Accra

== Geography ==
{{climate chart
| Accra
| 22.8|30.6|15
| 23.8|31.1|33
| 24.4|31.1|56
| 24.4|31.1|81
| 23.8|30.6|142
| 23.3|28.9|178
| 23.3|27.2|46
| 21.7|26.7|15
| 22.8|27.2|36
| 23.3|29.3|64
| 23.8|30.6|36
| 23.8|31.1|23
| float=right
| clear=right
| source=BBC Weather<ref name="weather1">{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/world/city_guides/results.shtml?tt=TT000240 |title=Average Conditions Accra, Ghana |access-date=9 September 2009 |publisher=BBC Weather |date=May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061021170025/http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/world/city_guides/results.shtml?tt=TT000240 |archive-date=21 October 2006}}</ref>
}}

Owing to its location in the [[Dahomey Gap]], where the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean coast runs parallel to the prevailing moist monsoonal winds, Accra features a very marginal [[hot semi-arid climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]]: '''BSh''') that borders on a [[tropical wet and dry climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]]: '''Aw/As'''). The average annual rainfall is about 730&nbsp;mm, which falls primarily during Ghana's two rainy seasons. The chief rainy season begins in April and ends in mid-July, whilst a weaker second rainy season occurs in October. Rain usually falls in short intensive storms and causes local flooding in which drainage channels are obstructed.

Very little variation in temperature occurs throughout the year. The mean monthly temperature ranges from {{convert|25.9|°C|°F|1}} in August (the coolest) to {{convert|29.6|°C|°F|1}} in March (the hottest), with an annual average of {{convert|27.6|°C|°F|1}}. The "cooler" months tend to be more [[humid]] than the warmer months. As a result, during the warmer months and particularly during the windy [[harmattan]] season, the city experiences a breezy "dry heat" that feels less warm than the "cooler" but more humid rainy season.

As a coastal city, Accra is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and sea level rise, with population growth putting increasing pressure on the coastal areas.<ref>[http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/FCFA_PolicyBrief_Accra-Maputo_WEB1.pdf Using climate information to achieve long-term development objectives in coastal Ghana and Mozambique] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150318210759/http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/FCFA_PolicyBrief_Accra-Maputo_WEB1.pdf |date=18 March 2015 }}. [[Climate & Development Knowledge Network]]. Retrieved 16 April 2015</ref> Drainage infrastructure is particularly at risk, which has profound implications for people's livelihoods, especially in informal settlements. Inadequate planning regulation and law enforcement, as well as perceived corruption in government processes, lack of communication across government departments and lack of concern or government co-ordination with respect to building codes are major impediments to progressing the development of Accra's drainage infrastructure, according to the [[Climate & Development Knowledge Network]].<ref>[http://cdkn.org/future-climate-africa/  Future Climate for Africa] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150415220758/http://cdkn.org/future-climate-africa/ |date=15 April 2015 }}. [[Climate & Development Knowledge Network]]. Retrieved 16 April 2015</ref>

As Accra is close to the [[equator]], the daylight hours are practically uniform during the year. Relative humidity is generally high, varying from 65% in the midafternoon to 95% at night. The predominant wind direction in Accra is from the WSW to NNE sectors. Wind speeds normally range between 8 and 16&nbsp;km/h. High wind gusts occur with [[thunderstorm]]s, which generally pass in [[squalls]] along the coast.

The maximum wind speed record in Accra is 107.4&nbsp;km/h (58 knots). Strong winds associated with thunderstorm activity often cause damage to property by removing roofing material. Several areas of Accra experience microclimatic effects. Low-profile [[drainage basin]]s with a north–south orientation are not as well ventilated as those oriented east–west.

Air is often trapped in pockets over the city, and an insulation effect can give rise to a local increase in air temperature of several degrees. This occurs most notably in the Accra Newtown sports complex areas.

{{Weather box
| location = Accra ([[Accra International Airport]]) 1991–2020, extremes 1936–2020
| metric first = yes
| single line = yes
| Jan record high C = 36.6
| Feb record high C = 37.1
| Mar record high C = 36.5
| Apr record high C = 38.7
| May record high C = 35.0
| Jun record high C = 33.5
| Jul record high C = 32.3
| Aug record high C = 32.8
| Sep record high C = 33.9
| Oct record high C = 34.5
| Nov record high C = 38.0
| Dec record high C = 36.0
| year record high C = 38.7
| Jan high C = 32.6
| Feb high C = 33.0
| Mar high C = 33.0
| Apr high C = 32.7
| May high C = 31.8
| Jun high C = 29.8
| Jul high C = 28.6
| Aug high C = 28.4
| Sep high C = 29.6
| Oct high C = 31.1
| Nov high C = 32.1
| Dec high C = 32.4
| year high C = 31.3
| Jan mean C = 28.5
| Feb mean C = 29.2
| Mar mean C = 29.2
| Apr mean C = 29.0
| May mean C = 28.3
| Jun mean C = 26.8
| Jul mean C = 25.9
| Aug mean C = 25.6
| Sep mean C = 26.5
| Oct mean C = 27.5
| Nov mean C = 28.3
| Dec mean C = 28.6
| year mean C = 27.8
| Jan low C = 24.5
| Feb low C = 25.4
| Mar low C = 25.4
| Apr low C = 25.3
| May low C = 24.7
| Jun low C = 23.8
| Jul low C = 23.3
| Aug low C = 22.9
| Sep low C = 23.4
| Oct low C = 23.8
| Nov low C = 24.6
| Dec low C = 24.7
| year low C = 24.3
| Jan record low C = 15.0
| Feb record low C = 16.7
| Mar record low C = 18.9
| Apr record low C = 19.4
| May record low C = 18.6
| Jun record low C = 17.8
| Jul record low C = 17.8
| Aug record low C = 17.2
| Sep record low C = 18.3
| Oct record low C = 19.4
| Nov record low C = 17.8
| Dec record low C = 16.7
| year record low C = 15.0
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 11.8
| Feb precipitation mm = 25.5
| Mar precipitation mm = 61.1
| Apr precipitation mm = 87.8
| May precipitation mm = 151.4
| Jun precipitation mm = 189.6
| Jul precipitation mm = 63.0
| Aug precipitation mm = 21.0
| Sep precipitation mm = 42.9
| Oct precipitation mm = 80.0
| Nov precipitation mm = 37.2
| Dec precipitation mm = 27.2
| year precipitation mm = 798.5
| unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 0.8
| Feb precipitation days = 1.6
| Mar precipitation days = 4.1
| Apr precipitation days = 4.7
| May precipitation days = 8.3
| Jun precipitation days = 10.2
| Jul precipitation days = 5.4
| Aug precipitation days = 3.6
| Sep precipitation days = 5.4
| Oct precipitation days = 5.7
| Nov precipitation days = 2.8
| Dec precipitation days = 1.5
| year precipitation days = 54.1
| Jan humidity = 77
| Feb humidity = 78
| Mar humidity = 79
| Apr humidity = 80
| May humidity = 81
| Jun humidity = 85
| Jul humidity = 84
| Aug humidity = 83
| Sep humidity = 81
| Oct humidity = 82
| Nov humidity = 80
| Dec humidity = 80
| year humidity = 81
| Jan sun = 185.9
| Feb sun = 189.7
| Mar sun = 211.9
| Apr sun = 221.2
| May sun = 219.4
| Jun sun = 157.9
| Jul sun = 150.8
| Aug sun = 146.8
| Sep sun = 173.0
| Oct sun = 237.6
| Nov sun = 244.9
| Dec sun = 222.7
| year sun = 2361.8
| source 1 = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]<ref name=WMOCLINO>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230928212705/https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-1-WMO-Normals-9120/Ghana/CSV/Accra_65472.csv
| archive-date = 28 September 2023
| url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-1-WMO-Normals-9120/Ghana/CSV/Accra_65472.csv
| title = Accra Climate Normals 1991–2020
| work = World Meteorological Organization Climatological Standard Normals (1991–2020)
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = 28 September 2023}}</ref>
| source 2 = [[Deutscher Wetterdienst]] (extremes 1936–1990, humidity 1952–1967)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_654720_kt.pdf |title=Klimatafel von Accra (Int. Flugh.) / Ghana |work=Baseline climate means (1961–1990) from stations all over the world |publisher=Deutscher Wetterdienst |language=de |access-date=17 October 2016 |archive-date=16 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190516155041/https://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_654720_kt.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}