Does it Snow in Ivory Coast?

No, it does not snow in the Ivory Coast. The country has a tropical monsoon climate, meaning it experiences warm temperatures and high humidity year-round. Average temperatures typically range between 22°C and 32°C, and the weather is dominated by rainy and dry seasons, not cold winters.

Even in the cooler months—like December and January—temperatures rarely drop below 20°C, and snowfall is virtually impossible due to the country’s equatorial location and consistently warm conditions.

Why Snow Isn't Possible in the Ivory Coast?

Ivory Coast has a tropical climate along the coast (where major cities like Abidjan are located) and a semi-arid climate in the north. This means the country is consistently warm to hot all year round.

Two key factors completely eliminate any possibility of snow:

1. Proximity to the Equator:

The Ivory Coast is located in West Africa, between approximately 4° and 10° N latitude. This places it very close to the equator, which receives the most direct sunlight year-round. Temperatures simply never get cold enough to support snow. Freezing temperatures (0°C or 32°F) are unheard of.

2. Consistently High Temperatures:

Average temperatures in the Ivory Coast are consistently high:

Coastal Areas: Average lows are around 23°C (73°F) and average highs are around 30°C (86°F) year-round.
Northern Regions: It gets hotter and drier. Average highs can easily reach 33-36°C (91-97°F), especially in the months leading up to the rainy season.

For snow to form, the entire atmospheric column, from the cloud to the ground, must be at or below freezing. The air in the Ivory Coast is never cold enough to allow this to happen.

The Closest Thing to "Cold" Weather: The Harmattan

While it never gets cold, there is a seasonal change that brings drier, hazier, and slightly cooler weather. This is caused by the Harmattan, a dry and dusty wind that blows from the Sahara Desert over West Africa from December to February.
During the Harmattan:

Skies become overcast with a thick, dusty haze.
Visibility can be significantly reduced.
Humidity drops dramatically.

Temperatures can dip slightly, especially at night. It might feel "chilly" to locals who are accustomed to intense heat and humidity, but temperatures still remain firmly in the mid-to-high teens Celsius (low 60s °F). This is still far, far too warm for any form of frozen precipitation.

What Falls from the Sky Instead?

Instead of snow, the Ivory Coast experiences:

Heavy rainfall occurs during the rainy seasons (April–July and September–November). These can be intense but are vital for agriculture, especially the cocoa crop for which the Ivory Coast is famous.
Dry, dusty Harmattan winds from the Sahara during December–March in the northern regions.

So, if you’re planning a visit, expect lush greenery in the rainy months and drier, cooler breezes in the north during the early months of the year — but never snow.

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