The climate of Gikongoro
Tucked away in the heart of Africa,
Gikongoro,
Rwanda, predominantly experiences a Tropical wet and dry climate, also known as Savanna climate, identified by the Köppen climate classification as 'Aw'.
Throughout the year, the climate manifests itself through intricate dance of varying weather parameters, which include temperature, rainfall, humidity, daylight, sunshine, and wind conditions. Temperatures in Gikongoro stay consistently warm, ranging from a comfortable 21.3°C (70.3°F) to a moderate 24.8°C (76.6°F) for the highest averages, and dancing between a cool 12.8°C (55°F) and a mild 15.5°C (59.9°F) for the lowest averages.
Delving into the unfolding ballet of weather parameters, humidity numbers fluctuate from a low average relative humidity of 58% in the late dry season to a high of 88% during mid-rainy season. Rainfall assumes a dynamic pattern, from a sparse 17mm (0.67") during an arid
July, crescendoing to a peak rainfall of 158mm (6.22") in an aqueous
October.
Witnessing uniform daylight hours hovering around 12 hours throughout the year, the amount of sunshine noticeably varies. Sunshine hours diminish to a meager 7.8 hours in the monsoon month of
May and stretch back to a full 10.3 hours in the post-monsoon month of
September. Wind speeds also depict a subtle shift from slower 4.4km/h (2.7mph) to fleet-footed 7.3km/h (4.5mph) averagely across the year. Exceptional weather patterns include a striking transition from heightened rainfall days in
April and October to an aridity stricken July.
The best time to visit Gikongoro
The prime period to explore
Gikongoro would be from
June to
September, commonly referred as the dry season. During this window, the intriguing blend of weather parameters provides an enticing atmosphere for travel. The rainfall in these months dips to an all-time low between 17mm (0.67") and 43mm (1.69"), while the average days of rainfall dwindling from 10.5 to 17.8 days, offering clearer and drier conditions. Concurrently, the average temperatures remain soothingly balmy with the highest averages from 21.8°C (71.2°F) to 24.8°C (76.6°F) and lowest fluctuating from 12.8°C (55°F) to 14.8°C (58.6°F). These conditions are complimented by relatively prolonged sunshine hours stretching up to 9.8 hours averagely, and fewer cloud coverage, enabling uninterrupted exploration of the region.
The worst time to visit Gikongoro
The least favorable time to venture into
Gikongoro would arguably be the rainy seasons, extending from
February to
May and
October to
November due to unfavorable weather conditions. February observes heavy rainfall of 108mm (4.25") spread across 24.7 days, along with lower sunshine hours of 9.2 while November records even higher values of 152mm (5.98") rainfall across 27.5 days and lower sunshine hours of 8.6. During these months, the high rainfall, coupled with heightened humidity of 77% to 83%, can considerably dampen outdoor activities and travel plans.
Spring weather in Gikongoro
Devoid of spring in the traditional sense due to its tropical climate, the months corresponding to spring (
March,
April, and
May) in higher latitudes, are characterized distinctly by the peak of the rainy season in
Gikongoro. The weather during this phase demonstrates an increase in precipitation with average rainfall reaching a dramatic 129mm (5.08") in April and humidity elevating to a stifling 88%. Concurrently, average temperatures veer towards a cooler range, from 21.3°C (70.3°F) to 22.2°C (72°F) in maxima and from 13.3°C (55.9°F) to 13.8°C (56.8°F) in minima, while average daily sunshine hours are the least for the year at 7.8 hours in May.
Summer weather in Gikongoro
Contrasting conventional summer attributes,
Gikongoro's
June,
July, and
August embody the dry season. These months experience mild temperatures, with the average highs varying from 21.8°C (71.2°F) to 24.8°C (76.6°F) and average lows ranging from 12.8°C (55°F) to 14.8°C (58.6°F). The dry season is marked by least rainfall, dripping to a scarce 17mm (0.67") in July, paired with fewer days of rainfall and diminished humidity. These summer months also entertain lengthier sunshine hours extending up to 9.8 hours, adding brightness and warmth to the dry Gikongoro summer.
Autumn weather in Gikongoro
Absent of a traditional autumn,
September,
October, and
November in
Gikongoro welcome the resurgence of the rainy season. During this phase, rainfall levels rise steeply, peeking at an average of 158mm (6.22") in October, and subsequently, the average number of rainfall days also increase. Temperatures remain relatively constant, fluctuating from an average high of 24.3°C (75.7°F) to 22.3°C (72.1°F), and an average low between 15.3°C (59.5°F) to 14.6°C (58.3°F). The month of October also brings decreased average sunshine hours of 8.9, contributing to a more cloudy and wet weather pattern.
Winter weather in Gikongoro
Bypassing a standard winter,
Gikongoro observes
December,
January, and
February under the persistence of the fairly dry and warm season. During these months, temperatures warm up, with the highest averages ranging from 22.6°C (72.7°F) to 24°C (75.2°F) and the lowest averages between 14.3°C (57.7°F) and 14.6°C (58.3°F). The rainfall slightly increases to an average of 108mm (4.25") both in December and February, yet considerably lesser than the rainy season. Correspondingly, the average percentage of cloud coverage drops, while sunshine hours increase - painting a milder, sunlit winter scene against the tropical canvas of Gikongoro.
Weather in January
For
Gikongoro,
Rwanda, the first month of the year is marked by a significant amount of rainfall. This wet setting is a characteristic feature of
January weather. Relative humidity, at 77%, highlights the moisture-laden atmosphere.
Weather in January »Weather in February
February witnesses a marginal decrease in rainfall compared to
January. However, the weather remains comparably humid, maintaining a consistency in
Gikongoro's early-year climate. Meanwhile, expect more overcast sky days as cloud cover tends to increase slightly.
Weather in February » Weather in March
March comes in with higher rainfall than
February, improving on its 108mm (4.25") to reach 125mm (4.92"). This further increase in rainfall marks the city's transition towards its major rainy season. It brings more cloudy days, resulting in a drop in the city's sunlight hours.
Weather in March »
Weather in April
April further intensifies the city's rainy season, peaking at 129mm (5.08") of rainfall, the highest so far. In the face of this intensified wetness, a noticeable rise in relative humidity to 87% becomes a characteristic feature of April's weather.
Weather in April » Weather in May
May marks the beginning of a decline in rainfall, from 129mm (5.08") in
April to 97mm (3.82"). This reduction is a precursor to the upcoming drier months. While temperatures continue to decrease slightly, with the highest and lowest reaching 21.3°C (70.3°F) and 13.3°C (55.9°F) respectively, there's a slightly increased amount of sunshine.
Weather in May » Weather in June
June is notable for its significant reduction in rainfall, bottoming out at 43mm (1.69") from
May's 97mm (3.82"). The onset of drier weather culminates in a decrease in relative humidity, breaking the pattern of high humidity from the previous months.
Weather in June »
Weather in July
Gikongoro's weather in
July is highlighted by the least rainfall in the year, at 17mm (0.67"), affirming the city at the height of its dry season. The significantly lower rainfall is accompanied by a dip in humidity, with the relative humidity registering a significant drop from
June's levels.
Weather in July » Weather in August
August continues the dry trend from
July, albeit with a slight increase in rainfall. It is characterized by the lowest level of relative humidity, at 58%, making the city's weather less humid. There are also minor differences in the wind speed and pressure levels compared to the previous month.
Weather in August » Weather in September
September marks the end of the dry period with an increase in rainfall, reaching up to 79mm (3.11"). September makes a transition from the minute rain of
August to a wetter time. Yet, despite the increased rainfall, the city's weather remains quite warm.
Weather in September »
Weather in October
October in
Gikongoro experiences another sharp rise in rainfall, standing at 158mm (6.22"). This marks the city's onset of the short rainy season. October is characterized by significant weather changes, including an increase in relative humidity up to 76%, a factor contributed by the rise in rainfall.
Weather in October » Weather in November
November experiences a further increase to 152mm (5.98"), reflecting the continuity of
October's wet trend. Relative humidity remains at high percentages, indicating the significant moisture content in the atmosphere. Moreover, cloud cover increases to 43%, reducing the city's hours of sunshine.
Weather in November » Weather in December
December marks the end of the year maintaining the wet weather condition with an average rainfall quantity of 144mm (5.67"). While rain remains dominant, the temperatures are consistently warm, consistent with the pattern seen throughout the year.
Weather in December » [Resources]