT5 (national temperature anomaly) and the Global Carbon Project via Our World in Data (CO₂ emissions), refreshed every month, when the upstream temperature and rainfall data are refreshed.
What is the climate baseline used on this page?
Anomalies on this page are calculated against the 1961-1990 climatological baseline, which is the standard reference period used by the Met Office, NOAA, IPCC and most national climate services. Some panels also show the source-native 1901-2000 (NOAA) or 1991-2020 (WMO) baselines for verification. See Methodology & Sources for the full reference.
Which areas does the Cameroon climate data cover?
The Cameroon climate profile covers Yaoundé, Douala, Garoua, Kousséri and surrounding areas. Temperature, rainfall and emissions data for Cameroon
How often is the Cameroon climate update refreshed?
The Cameroon climate update is refreshed monthly, typically a few days after the previous month closes and the upstream provider (Met Office HadUK-Grid, NOAA Climate at a Glance, Copernicus ERA5 or the Global Carbon Project) publishes its update. See the Climate Rankings for cross-region comparisons.