Ghana is a West African nation located along the Gulf of Guinea, bordered by Ivory Coast to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Atlantic Ocean to the south. Covering an area of about 238,533 square kilometers, Ghana has diverse landscapes that range from coastal plains and forests in the south to savanna and arid regions in the north. The country is bisected by the Volta River, which feeds into Lake Volta, one of the largest artificial lakes in the world.
Ghana’s climate is generally tropical, with variations between different parts of the country due to geographical features:
- Coastal Plains: Along the Gulf of Guinea, these regions experience a tropical climate with high humidity and consistent temperatures throughout the year.
- Forest Zone: The middle part of Ghana, which includes the Ashanti and Western regions, is marked by dense forests and experiences more rainfall than other areas.
- Northern Savanna: The northern half of the country, including cities like Tamale and Bolgatanga, experiences a more arid climate with a distinct dry season and greater temperature fluctuations.
Ghana’s weather can be divided into two main seasons:
- Rainy Season: April to October (with variations between the coastal and northern regions).
- Dry Season: November to March, including the Harmattan season when dry, dusty winds from the Sahara Desert affect the northern regions.
Let’s explore Ghana’s weather month by month.
January
Weather Overview
January is part of the dry season in Ghana, with the Harmattan winds being a dominant feature in the northern and central parts of the country. Temperatures remain warm, with minimal rainfall.
Southern Ghana (Accra, Cape Coast)
- Temperature: 25°C to 33°C (77°F to 91°F)
- Rainfall: 5-10 mm
- Weather: Hot and dry, with little to no rain. Humidity is relatively low due to the Harmattan winds reaching the southern regions.
Central and Forest Zones (Kumasi, Sunyani)
- Temperature: 22°C to 32°C (72°F to 90°F)
- Rainfall: 5-15 mm
- Weather: Warm and dry. The Harmattan causes hazy skies and reduced humidity, though the forest zones are slightly more humid than the coastal areas.
Northern Ghana (Tamale, Bolgatanga)
- Temperature: 18°C to 35°C (64°F to 95°F)
- Rainfall: 0-5 mm
- Weather: Hot during the day, but cool and dry at night. The Harmattan winds are strongest in the north, bringing dry, dusty air and cooler mornings.
February
Weather Overview
February continues the dry season, but temperatures start to rise as the Harmattan winds begin to diminish. Rainfall remains low, especially in the north.
Southern Ghana
- Temperature: 26°C to 34°C (79°F to 93°F)
- Rainfall: 5-15 mm
- Weather: Hot and dry, with slightly higher humidity levels than in January. Occasional light rain showers are possible in coastal areas like Accra.
Central and Forest Zones
- Temperature: 23°C to 33°C (73°F to 91°F)
- Rainfall: 5-20 mm
- Weather: Warm with hazy skies due to the diminishing Harmattan winds. The forest regions remain relatively cooler compared to the coastal and northern areas.
Northern Ghana
- Temperature: 20°C to 37°C (68°F to 99°F)
- Rainfall: 0-5 mm
- Weather: Hot, with clear skies and minimal rainfall. The Harmattan weakens, leading to slightly warmer nights, but the air remains dry.
March
Weather Overview
March is the transition month between the dry and rainy seasons in southern Ghana. Temperatures rise, and the first significant rain showers begin to appear in the south, while the north remains mostly dry.
Southern Ghana
- Temperature: 26°C to 34°C (79°F to 93°F)
- Rainfall: 20-50 mm
- Weather: Hot and increasingly humid, with occasional thunderstorms in Accra and other coastal cities. The rainy season begins to make its presence felt toward the end of the month.
Central and Forest Zones
- Temperature: 24°C to 33°C (75°F to 91°F)
- Rainfall: 20-60 mm
- Weather: Warm and more humid, with the first rains arriving in the forest zones around Kumasi and Sunyani. These areas experience brief but intense thunderstorms.
Northern Ghana
- Temperature: 23°C to 38°C (73°F to 100°F)
- Rainfall: 5-10 mm
- Weather: Hot and dry, with little to no rain. The Harmattan has mostly subsided, leaving clear skies and high temperatures.
April
Weather Overview
April marks the start of the rainy season in southern and central Ghana, with increasing rainfall and humidity. The northern regions still experience dry and hot conditions, though occasional showers begin to appear.
Southern Ghana
- Temperature: 25°C to 33°C (77°F to 91°F)
- Rainfall: 50-100 mm
- Weather: Hot and humid, with frequent rain showers, especially in the coastal and forest regions. Accra experiences heavier rainfall, and humidity levels rise significantly.
Central and Forest Zones
- Temperature: 23°C to 32°C (73°F to 90°F)
- Rainfall: 80-130 mm
- Weather: Warm and humid, with frequent thunderstorms and heavy rainfall. Kumasi and the surrounding forest regions are in full bloom as the rains rejuvenate the vegetation.
Northern Ghana
- Temperature: 25°C to 38°C (77°F to 100°F)
- Rainfall: 10-30 mm
- Weather: Hot and dry, with occasional rain showers toward the end of the month. The transition to the rainy season is slower in the north, but temperatures remain high.
May
Weather Overview
May is part of the rainy season in southern Ghana, with heavy rains and high humidity levels. The central regions also experience significant rainfall, while the north remains relatively dry but begins to receive more rain.
Southern Ghana
- Temperature: 24°C to 32°C (75°F to 90°F)
- Rainfall: 100-200 mm
- Weather: Wet and humid, with frequent thunderstorms and heavy rains in Accra, Cape Coast, and other coastal cities. Flooding can occur in low-lying areas.
Central and Forest Zones
- Temperature: 22°C to 30°C (72°F to 86°F)
- Rainfall: 120-180 mm
- Weather: Wet and humid, with regular rainfall and thunderstorms. The forest regions are lush and green, with Kumasi experiencing significant rainfall.
Northern Ghana
- Temperature: 24°C to 36°C (75°F to 97°F)
- Rainfall: 20-50 mm
- Weather: Hot, with more frequent rain showers. The rains begin to gradually increase, providing relief from the high temperatures in Tamale and Bolgatanga.
June
Weather Overview
June is one of the wettest months in Ghana, especially in the southern and forest regions, which experience heavy rains. The north also starts to receive more rain as it transitions into its rainy season.
Southern Ghana
- Temperature: 23°C to 31°C (73°F to 88°F)
- Rainfall: 150-250 mm
- Weather: Heavy rain and thunderstorms dominate the weather in Accra and coastal cities. Humidity levels are high, and flooding can be an issue in some areas.
Central and Forest Zones
- Temperature: 22°C to 30°C (72°F to 86°F)
- Rainfall: 150-220 mm
- Weather: Wet and humid, with frequent rain and thunderstorms. The forests around Kumasi and Sunyani are at their greenest, thanks to the abundant rainfall.
Northern Ghana
- Temperature: 23°C to 35°C (73°F to 95°F)
- Rainfall: 50-100 mm
- Weather: Warm and increasingly wet, with regular rain showers and thunderstorms. The rainy season starts in earnest, but the northern savanna still experiences hot days.
July
Weather Overview
July is part of the peak rainy season in southern and central Ghana, with continuous rain and high humidity. The northern regions also experience more consistent rainfall, though the temperatures remain warm.
Southern Ghana
- Temperature: 22°C to 30°C (72°F to 86°F)
- Rainfall: 150-220 mm
- Weather: Cool, wet, and humid, with frequent rain showers. The rain can be heavy, and flooding is common in low-lying areas of Accra and along the coast.
Central and Forest Zones
- Temperature: 21°C to 29°C (70°F to 84°F)
- Rainfall: 140-200 mm
- Weather: Wet and humid, with frequent thunderstorms in the forest regions. Kumasi continues to experience heavy rain, and the forests remain lush.
Northern Ghana
- Temperature: 23°C to 33°C (73°F to 91°F)
- Rainfall: 80-130 mm
- Weather: Warm and increasingly rainy. Regular thunderstorms provide relief from the heat, but daytime temperatures can still be high in Tamale and Bolgatanga.
August
Weather Overview
August is a cooler and slightly drier month in southern Ghana due to a temporary lull in the rains, while the central and northern regions continue to experience significant rainfall.
Southern Ghana
- Temperature: 21°C to 29°C (70°F to 84°F)
- Rainfall: 80-150 mm
- Weather: Cooler and less rainy compared to June and July. Although there is still significant rainfall, the frequency of rain showers decreases slightly in Accra.
Central and Forest Zones
- Temperature: 21°C to 29°C (70°F to 84°F)
- Rainfall: 120-180 mm
- Weather: Wet and humid, though the rains begin to taper off slightly. The forest regions remain lush, with occasional thunderstorms in Kumasi and Sunyani.
Northern Ghana
- Temperature: 22°C to 32°C (72°F to 90°F)
- Rainfall: 90-140 mm
- Weather: Warm with regular rain showers. The northern regions are still in the rainy season, but the rains start to decrease toward the end of the month.
September
Weather Overview
September is a transition month as the rainy season begins to taper off in southern Ghana, while the central and northern regions continue to experience occasional rain.
Southern Ghana
- Temperature: 22°C to 30°C (72°F to 86°F)
- Rainfall: 100-180 mm
- Weather: Warm and humid, with decreasing rainfall toward the end of the month. Accra and the coastal regions experience occasional thunderstorms, but the intensity of the rains diminishes.
Central and Forest Zones
- Temperature: 21°C to 29°C (70°F to 84°F)
- Rainfall: 130-180 mm
- Weather: Wet and humid, with frequent thunderstorms in the first half of the month. The forest zones start to experience drier conditions toward the end of September.
Northern Ghana
- Temperature: 22°C to 32°C (72°F to 90°F)
- Rainfall: 80-130 mm
- Weather: Warm with regular rain showers. The northern regions begin to transition out of the rainy season, but there is still some significant rainfall, particularly early in the month.
October
Weather Overview
October marks the end of the rainy season in most parts of Ghana, with rainfall decreasing significantly across the country. Temperatures start to rise again, especially in the northern regions.
Southern Ghana
- Temperature: 23°C to 31°C (73°F to 88°F)
- Rainfall: 50-100 mm
- Weather: Warm and increasingly dry. The rains taper off, and Accra and coastal areas experience more sunny days with occasional light rain.
Central and Forest Zones
- Temperature: 22°C to 30°C (72°F to 86°F)
- Rainfall: 80-130 mm
- Weather: Warm and humid, but the rains are less frequent. The forest regions around Kumasi are still green but start to dry out as the rainy season ends.
Northern Ghana
- Temperature: 24°C to 34°C (75°F to 93°F)
- Rainfall: 40-80 mm
- Weather: Hot and dry, with occasional rain showers early in the month. The northern regions transition into their dry season, with fewer thunderstorms and more clear skies.
November
Weather Overview
November is part of the dry season across Ghana, with the return of the Harmattan winds in the north. Temperatures rise, and rainfall is minimal throughout the country.
Southern Ghana
- Temperature: 25°C to 32°C (77°F to 90°F)
- Rainfall: 10-40 mm
- Weather: Hot and dry, with occasional light rain. Accra and coastal cities enjoy more sunshine, but the humidity remains relatively high.
Central and Forest Zones
- Temperature: 23°C to 31°C (73°F to 88°F)
- Rainfall: 10-50 mm
- Weather: Warm and dry, with minimal rainfall. The forest regions are transitioning into the dry season, with more sunny days and lower humidity levels.
Northern Ghana
- Temperature: 25°C to 35°C (77°F to 95°F)
- Rainfall: 0-20 mm
- Weather: Hot and dry, with the Harmattan winds bringing cooler mornings and evenings. Tamale and Bolgatanga experience clear skies and dry conditions.
December
Weather Overview
December is part of the dry season in Ghana, characterized by high temperatures, minimal rainfall, and the Harmattan winds in the north and central regions. The weather is dry and hot throughout the country.
Southern Ghana
- Temperature: 26°C to 33°C (79°F to 91°F)
- Rainfall: 5-20 mm
- Weather: Hot and dry, with little rainfall in Accra and other southern cities. The humidity is lower than during the rainy season, and the weather is sunny.
Central and Forest Zones
- Temperature: 23°C to 32°C (73°F to 90°F)
- Rainfall: 5-15 mm
- Weather: Warm and dry, with clear skies. The Harmattan winds reduce humidity, and the forest zones experience cooler mornings and evenings.
Northern Ghana
- Temperature: 20°C to 34°C (68°F to 93°F)
- Rainfall: 0-5 mm
- Weather: Hot and dry, with the Harmattan winds bringing dusty, dry air. The mornings and nights are cooler, but daytime temperatures remain high.