In kenya, east africa s economic hub, the government said 120 people have been killed in flooding and mudslides during an unusually severe rainy season. These are the winter months a time of year marked by generally bright sunny days with mild temperatures. A brief overview of africas dry and rainy seasons tripsavvy. The long rains usually last from early march to late may, bringing with them heavy afternoon downpours and high humidity.
First, season of long rains lasts from april to june and the other one, season of short showers, is between october and december. Sustainable development in east africa could benefit significantly from these recent advances in the prediction of shortterm climate variability. January and february is the best time to go to east africa to see the wildlife, which will be clustered around the diminishing waterholes and easier to spot in. A powerful climate phenomenon in the indian ocean stronger than any seen in years is unleashing destructive rains and flooding across east africa and scientists say worse could be coming. Only the three main east african rainy seasons are discussed mam marchmay. Seasons in africa are opposite of north american seasons, so its autumn runs from march through may. Africa s lower half gets down to 40 or 50 degrees in the. This is the best time to visit famous safari destinations like the serengeti and the maasai mara, although optimum gameviewing opportunities make it the most expensive time, too. It is bordered by ethiopia to the west, djibouti to the northwest, the gulf of aden to the north, the somali sea and guardafui channel to the east, and kenya to the southwest. Access hourly, 10 day and 15 day forecasts along with up to the minute reports and videos from accuweather. Ond octoberdecember, since the januaryfebruary rains in southern tanzania are more related to the summer rains of southern africa see the article climate of southern africa. East africa also has distinct dry and rainy seasons, while southern africa is generally more temperate. Climate of eastern africa oxford research encyclopedia.
The relatively cool season, from latejune to october, gets much less rain. East africa reels from deadly floods in extreme weather. The best time to go to kenya weather and climate expert africa. Eastern africa, classically presented as a major dry climate anomaly region in the otherwise wet equatorial belt, is a transition zone between the monsoon domains of west africa and the indian ocean. The different parts experience different types of climate which include. Averages are for east london, which is 4 miles from east london. Seychelles climate very different weather pattern from tanzanias. June to october offers mild weather with very little rain, and is usually. Eastern african paradox rainfall decline due to shorter. Malawi is an african country, located south of the equator, mostly hilly and mountainous, and has a tropical climate or subtropical at high altitudes, with a hot and rainy season from midnovember to april and a relatively cool and dry season from midmay to midaugust that is, the austral winter. Climate and average monthly weather in east london. Therefore, the climate in africa is hot and dry, which leads to the formation of deserts welcome to seasons of the year.
Climate prediction centers africa hazards outlook april. Falling at the start and end of the rains, the shoulder seasons are often the best times to go on safari in east africa in terms of balancing cost, game viewing, visitor numbers and weather. The region of east africa covers those coastal countries from eritrea in the north down to tanzania in the south as well as the seychelles islands off the coast from beaches to mountains to vast plains, the region has a huge range of terrains and climates, as well as some of the worldas rarest wildlife. Take the guesswork out of planning your east africa safari find out when to go. Both dry and rainy seasons in east africa offer their advantages, and wildlife highlights can be found at every time of year.
Summer months in nairobi are december through march, when average highs are in the upper 70s and lows. Kenya boasts one of the best climates on the continent. Climate although nairobi is situated in the middle of east africa, its high altitudeabout a mile above sea levelmeans that the citys climate is mild yearround. Nairobi weather nairobi, kenya forecast tripadvisor. The lack of rainfall during its rainy season in the southern part of africa has been very hard on the agriculture occasioning loss of crops and dryness even ending to drought in southern malawi, central zimbabwe and. Many tours travel through the region to visit the augrabies falls and orange river region. East african rainfall met office weather and climate. With a land area of 637,657 square kilometers, somalias terrain. Zanzibar climate part of tanzania with a similar weather. East africas long dry season lasts from july to october, when the. Africa is the largest continent after asia, through which the hot climate zones, as well as the continent crosses the line of the equator. It is, however, important to take note of the regions two distinct rainy seasons. The october to december short rains in tanzania and central.
East africa east africa s long dry season lasts from july to october, when the weather is defined by sunny, rainfree days. Namibia, south africa, botswana, zambia and zimbabwe. Rainfall is strongly influenced by the intertropical convergence zone that streams low pressure around the equator. East africa kenya, tanzania, rwanda and uganda is at its best in their winter months of midjune to october when the parks are dry, the weather sunny and. Zambia climate similar weather pattern to tanzanias, with just one, shorter rainy season.
The best time to travel depends on what you want from your african adventure. The country is crossed by equator so climate here is rather stable with minor seasonal changes. The best time to visit africa a detailed guide africa odyssey. African seasons are opposite of north america, so autumn there is march through may and spring is september through november. Best time for an african safari when to go on safari. Watch eastern africa weather symbol map and rainfall, snow and pressure video. East africa decfeb and junsep are the two main dry seasons.
Eastern africa weather symbol and rainsnow and pressure. What are the benefits of low season safaris in east africa. Rainfall occurs in two wet seasons in march to may and october to december. If you re on safari at the somewhat lower altitudes of meru, tsavo east, tsavo west. It is comfortable and pleasant during the day, with. During these months its the dry season in east africa and west africa, the rainy, wet season in central and southern africa, and winter in north africa with dry, pleasant temps. The climate of east africa east africa lies within the tropical latitudes but due to a combination of factors the region experiences a variety of climatic types. Therefore, the climate in africa is hot and dry, which leads to the formation of deserts north africa morocco algeria tunisia egypt west africa canary islands cape verde nigeria east africa ethiopia uganda kenya. Asmara, maekel, eritrea three day weather forecast. As this paper illustrates, climate change in africa is not only a conservation problem but is a socioeconomic issue that. While the western cape has a mediterranean climate with winter rainfall, most of the country experiences summer rain. The shoulder season between the long and short rains from january to march, is actually considered by some safari veterans to be the best time to go game.
Its complex terrain, unequaled in the rest of africa, results in a huge diversity of climatic conditions that steer a wide range of vegetation landscapes, biodiversity and human occupations. Kenya is too close to the equator to experience a real winter and summer. If it were not for the change in wind direction when the southeast trades have crossed the equator, the monsoon system of west africa could not be distinguished from the weather system, caused by the seasonal shift in the latitude of the intertropical convergence, as experienced over most of central africa. The west experiences rainfall in winter, while the east receives most of its moisture from late summer thunderstorms. When to go where in east africa everyone loves an east africa safari but to avoid rainswept beaches and wheredeverythinggo savannahs, youll need to be in the right place at the right time. Most safari areas in east africa enjoy warm days, cool evenings and excellent game viewing yearround. Middle east weather, season and climate information. November is historically known as the time of the short rains, whilst april and may host the main rains. Kenya lies on the equator and has a pleasant, tropical climate, but there are large regional climatic variations influenced by several factors, including altitude. If youre planning a trip to africa, the weather is often an important factor. The east african country offers unique wildlife and beautiful national. You may also watch weather map for north america, south america, middle east, asia, europe and uk.
Visitors are spared the extreme, blistering temperatures found in other regions of africa, or even other areas within kenya. Somalia is a country located in the horn of africa. Southern africa and east africa weather africa calls. Namibia, south africa, botswana, zambia and zimbabwe the climate in the region specifically zambia and botswana is characterized by 3 main seasons. Climate ghana average weather, temperature, rainfall, when to go, what to pack in ghana, the climate is tropical, with a dry season in winter and a rainy season in summer due to the african monsoon. The climate in the middle east is pretty consistent throughout the region with only two seasons. Get your 3day weather forecast for asmara, maekel, eritrea. Cape of south africa climate very different weather pattern from tanzanias.
However, nights and early mornings can be very cold. Theres a second rainy season, the short rains, for a few weeks in november and december, followed roughly from middecember to march by a dry season of hot, usually rainless, weather. The winds determine the onset of kenyas two rainy seasons, with the hot. What is the best time of year to go to east london in south africa here are some average weather facts we collected from our historical climate data. Southern africa novmar, but rain can continue until dec in south africa. The climate in the region specifically zambia and botswana is characterized by 3 main seasons. Most of tanzanias popular tourist destinations experience two rainy seasons and two dry seasons every year. Projections of changes in the onset and cessation of wet seasons across africa under future climate change, produced using cmip5 models, show the onset and cessation of the eastern african october. Equatorial east africa kenya, tanzania, rwanda and uganda has its main dry season from june to october, with a secondary drier season from middecember to midmarch. South africa experiences a high degree of sunshine with rainfall about half of the global average, increasing from west to east, and with semidesert regions in the northwest. There is no single best time to visit east africa but there are rainy and dry seasons. April to may the long rains november to december the short rains.
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