The climate of Rafaï
Situated in the southeastern part of
Central African Republic,
Rafaï is characterized by a Tropical wet and dry or savanna climate under Köppen climate classification. This essentially means that Rafaï exhibits significant monthly differences in precipitation, with a distinct wet and dry season, and constant high temperatures throughout the year.
Based on annual patterns, temperature in Rafaï consistently ranges from a high of 30°C (86°F) to 36.7°C (98.1°F) and a low of 19.8°C (67.6°F) to 21.3°C (70.3°F). The warmest months, on average, fall between
March and
May, with the highest temperature peaking at 36.7°C (98.1°F) in
February. Relative humidity levels rise during March, attaining a peak of 84% in
September, before decreasing progressively towards the end of the year.
Rainfall accumulation varies dramatically, from a low of 9mm (0.35") in
January to a peak of 195mm (7.68") in
October. Concomitant with this, the number of rainy days increases from 3.8 days in January to a maximum of 30.1 days in
August. Daylight hours remain relatively constant throughout the year, ranging narrowly from 11.8 hours to 12.4 hours. The hours of sunshine show some variation, from 7.4 hours in October to 9.9 hours in January, providing a decent amount of sunshine all year round.
Even though Rafaï is inland, the area seems to receive a mild breeze, shown by the mean wind speed between 3.5km/h (2.2mph) to 4.4km/h (2.7mph). However, wind speeds can peak up to 7.3km/h (4.5mph) as gusty winds, typical in this type of climate.
The best time to visit Rafaï
Judging by the weather parameters, the optimal time to visit
Rafaï is within the first quarter of the year, from
January to
March. During these months, daytime temperatures remain warm but not oppressively hot, ranging from 33.8°C (92.8°F) to 36.7°C (98.1°F). Additionally, sunshine hours peak at 9.7 to 9.9 hours per day, which complements sightseeing and outdoor activities. Rainfall remains relatively low, between 9mm (0.35") and 52mm (2.05"), reducing the likelihood of travel disruptions.
The worst time to visit Rafaï
From the weather data, the least favorable time to visit
Rafaï is from
August to
October. During these months, the region experiences its highest rainfall, from 149mm (5.87") to 195mm (7.68"), and maximum rainy days ranging from 28.1 to 30.1 days per month. Combined with the high humidity levels of 83% to 85%, the weather can be quite uncomfortable for outdoor activities and travel.
Spring weather in Rafaï
In
Rafaï, the spring season combines decent temperatures with increasing humidity.
April to
June sees the transition from dry to wet season with temperatures slightly cooling down from 33.8°C (92.8°F) to 30.8°C (87.4°F). Rainfall levels rise significantly, from 90mm (3.54") in April to 132mm (5.2") by June, and the number of rainy days also show an increase from 22.9 days to 27 days. This change in weather does not affect daylight hours significantly though, as they remain relatively stable from 12.2 hours to 12.4 hours.
Summer weather in Rafaï
The summer months from
July to
September in
Rafaï are marked by the wet season, with the heaviest rainfall between 143mm (5.63") and 168mm (6.61"). Temperatures remain reasonably stable, between 30°C (86°F) and 30.3°C (86.5°F), offering a bit of relief from the intense rainfall. Also, the increased cloud cover during these months reduces sunlight hours from 7.9 hours in July to a yearly low of 7.8 hours in
August. The maximum wind gust gradually decreases from 6.2km/h (3.9mph) to 6.1km/h (3.8mph), providing some scant relief from the humidity.
Autumn weather in Rafaï
Climatic conditions start transitioning from the wet to dry season during the autumn months of
October to
December. Though October still receives heavy rainfall of 195mm (7.68"), it steadily decreases to 13mm (0.51") by December. The number of rainy days also reduces significantly, from 28.9 days in October to only 5.9 days by December. Despite being the transition phase, temperatures remain consistent between 30.1°C (86.2°F) and 34.3°C (93.7°F) throughout the autumn.
Winter weather in Rafaï
The winter months,
January to
March, form the dryer portion of the year in
Rafaï. With temperatures fluctuating from 34.3°C (93.7°F) to 35.4°C (95.7°F), and minimal rainfall, ranging from 9mm (0.35") to 52mm (2.05"), the conditions are generally warm and dry. The average pressure in this period is relatively stable around 1008mb to 1009.1mb, and the wind speeds are quite moderate at 4.8km/h (3mph) to 4.9km/h (3mph), providing relief against the heat. Visitors can expect long hours of sunshine, between 9.3 hours to 9.9 hours, making it an enjoyable period for various outdoor activities.
Weather in January
Weather in February
This month sees a slight increase in rainfall with higher humidity which makes
February slightly more humid than its predecessor. However, the core characteristics remain similar to
January's weather patterns, with high amounts of sunshine and daylight, and moderate wind speed.
Weather in February »Weather in March
As the year progresses, the weather undergoes a considerable change in
Rafaï in
March. The rainfall almost doubles from
February and the number of rainy days increases significantly. March shows a considerable increase in cloud coverage.
Weather in March »
Weather in April
The weather takes a considerable turn towards the end of the dry season.
April exhibits the highest rainfall level since the year's beginning, with 90mm (3.54") precipitation spread over 22.9 days. The temperature dips further forming a proportional relationship with the increasing cloud coverage that affects the sunshine hours.
Weather in April »Weather in May
In
May, the weather experiences more dramatic changes. The rainfall soars to 155mm (6.1") over 26.8 days. While the temperature remains moderate, relative humidity is at 78%, indicating a moist and damp environment. However, the hours of sunshine are affected quite significantly.
Weather in May »Weather in June
The weather pattern doesn't vary much as
June inherits the characteristics of
May. The temperature, humidity, and rainfall see little deviation, consolidating the wet environment. The noticeable factor this month is its low wind gust of only 6.5km/h (4mph), making it the least windy month of the year in
Rafaï.
Weather in June »
Weather in July
The climatic pattern remains largely the same in
July. There's a slight increase in rainfall from
June but the number of rainy days is more or less constant. When comparing temperature and humidity, a close similarity is noted with the preceding month.
Weather in July »Weather in August
August records the maximum amount of rainfall across the year with a record high of 168mm (6.61"). Correspondingly, it has the highest number of rainy days in a year with 30.1 days. The wind gust during this month remains low. Despite these conditions, the temperature and relative humidity remain steady, providing some respite from the increasing precipitation.
Weather in August » Weather in September
As the year progresses into
September, rainfall decreases slightly to 149mm (5.87") while other parameters remain relatively constant. When compared to
August, the temperature is slightly cooler, which complements the rain-soaked conditions.
Weather in September »
Weather in October
October welcomes a significant decrease in rainfall and humidity compared to the preceding wet months. This month sees a sharp rise in sunshine hours than the past few months. A slight decline in average wind speed and similar patterns in other climatic parameters signal a shift towards a drier climate.
Weather in October » Weather in November
November distinctly marks the end of the wet season and a transition to drier conditions. With a significantly lower rainfall of 74mm (2.91") over 17.6 days, this month stands out from the wet months. The significant increase in sunshine hours and steady temperature herald the return of warmer, drier days.
Weather in November » Weather in December
Closing the year,
December carries forward the progress of
November. With a minimal rainfall of only 13mm (0.51") over 5.9 days, it witnesses the driest period of the year. The decrease in relative humidity to 51%, paired with long sunlight hours and an increase in wind speed, offers a pleasant weather experience.
Weather in December »