Cotonou Weather Records (BN000005344)

Record envelope, standing records and threshold days for Cotonou (BN000005344), Benin, with 85 years of record.

Key Facts for Cotonou

Cotonou (BN000005344) is a weather station in Benin at 6.35 latitude and 2.38 longitude, 4 m (13 ft) above sea level.
The station reports from 1941 to 2025, 85 years of record.
1,464 records set at Cotonou still stand.
Records are tracked for tmax, tmin, prcp: an element needs 30 years of data to be eligible.
Cotonou set a daily record high minimum temperature of 26.6 C (79.9 F) on 2 July 2025.

About the Station

Location: Benin, 6.35 latitude, 2.38 longitude.
Elevation: 4 m (13 ft).
Period of record: 1941 to 2025, 85 years.
Eligible elements: tmax, tmin, prcp.

Daily Record Envelope and 2026

0 days at or beyond a record

The band shows the record high and record low for each calendar day at Cotonou. The lines show the 2026 daily maximum and minimum. 0 days in 2026 matched or passed a record. Temperatures are in degrees Celsius.

Daily record high and record low at Cotonou, with 2026 drawn through them
Month	Highest record high	Lowest record low	2026 highest maximum	2026 lowest minimum
Jan	38.0 C (100.4 F)	17.0 C (62.6 F)	n/a	n/a
Feb	38.6 C (101.5 F)	17.0 C (62.6 F)	n/a	n/a
Mar	38.4 C (101.1 F)	18.0 C (64.4 F)	n/a	n/a
Apr	39.4 C (102.9 F)	20.0 C (68.0 F)	n/a	n/a
May	38.9 C (102.0 F)	19.6 C (67.3 F)	n/a	n/a
Jun	36.0 C (96.8 F)	15.2 C (59.4 F)	n/a	n/a
Jul	33.5 C (92.3 F)	18.8 C (65.8 F)	n/a	n/a
Aug	31.8 C (89.2 F)	19.8 C (67.6 F)	n/a	n/a
Sep	35.0 C (95.0 F)	20.0 C (68.0 F)	n/a	n/a
Oct	36.0 C (96.8 F)	19.1 C (66.4 F)	n/a	n/a
Nov	35.4 C (95.7 F)	21.0 C (69.8 F)	n/a	n/a
Dec	37.0 C (98.6 F)	17.9 C (64.2 F)	n/a	n/a

Which Years Hold Standing Records

1,464 standing records

1,464 records at Cotonou still stand. 1944 holds the most, with 50.

Standing records at Cotonou by the year they were set
Year set	Standing records
1941	48
1942	22
1943	10
1944	50
1945	26
1946	10
1947	41
1948	17
1949	31
1950	15
1951	35
1952	20
1953	11
1954	34
1955	26
1956	32
1957	30
1958	28
1959	16
1960	15
1961	28
1962	22
1963	25
1964	23
1965	29
1967	21
1968	22
1969	18
1970	28
1971	17
1972	12
1973	34
1974	29
1975	28
1976	19
1977	9
1978	19
1979	15
1980	17
1981	17
1982	11
1983	12
1984	11
1985	13
1986	15
1987	37
1988	24
1989	16
1990	18
1991	14
1992	10
1993	8
1994	9
1995	18
1996	16
1997	15
1998	28
1999	12
2000	11
2001	6
2002	10
2003	12
2004	5
2005	5
2006	7
2008	13
2009	4
2010	9
2011	3
2012	2
2013	9
2014	6
2015	8
2016	4
2017	3
2018	5
2019	13
2020	17
2021	17
2022	9
2023	17
2024	24
2025	9

All-Time Record Progression

12 new records

12 all-time records were set at Cotonou between 12 July 1975 and 19 April 2024. Each dot is a new record.

When Cotonou set new all-time records
Date	Kind	Detail
1975-07-12	Record daily precipitation	Record daily precipitation 193.8 mm (7.6 in)
1982-04-17	Record daily precipitation	Record daily precipitation 342.9 mm (13.5 in)
1983-04-01	Record daily precipitation	Record daily precipitation 345.9 mm (13.6 in)
1985-04-04	Record high maximum temperature	Record high maximum temperature 39.4 C (102.9 F)
1987-04-26	Record high minimum temperature	Record high minimum temperature 28.9 C (84.0 F)
1987-05-03	Record high minimum temperature	Record high minimum temperature 29.1 C (84.4 F)
1994-06-11	Record low minimum temperature	Record low minimum temperature 15.2 C (59.4 F)
1998-03-25	Record high minimum temperature	Record high minimum temperature 29.2 C (84.6 F)
1998-03-26	Record high minimum temperature	Record high minimum temperature 29.3 C (84.7 F)
1998-03-27	Record high minimum temperature	Record high minimum temperature 29.5 C (85.1 F)
2024-04-12	Record high minimum temperature	Record high minimum temperature 29.6 C (85.3 F)
2024-04-19	Record high minimum temperature	Record high minimum temperature 30.0 C (86.0 F)

Wettest Day of Each Month

Apr: 345.9 mm (13.6 in)

The wettest day on record for each calendar month at Cotonou. The most was 345.9 mm (13.6 in) on 1 April 1983.

Record daily precipitation for each month at Cotonou
Month	Record daily precipitation (mm)	Date
Jan	166.9 mm (6.6 in)	8 January 2014
Feb	120.1 mm (4.7 in)	12 February 1958
Mar	146.1 mm (5.8 in)	26 March 1997
Apr	345.9 mm (13.6 in)	1 April 1983
May	180.1 mm (7.1 in)	10 May 1963
Jun	339.1 mm (13.4 in)	14 June 1983
Jul	193.8 mm (7.6 in)	12 July 1975
Aug	132.1 mm (5.2 in)	25 August 1987
Sep	158.0 mm (6.2 in)	8 September 2018
Oct	127.0 mm (5.0 in)	19 October 1997
Nov	89.9 mm (3.5 in)	2 November 2000
Dec	85.1 mm (3.4 in)	9 December 2007

Period of Record Coverage

1941 to 2025

84 years of record at Cotonou, 1941 to 2025. 42 years have data for under 90 percent of days and are left out of rankings: 1943, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987 and others.

Days with data per year at Cotonou
Year	Days with data	Share of year	Complete
1941	362	99%	Yes
1942	361	99%	Yes
1943	300	82%	No
1944	362	99%	Yes
1945	361	99%	Yes
1946	362	99%	Yes
1947	365	100%	Yes
1948	366	100%	Yes
1949	365	100%	Yes
1950	365	100%	Yes
1951	365	100%	Yes
1952	364	99%	Yes
1953	365	100%	Yes
1954	365	100%	Yes
1955	364	100%	Yes
1956	366	100%	Yes
1957	365	100%	Yes
1958	364	100%	Yes
1959	365	100%	Yes
1960	358	98%	Yes
1961	365	100%	Yes
1962	365	100%	Yes
1963	365	100%	Yes
1964	365	100%	Yes
1965	365	100%	Yes
1967	365	100%	Yes
1968	366	100%	Yes
1969	365	100%	Yes
1970	365	100%	Yes
1971	364	100%	Yes
1972	365	100%	Yes
1973	365	100%	Yes
1974	363	99%	Yes
1975	365	100%	Yes
1976	366	100%	Yes
1977	365	100%	Yes
1978	364	100%	Yes
1979	363	99%	Yes
1980	366	100%	Yes
1981	263	72%	No
1982	289	79%	No
1983	279	76%	No
1984	280	77%	No
1985	272	75%	No
1986	285	78%	No
1987	328	90%	No
1988	320	87%	No
1989	320	88%	No
1990	312	85%	No
1991	232	64%	No
1992	288	79%	No
1993	332	91%	Yes
1994	333	91%	Yes
1995	317	87%	No
1996	340	93%	Yes
1997	330	90%	Yes
1998	245	67%	No
1999	302	83%	No
2000	245	67%	No
2001	314	86%	No
2002	278	76%	No
2003	233	64%	No
2004	238	65%	No
2005	227	62%	No
2006	147	40%	No
2007	128	35%	No
2008	229	63%	No
2009	222	61%	No
2010	219	60%	No
2011	205	56%	No
2012	265	72%	No
2013	259	71%	No
2014	272	75%	No
2015	252	69%	No
2016	257	70%	No
2017	221	61%	No
2018	272	75%	No
2019	265	73%	No
2020	288	79%	No
2021	242	66%	No
2022	241	66%	No
2023	237	65%	No
2024	227	62%	No
2025	153	42%	No

Latest Records

Latest records at Cotonou
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
2 July 2025	Cotonou, BJ	daily high min	26.6 C (79.9 F)	0.6 C (1.1 F)	62 years	31 of 100 (Routine)
1 July 2025	Cotonou, BJ	daily high min	26.7 C (80.1 F)	0.8 C (1.4 F)	27 years	23 of 100 (Routine)
27 May 2025	Cotonou, BJ	daily high min (Tie)	28.0 C (82.4 F)	tie	27 years	4 of 100 (Routine)
5 May 2025	Cotonou, BJ	daily high min	28.9 C (84.0 F)	0.5 C (0.9 F)	42 years	22 of 100 (Routine)
7 April 2025	Cotonou, BJ	daily high min	28.9 C (84.0 F)	0.3 C (0.5 F)	38 years	20 of 100 (Routine)
31 March 2025	Cotonou, BJ	daily rain	46.5 mm (1.8 in)	30.5 mm (1.2 in)	35 years	34 of 100 (Routine)
7 March 2025	Cotonou, BJ	daily high min	29.0 C (84.2 F)	0.6 C (1.1 F)	56 years	27 of 100 (Routine)
6 March 2025	Cotonou, BJ	daily high min	28.9 C (84.0 F)	0.6 C (1.1 F)	40 years	23 of 100 (Routine)
18 January 2025	Cotonou, BJ	daily high min	27.5 C (81.5 F)	0.3 C (0.5 F)	67 years	29 of 100 (Routine)
12 January 2025	Cotonou, BJ	daily high max	34.2 C (93.6 F)	0.6 C (1.1 F)	13 years	16 of 100 (Routine)
11 January 2025	Cotonou, BJ	daily high max	34.0 C (93.2 F)	0.6 C (1.1 F)	1 year	13 of 100 (Routine)
17 December 2024	Cotonou, BJ	daily high max	33.8 C (92.8 F)	0.3 C (0.5 F)	81 years	34 of 100 (Routine)
8 December 2024	Cotonou, BJ	daily high max	34.8 C (94.6 F)	0.3 C (0.5 F)	23 years	16 of 100 (Routine)
7 December 2024	Cotonou, BJ	daily high max	35.2 C (95.4 F)	1.1 C (2.0 F)	21 years	23 of 100 (Routine)
30 November 2024	Cotonou, BJ	daily high max	34.3 C (93.7 F)	0.3 C (0.5 F)	75 years	32 of 100 (Routine)
29 November 2024	Cotonou, BJ	daily high max	34.6 C (94.3 F)	1.1 C (2.0 F)	77 years	40 of 100 (Notable)
10 November 2024	Cotonou, BJ	daily rain	28.7 mm (1.1 in)	7.6 mm (0.30 in)	39 years	25 of 100 (Routine)
7 November 2024	Cotonou, BJ	daily high max	34.0 C (93.2 F)	0.6 C (1.1 F)	79 years	36 of 100 (Notable)
20 October 2024	Cotonou, BJ	daily high min	27.0 C (80.6 F)	1.0 C (1.8 F)	24 years	22 of 100 (Routine)
13 October 2024	Cotonou, BJ	daily low max (Tie)	27.8 C (82.0 F)	tie	73 years	7 of 100 (Routine)

Climate Trend

44 complete years, 1941 to 1996

One stripe for each of 44 complete years at Cotonou, 1941 to 1996. Blue stripes are years cooler than the station's own mean of 27.3 C (81.2 F); red stripes are warmer. The coolest year was 1956, at 26.5 C (79.7 F), and the warmest was 1951, at 28.2 C (82.7 F). The strongest colour marks a difference of 0.9 C (1.6 F).

Annual mean temperature at Cotonou as warming stripes, 1941 to 1996
Year	Annual mean temperature	Difference from the station mean
1941	28.1 C	+0.72 C
1942	27.8 C	+0.51 C
1944	28.1 C	+0.77 C
1945	28.0 C	+0.66 C
1946	27.7 C	+0.34 C
1947	28.1 C	+0.81 C
1948	27.8 C	+0.44 C
1949	28.2 C	+0.82 C
1950	27.7 C	+0.38 C
1951	28.2 C	+0.84 C
1952	27.3 C	+0.01 C
1953	26.9 C	-0.48 C
1954	26.6 C	-0.77 C
1955	26.5 C	-0.79 C
1956	26.5 C	-0.81 C
1957	26.7 C	-0.65 C
1958	26.9 C	-0.41 C
1959	27.0 C	-0.32 C
1960	26.9 C	-0.42 C
1961	26.9 C	-0.47 C
1962	26.8 C	-0.58 C
1963	27.3 C	+0.00 C
1964	26.9 C	-0.48 C
1965	26.8 C	-0.49 C
1967	27.0 C	-0.33 C
1968	27.3 C	-0.08 C
1969	27.6 C	+0.24 C
1970	27.8 C	+0.42 C
1971	27.3 C	-0.08 C
1972	27.5 C	+0.13 C
1973	27.9 C	+0.53 C
1974	26.8 C	-0.50 C
1975	26.7 C	-0.65 C
1976	26.8 C	-0.57 C
1977	27.4 C	+0.11 C
1978	27.0 C	-0.34 C
1979	27.4 C	+0.05 C
1980	27.2 C	-0.09 C
1982	27.2 C	-0.13 C
1983	27.4 C	+0.04 C
1988	27.7 C	+0.34 C
1993	27.7 C	+0.39 C
1994	27.7 C	+0.33 C
1996	27.9 C	+0.53 C

The fitted trend in annual mean temperature here over 1941 to 1996 is -0.05 C (-0.15 to 0.06) per decade. The interval includes zero, so the trend is not clearly different from zero. In Fahrenheit: -0.1 F (-0.3 to 0.1) per decade. The slope is a straight line fitted to 44 complete years; the brackets give its 95 percent interval.

Fitted temperature trends per decade at Cotonou
Measure	Per decade (C)	Per decade (F)	Period	Complete years	Reading
Annual mean temperature	-0.05 C (-0.15 to 0.06) per decade	-0.1 F (-0.3 to 0.1) per decade	1941 to 1996	44	Not clearly different from zero
Mean daily maximum	-0.13 C (-0.26 to 0.00) per decade	-0.24 F (-0.48 to -0.01) per decade	1941 to 1996	44	Fall
Mean daily minimum	0.04 C (-0.05 to 0.14) per decade	0.1 F (-0.1 to 0.2) per decade	1941 to 1996	44	Not clearly different from zero

A year is complete when all 12 months have at least 20 days of both daily maximum and daily minimum readings. The annual mean is the mean of the monthly means. The trend describes this one station over this period; it does not say what caused the change.

Extremes by Year

1941 to 2025

Yearly extremes at Cotonou: the record and the median year
Measure	Record	Year of the record	Median year	Years with a value
Hottest day (TXx)	39.4 C (102.9 F)	1985	34.8 C (94.6 F)	84
Coldest night (TNn)	15.2 C (59.4 F)	1994	20.0 C (68.0 F)	84
Wettest day (Rx1day)	345.9 mm (13.6 in)	1983	101.9 mm (4.0 in)	84
Wettest five days (Rx5day)	612.1 mm (24.1 in)	1983	165.6 mm (6.5 in)	84
Longest dry spell (CDD)	80 days	1946	22 days	84

Hottest day (TXx)

The hottest day of the year at Cotonou, 1941 to 2025. The record is 39.4 C (102.9 F) in 1985, marked on the chart; the median year is 34.8 C (94.6 F).

Hottest day (TXx) at Cotonou by year
Year	Hottest day (TXx)
1941	36.1 C (97.0 F)
1942	34.7 C (94.5 F)
1943	35.2 C (95.4 F)
1944	35.4 C (95.7 F)
1945	34.9 C (94.8 F)
1946	34.5 C (94.1 F)
1947	36.6 C (97.9 F)
1948	35.0 C (95.0 F)
1949	35.3 C (95.5 F)
1950	34.9 C (94.8 F)
1951	35.4 C (95.7 F)
1952	38.9 C (102.0 F)
1953	32.7 C (90.9 F)
1954	32.4 C (90.3 F)
1955	33.9 C (93.0 F)
1956	32.9 C (91.2 F)
1957	32.6 C (90.7 F)
1958	33.3 C (91.9 F)
1959	33.9 C (93.0 F)
1960	32.7 C (90.9 F)
1961	33.8 C (92.8 F)
1962	33.1 C (91.6 F)
1963	34.4 C (93.9 F)
1964	33.3 C (91.9 F)
1965	33.2 C (91.8 F)
1967	34.0 C (93.2 F)
1968	33.9 C (93.0 F)
1969	35.0 C (95.0 F)
1970	35.4 C (95.7 F)
1971	34.3 C (93.7 F)
1972	34.0 C (93.2 F)
1973	36.0 C (96.8 F)
1974	36.8 C (98.2 F)
1975	34.1 C (93.4 F)
1976	33.8 C (92.8 F)
1977	34.4 C (93.9 F)
1978	32.7 C (90.9 F)
1979	38.6 C (101.5 F)
1980	34.2 C (93.6 F)
1981	38.0 C (100.4 F)
1982	36.5 C (97.7 F)
1983	37.5 C (99.5 F)
1984	34.2 C (93.6 F)
1985	39.4 C (102.9 F)
1986	37.7 C (99.9 F)
1987	38.4 C (101.1 F)
1988	35.2 C (95.4 F)
1989	35.7 C (96.3 F)
1990	37.5 C (99.5 F)
1991	34.8 C (94.6 F)
1992	35.6 C (96.1 F)
1993	36.5 C (97.7 F)
1994	33.9 C (93.0 F)
1995	34.0 C (93.2 F)
1996	33.6 C (92.5 F)
1997	34.4 C (93.9 F)
1998	37.5 C (99.5 F)
1999	36.2 C (97.2 F)
2000	35.6 C (96.1 F)
2001	35.9 C (96.6 F)
2002	34.5 C (94.1 F)
2003	34.1 C (93.4 F)
2004	35.0 C (95.0 F)
2005	34.0 C (93.2 F)
2006	33.6 C (92.5 F)
2007	34.0 C (93.2 F)
2008	35.4 C (95.7 F)
2009	34.1 C (93.4 F)
2010	35.3 C (95.5 F)
2011	34.2 C (93.6 F)
2012	34.0 C (93.2 F)
2013	34.0 C (93.2 F)
2014	33.7 C (92.7 F)
2015	34.2 C (93.6 F)
2016	35.2 C (95.4 F)
2017	34.4 C (93.9 F)
2018	33.9 C (93.0 F)
2019	35.7 C (96.3 F)
2020	36.0 C (96.8 F)
2021	35.0 C (95.0 F)
2022	35.4 C (95.7 F)
2023	35.3 C (95.5 F)
2024	35.2 C (95.4 F)
2025	35.1 C (95.2 F)

Coldest night (TNn)

The coldest night of the year at Cotonou, 1941 to 2025. The record is 15.2 C (59.4 F) in 1994, marked on the chart; the median year is 20.0 C (68.0 F).

Coldest night (TNn) at Cotonou by year
Year	Coldest night (TNn)
1941	20.9 C (69.6 F)
1942	20.9 C (69.6 F)
1943	21.5 C (70.7 F)
1944	17.9 C (64.2 F)
1945	21.0 C (69.8 F)
1946	21.0 C (69.8 F)
1947	21.0 C (69.8 F)
1948	18.5 C (65.3 F)
1949	21.0 C (69.8 F)
1950	21.1 C (70.0 F)
1951	21.0 C (69.8 F)
1952	20.2 C (68.4 F)
1953	19.3 C (66.7 F)
1954	19.1 C (66.4 F)
1955	18.4 C (65.1 F)
1956	19.6 C (67.3 F)
1957	17.0 C (62.6 F)
1958	18.8 C (65.8 F)
1959	19.6 C (67.3 F)
1960	19.1 C (66.4 F)
1961	19.0 C (66.2 F)
1962	18.8 C (65.8 F)
1963	19.6 C (67.3 F)
1964	18.3 C (64.9 F)
1965	19.8 C (67.6 F)
1967	18.2 C (64.8 F)
1968	19.0 C (66.2 F)
1969	20.2 C (68.4 F)
1970	20.4 C (68.7 F)
1971	19.0 C (66.2 F)
1972	20.6 C (69.1 F)
1973	21.0 C (69.8 F)
1974	17.9 C (64.2 F)
1975	19.2 C (66.6 F)
1976	19.8 C (67.6 F)
1977	19.5 C (67.1 F)
1978	20.0 C (68.0 F)
1979	21.4 C (70.5 F)
1980	19.3 C (66.7 F)
1981	18.0 C (64.4 F)
1982	19.9 C (67.8 F)
1983	19.2 C (66.6 F)
1984	20.2 C (68.4 F)
1985	18.5 C (65.3 F)
1986	20.0 C (68.0 F)
1987	20.9 C (69.6 F)
1988	20.1 C (68.2 F)
1989	18.7 C (65.7 F)
1990	17.0 C (62.6 F)
1991	19.2 C (66.6 F)
1992	19.5 C (67.1 F)
1993	20.1 C (68.2 F)
1994	15.2 C (59.4 F)
1995	20.4 C (68.7 F)
1996	21.5 C (70.7 F)
1997	20.3 C (68.5 F)
1998	20.3 C (68.5 F)
1999	21.5 C (70.7 F)
2000	19.7 C (67.5 F)
2001	21.5 C (70.7 F)
2002	21.6 C (70.9 F)
2003	21.3 C (70.3 F)
2004	21.6 C (70.9 F)
2005	20.1 C (68.2 F)
2006	21.6 C (70.9 F)
2007	20.0 C (68.0 F)
2008	18.0 C (64.4 F)
2009	20.8 C (69.4 F)
2010	21.7 C (71.1 F)
2011	19.9 C (67.8 F)
2012	21.0 C (69.8 F)
2013	20.1 C (68.2 F)
2014	19.8 C (67.6 F)
2015	17.2 C (63.0 F)
2016	20.8 C (69.4 F)
2017	19.3 C (66.7 F)
2018	20.4 C (68.7 F)
2019	21.7 C (71.1 F)
2020	19.6 C (67.3 F)
2021	21.6 C (70.9 F)
2022	20.3 C (68.5 F)
2023	19.7 C (67.5 F)
2024	20.8 C (69.4 F)
2025	21.9 C (71.4 F)

Wettest day (Rx1day)

The wettest day of the year at Cotonou, 1941 to 2025. The record is 345.9 mm (13.6 in) in 1983, marked on the chart; the median year is 101.9 mm (4.0 in).

Wettest day (Rx1day) at Cotonou by year
Year	Wettest day (Rx1day)
1941	88.2 mm (3.5 in)
1942	97.5 mm (3.8 in)
1943	122.5 mm (4.8 in)
1944	78.0 mm (3.1 in)
1945	98.8 mm (3.9 in)
1946	107.6 mm (4.2 in)
1947	131.6 mm (5.2 in)
1948	116.2 mm (4.6 in)
1949	89.7 mm (3.5 in)
1950	139.2 mm (5.5 in)
1951	92.6 mm (3.6 in)
1952	80.7 mm (3.2 in)
1953	162.5 mm (6.4 in)
1954	129.2 mm (5.1 in)
1955	109.3 mm (4.3 in)
1956	66.9 mm (2.6 in)
1957	74.2 mm (2.9 in)
1958	120.1 mm (4.7 in)
1959	114.6 mm (4.5 in)
1960	83.3 mm (3.3 in)
1961	93.0 mm (3.7 in)
1962	191.5 mm (7.5 in)
1963	180.1 mm (7.1 in)
1964	108.2 mm (4.3 in)
1965	104.7 mm (4.1 in)
1967	101.6 mm (4.0 in)
1968	119.2 mm (4.7 in)
1969	71.8 mm (2.8 in)
1970	41.5 mm (1.6 in)
1971	110.8 mm (4.4 in)
1972	129.4 mm (5.1 in)
1973	67.7 mm (2.7 in)
1974	173.0 mm (6.8 in)
1975	193.8 mm (7.6 in)
1976	94.1 mm (3.7 in)
1977	111.0 mm (4.4 in)
1978	89.0 mm (3.5 in)
1979	146.3 mm (5.8 in)
1980	74.8 mm (2.9 in)
1981	59.9 mm (2.4 in)
1982	342.9 mm (13.5 in)
1983	345.9 mm (13.6 in)
1984	52.1 mm (2.1 in)
1985	74.9 mm (2.9 in)
1986	101.1 mm (4.0 in)
1987	138.9 mm (5.5 in)
1988	104.9 mm (4.1 in)
1989	101.1 mm (4.0 in)
1990	84.1 mm (3.3 in)
1991	114.0 mm (4.5 in)
1992	132.1 mm (5.2 in)
1993	125.0 mm (4.9 in)
1994	116.1 mm (4.6 in)
1995	85.1 mm (3.4 in)
1996	132.1 mm (5.2 in)
1997	146.1 mm (5.8 in)
1998	83.1 mm (3.3 in)
1999	39.1 mm (1.5 in)
2000	89.9 mm (3.5 in)
2001	55.1 mm (2.2 in)
2002	73.9 mm (2.9 in)
2003	194.1 mm (7.6 in)
2004	102.1 mm (4.0 in)
2005	118.1 mm (4.6 in)
2006	127.0 mm (5.0 in)
2007	85.1 mm (3.4 in)
2008	94.0 mm (3.7 in)
2009	87.1 mm (3.4 in)
2010	134.9 mm (5.3 in)
2011	67.1 mm (2.6 in)
2012	119.9 mm (4.7 in)
2013	96.0 mm (3.8 in)
2014	166.9 mm (6.6 in)
2015	97.0 mm (3.8 in)
2016	104.9 mm (4.1 in)
2017	94.0 mm (3.7 in)
2018	158.0 mm (6.2 in)
2019	93.0 mm (3.7 in)
2020	72.9 mm (2.9 in)
2021	69.1 mm (2.7 in)
2022	110.0 mm (4.3 in)
2023	168.1 mm (6.6 in)
2024	81.3 mm (3.2 in)
2025	67.1 mm (2.6 in)

Wettest five days (Rx5day)

The wettest five days of the year at Cotonou, 1941 to 2025. The record is 612.1 mm (24.1 in) in 1983, marked on the chart; the median year is 165.6 mm (6.5 in).

Wettest five days (Rx5day) at Cotonou by year
Year	Wettest five days (Rx5day)
1941	162.5 mm (6.4 in)
1942	174.0 mm (6.9 in)
1943	154.4 mm (6.1 in)
1944	156.5 mm (6.2 in)
1945	151.4 mm (6.0 in)
1946	219.6 mm (8.6 in)
1947	287.1 mm (11.3 in)
1948	136.8 mm (5.4 in)
1949	203.3 mm (8.0 in)
1950	354.9 mm (14.0 in)
1951	173.6 mm (6.8 in)
1952	119.0 mm (4.7 in)
1953	217.5 mm (8.6 in)
1954	167.1 mm (6.6 in)
1955	241.8 mm (9.5 in)
1956	161.8 mm (6.4 in)
1957	184.0 mm (7.2 in)
1958	131.8 mm (5.2 in)
1959	182.2 mm (7.2 in)
1960	201.6 mm (7.9 in)
1961	226.3 mm (8.9 in)
1962	333.6 mm (13.1 in)
1963	265.6 mm (10.5 in)
1964	149.9 mm (5.9 in)
1965	209.6 mm (8.3 in)
1967	170.1 mm (6.7 in)
1968	276.9 mm (10.9 in)
1969	223.8 mm (8.8 in)
1970	110.8 mm (4.4 in)
1971	145.4 mm (5.7 in)
1972	236.6 mm (9.3 in)
1973	79.4 mm (3.1 in)
1974	235.9 mm (9.3 in)
1975	303.9 mm (12.0 in)
1976	206.1 mm (8.1 in)
1977	128.6 mm (5.1 in)
1978	177.2 mm (7.0 in)
1979	212.0 mm (8.3 in)
1980	90.2 mm (3.6 in)
1981	96.7 mm (3.8 in)
1982	259.0 mm (10.2 in)
1983	612.1 mm (24.1 in)
1984	105.9 mm (4.2 in)
1985	117.8 mm (4.6 in)
1986	95.8 mm (3.8 in)
1987	177.0 mm (7.0 in)
1988	225.1 mm (8.9 in)
1989	105.1 mm (4.1 in)
1990	130.9 mm (5.2 in)
1991	168.9 mm (6.6 in)
1992	159.0 mm (6.3 in)
1993	227.0 mm (8.9 in)
1994	123.9 mm (4.9 in)
1995	105.9 mm (4.2 in)
1996	262.2 mm (10.3 in)
1997	212.1 mm (8.4 in)
1998	94.3 mm (3.7 in)
1999	55.4 mm (2.2 in)
2000	45.0 mm (1.8 in)
2001	95.2 mm (3.7 in)
2002	95.0 mm (3.7 in)
2003	118.6 mm (4.7 in)
2004	124.9 mm (4.9 in)
2005	166.1 mm (6.5 in)
2006	137.9 mm (5.4 in)
2007	121.4 mm (4.8 in)
2008	178.0 mm (7.0 in)
2009	290.8 mm (11.4 in)
2010	208.7 mm (8.2 in)
2011	123.2 mm (4.9 in)
2012	244.2 mm (9.6 in)
2013	165.1 mm (6.5 in)
2014	97.9 mm (3.9 in)
2015	198.2 mm (7.8 in)
2016	136.6 mm (5.4 in)
2017	141.2 mm (5.6 in)
2018	190.3 mm (7.5 in)
2019	118.2 mm (4.7 in)
2020	177.1 mm (7.0 in)
2021	111.3 mm (4.4 in)
2022	140.8 mm (5.5 in)
2023	225.2 mm (8.9 in)
2024	116.6 mm (4.6 in)
2025	117.9 mm (4.6 in)

Longest dry spell (CDD)

The longest dry spell of the year at Cotonou, 1941 to 2025. The record is 80 days in 1946, marked on the chart; the median year is 22 days.

Longest dry spell (CDD) at Cotonou by year
Year	Longest dry spell (CDD)
1941	29 days
1942	50 days
1943	52 days
1944	38 days
1945	28 days
1946	80 days
1947	41 days
1948	48 days
1949	54 days
1950	43 days
1951	50 days
1952	36 days
1953	43 days
1954	67 days
1955	59 days
1956	54 days
1957	51 days
1958	29 days
1959	43 days
1960	35 days
1961	63 days
1962	23 days
1963	41 days
1964	51 days
1965	32 days
1967	64 days
1968	31 days
1969	49 days
1970	36 days
1971	21 days
1972	30 days
1973	72 days
1974	52 days
1975	53 days
1976	53 days
1977	26 days
1978	41 days
1979	61 days
1980	42 days
1981	18 days
1982	7 days
1983	4 days
1984	4 days
1985	6 days
1986	4 days
1987	4 days
1988	5 days
1989	3 days
1990	6 days
1991	4 days
1992	4 days
1993	5 days
1994	4 days
1995	5 days
1996	5 days
1997	5 days
1998	5 days
1999	10 days
2000	4 days
2001	7 days
2002	7 days
2003	25 days
2004	10 days
2005	14 days
2006	5 days
2007	3 days
2008	4 days
2009	4 days
2010	6 days
2011	7 days
2012	6 days
2013	5 days
2014	3 days
2015	4 days
2016	4 days
2017	4 days
2018	4 days
2019	4 days
2020	4 days
2021	5 days
2022	4 days
2023	31 days
2024	45 days
2025	34 days

Each chart shows one value per year; the dot marks the record year. TXx is the hottest daily maximum, TNn the coldest daily minimum, Rx1day and Rx5day the largest one-day and five-day rain totals, and CDD the longest run of days with less than 1 mm of rain. A year with missing days can understate an extreme.

Rainfall Return Levels

39 years, 1941 to 2024

A day with at least 103.0 mm (4.1 in) of rain is expected about once in 2 years. A day with at least 225.9 mm (8.9 in) of rain is expected about once in 100 years.

Rainfall return levels at Cotonou: the daily rain expected about once in a given number of years
Expected about once in	A day with at least	Note
2 years	103.0 mm (4.1 in)
5 years	134.8 mm (5.3 in)
10 years	156.4 mm (6.2 in)
25 years	184.0 mm (7.2 in)
50 years	204.9 mm (8.1 in)	Longer than the 39 years of record
100 years	225.9 mm (8.9 in)	Longer than the 39 years of record

The levels come from a generalised extreme value (GEV) distribution fitted by L-moments to the wettest-day total of each year, 39 years of values from 1941 to 2024.

A return level is an estimate. It is least reliable for the long periods, 50 and 100 years, and for any period longer than the record behind the fit, where the fit has to reach past the largest day actually observed. It is not a forecast.

The largest wettest-day totals in the fit: 193.8 mm (7.6 in) in 1975; 191.5 mm (7.5 in) in 1962; 180.1 mm (7.1 in) in 1963.

Download the Data

Data for Cotonou standing records by year: CSV or JSON. Field meanings are on the data page.
Data for Cotonou threshold days by year: CSV or JSON. Field meanings are on the data page.

Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Climatology Network Daily (GHCN-Daily). Records are computed by World Extreme Weather Monitor and are not official NOAA products. (US Government open data (NOAA NCEI)) Data as of 2026-10-15 (15 October 2026). Records are computed by this site and are not official.

Data as of 2026-10-15. Last revised 15 October 2026 (2026-10-15).