ZAMBIA
Climate and Weather
Climate and Weather
Climate and Weather
Zambia lies at a relatively high altitude, and average temperatures are therefore lower than in many other countries in tropical Africa. Zambia therefore has a temperate climate with all the characteristics of a savannah climate. Only the valleys of the Central Zambezi and the Luapula are hot and humid all year round with an average of 25°C. In the rest of Zambia, the average annual temperature is around 22°C.
In general, July is the coolest month (average temperature in Lusaka 15.4°C) and October the warmest month (same 24°C).
The rainy season starts in the north at the end of October, and lasts about six months longer than in the south. The average annual rainfall in the north is 1000-1500 mm and in the south 600-1000 mm.
Three seasons can be distinguished in Zambia:
-a cool dry season (April-August) during which it can cool down to 4-5°C at night, especially in July, the 'coldest' month. Daytime temperatures on the plateaus range from 23-26°C, and 24-28°C in the valleys.
-A hot dry season (August-November) precedes the rainy season. Daytime temperatures on the plateaus range from 26-30°C and in the valleys from 38-42°C.
-A warm wet season (November-April) when temperatures are around 27°C on the plateaus and 32°C in the valleys. The humidity during this period is between 70-80%. In the rainy season, it does not rain continuously, but wet and dry days alternate.
Climate tables
| Kabwe (middle) | Kasama (north) | Livingstone (south) | |
| month | mm / °C | mm / °C | mm / °C |
| January | 251 / 21,2 | 278 / 19,7 | 186 / 23,5 |
| February | 189 / 21,2 | 240 / 19,9 | 145 / 23,2 |
| March | 135 / 20,8 | 229 / 20,2 | 77 / 23,2 |
| April | 30 / 20,0 | 83 / 20,2 | 26 / 21,9 |
| May | 10 / 17,9 | 12 / 18,8 | 6 / 18,9 |
| June | 0 / 15,9 | 1 / 17,2 | 1 / 16,1 |
| July | 0 / 15,9 | 0 / 17,1 | 0 / 16,0 |
| August | 0 / 18,6 | 1 / 18,9 | 0 / 19,4 |
| September | 1 / 22,0 | 2 / 21,6 | 2 / 23,9 |
| October | 21 / 24,2 | 24 / 23,2 | 26 / 26,1 |
| November | 87 / 23,0 | 167 / 21,5 | 74 / 25,1 |
| December | 232 / 21,4 | 298 / 20,1 | 170 / 23,8 |
| Avg. Yearly. | 956 / 20,1 | 1335 / 19,9 | 713 / 21,8 |
Sources
Else, D. / Zambia
Lonely Planet
Posthumus, B. / Zambia : mensen, politiek, economie, cultuur
Koninklijk Instituut voor de Tropen / Novib
Zuidoost-Afrika
The Reader’s Digest
CIA - World Factbook
BBC - Country Profiles
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