The Climate of
São Tomé and Príncipe
Blowhole on Ilhéu das Rolas
What is the climate of São Tomé and Príncipe like?
São Tomé and Príncipe, the smallest country in Africa, lies in the Gulf of Guinea, about 360 km (225 mi) off the west coast of Gabon. São Tomé and Príncipe is part of a chain of extinct volcanoes. There are two main islands and a few small islets.
The islands have a tropical or equatorial type of climate with high temperatures and humidity throughout the year, but temperature varies a good deal with altitude. Temperatures in the coastal regions average 27°C (81°F), but the mountain areas average 20°C (68°F).
Seasons are distinguished more by a change in rainfall than by a change in temperature. The dry season occurs from early June through September, and rainfall outside these months is moderately heavy and the climate rather cloudy, muggy, and oppressive. The northern regions of São Tomé and Príncipe receive approximately 900 to 1,500 millimeters (35 to 60 inches) of rain during the rainy season from October through May, but most of the southern regions receive between 3,800 and 5,100 millimeters (150 and 200 inches). The number of sunshine hours is rather low, averaging from four to six hours a day.
| Climate data for São Tomé | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 29.4 (84.9) | 29.9 (85.8) | 30.2 (86.4) | 30.1 (86.2) | 29.3 (84.7) | 28.0 (82.4) | 27.3 (81.1) | 27.7 (81.9) | 28.6 (83.5) | 28.7 (83.7) | 29.0 (84.2) | 29.1 (84.4) | 28.9 (84.0) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 25.9 (78.6) | 26.2 (79.2) | 26.4 (79.5) | 26.4 (79.5) | 26.0 (78.8) | 24.7 (76.5) | 23.8 (74.8) | 24.1 (75.4) | 25.0 (77.0) | 25.2 (77.4) | 25.5 (77.9) | 25.6 (78.1) | 25.4 (77.7) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 22.4 (72.3) | 22.5 (72.5) | 22.6 (72.7) | 22.6 (72.7) | 22.6 (72.7) | 21.4 (70.5) | 20.4 (68.7) | 20.5 (68.9) | 21.3 (70.3) | 21.8 (71.2) | 22.0 (71.6) | 22.1 (71.8) | 21.8 (71.2) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 81 (3.2) | 84 (3.3) | 131 (5.2) | 122 (4.8) | 113 (4.4) | 19 (0.7) | 0 (0) | 1 (0.0) | 17 (0.7) | 110 (4.3) | 99 (3.9) | 108 (4.3) | 885 (34.8) |
| Source: Deutscher Wetterdienst | |||||||||||||
References
- E. A. Pearce, Charles Gordon Smith, (1990) The Hutchinson World Weather Guide, John Murray Press. ISBN 1859863426
- Timothy L. Gall, (ed.), (2003), Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations, Eleventh Edition, Thomson Gale
- Hugh Chisholm, (ed.), (1911), Encyclopædia Britannica, Eleventh edition, Cambridge University Press
The Climate of
São Tomé and Príncipe
In summary:
The islands of São Tomé and Príncipe have a tropical climate but temperature varies a good deal with altitude. Coastal temperatures average around 27°C (81°F), but the mountain regions average only 20°C (68°F).
Seasons are distinguished by rainfall. The dry season occurs from early June through September, and the rainy season from October to May. The northern regions of São Tomé and Príncipe receive between 900 and 1500 mm (35 to 60 in) of rain. The southern portions receive about 3800 to 5100 mm (150 to 200 in).