The climate of Makambako
Situated in the southern highlands of
Tanzania,
Makambako exhibits a prevailing Humid subtropical, dry winter type of climate as categorized by the Köppen climate classification - Cwa. This climate regime characterizes the town's weather conditions with temperature averages ranging from 20.6°C (69.1°F) to 27°C (80.6°F). It is recorded that the high temperature mostly commences to rise in
September from 21.3°C (70.3°F) to 27°C (80.6°F) in
January and then declines to 20.6°C (69.1°F) by
June before surging again.
The temperatures at night display a similar pattern, dipping to a low of 10.3°C (50.5°F) in
July and peaking at 15.5°C (59.9°F) in
November. Humidity levels stay relatively high, with an 83% to 91% range, indicating a generally moist atmosphere. Rainfall in this zone is dramatically seasonal with a significant peak in
December and
April, receiving 336mm (13.23") and 325mm (12.8") of rainfall respectively. Meanwhile, June through
August experience virtually null rainfall, signifying a dry winter phase. The yearly rainfall duration oscillates between 2 to 30 days per month.
Several hours of sunshine characterize Makambako days, averaging from 9 to 9.9 hours in the dry months and dropping slightly to 6.6 to 7.5 hours in the rainy months. This town experiences moderate levels of UV index through the year, peaking at 6 in
February and
March. Wind speeds also vary, rising to their fastest at 14.3km/h (8.9mph) in
October, while in February they are at their calmest, averaging 6.2km/h (3.9mph).
The best time to visit Makambako
An optimal period to explore
Makambako derives primarily from rainfall patterns and temperatures. The months from
June to
August provide a favorable time when rainfall is at a yearly low of 2mm (0.08") to 3mm (0.12") and days are beautifully sunlit for 9.4 to 9.9 hours. Temperatures during this period are also mild and comfortable, running from a daily high of 20.6°C (69.1°F) to 23.6°C (74.5°F) and nighttime lows falling between 10.3°C (50.5°F) to 12.8°C (55°F).
The worst time to visit Makambako
By contrast, the months of
December and
April generally leave much to be desired for outdoor activities or exploration. This is largely due to the heavy rainfall, amounting to 336mm (13.23") and 325mm (12.8") respectively, greatly dampening the prospect of outdoor enjoyment. On such days, rainfall occurs practically every day, restricting sunshine hours to between 6.7 and 7.1 hours per day.
Spring weather in Makambako
Taking the period
March to
May as the spring season,
Makambako experiences an escalation in rainfall, from 242mm (9.53") in March to a peak of 325mm (12.8") in
April before subsiding to 93mm (3.66") in May. Simultaneously, temperatures begin to experience a mild decline, with daytime highs slipping from 21.6°C (70.9°F) in March down to 21°C (69.8°F) in May, while nighttime lows cool from 14.7°C (58.5°F) to 12.8°C (55°F).
Summer weather in Makambako
Summoning a fair combination of warmth and clear skies, summer, attributed to the months of
June through
August, offers a conducive climate in
Makambako. Day temperatures revolve around a comfortable 20.6°C (69.1°F) to 23.6°C (74.5°F). In contrast, the night could be relatively cool with lows between 10.3°C (50.5°F) to 12.8°C (55°F). Rainfall is almost negligible, with barely 2mm (0.08") to 3mm (0.12") recorded throughout this period.
Autumn weather in Makambako
The short autumn from
September to
November in
Makambako heralds the increment of rainfall, soaring from a mere 5mm (0.2") in September to 106mm (4.17") by November. Daytime temperatures elevate from 25.7°C (78.3°F) in September to a yearly high of 27°C (80.6°F) in
October, then slightly temper to 25.7°C (78.3°F) in November. Nighttime temperatures, however, heat up progressively from 12.9°C (55.2°F) in September to a 15.5°C (59.9°F) peak in November.
Winter weather in Makambako
Makambako's winter months, namely
December through
February, are characterized by the highest rainfall figures of the year. Rainfall rockets to an annual high of 336mm (13.23") in December, before declining to 275mm (10.83") in
January and 242mm (9.53") in February. Despite the hefty rains, temperatures remain quite stable with daytime highs fluctuating within the 21.3°C (70.3°F) to 22.7°C (72.9°F) range while nighttime lows maintain the range from 14.7°C (58.5°F) to 15.1°C (59.2°F).
Weather in January
In
Makambako,
Tanzania, the weather pattern in
January sees a mix of intermittent rain, reduced daylight, and cooler temperatures. As the first month of the year, it is characterized by the peaks of rainfall, topping the year with a total of 325mm (12.8").
Weather in January »Weather in February
In
February, conditions in
Makambako remain much akin to those in
January. What distinguishes this month is a slight decrease in rainfall, reducing to 275mm (10.83").
March shares similar weather patterns to February, holding onto the trend of rainfall reduction and relatively cooler temperatures.
Weather in February »Weather in March
March ushers in a shift in the
Makambako weather as the rainy period begins to taper off. Even though the showers persist, the rainfall reduces further to 242mm (9.53"). Shifting into
April, there's a greater reporting of sunshine, leading to increased daylight.
Weather in March »
Weather in April
In
April,
Makambako experiences a notable decline in rainfall. With a further decrease in precipitation to 93mm (3.66"), the drier atmosphere makes the nights and mornings chilly.
May ushers in a significant uptick in sunshine hours, juxtaposed with a decrease in cloud cover.
Weather in April »Weather in May
The weather in
May underscores the onset of
Makambako's dry spell. Rainfree days become prevalent, with the month's total rainfall reducing drastically to 12mm (0.47"). In the transition to
June, temperatures report a modest increase, providing warmer days.
Weather in May »Weather in June
In
June,
Makambako experiences the driest conditions of the year. The extremely halt in the rainfall, slimming down to 3mm (0.12"), truly makes June standout. A shift into
July sees the continuation of dry and relatively warm conditions.
Weather in June »
Weather in July
Makambako's weather in
July holds to the trend of the previous month. The city experiences a dry spell, with a paltry rainfall of just 2mm (0.08"). As
August approaches, there is a slight rise in temperature, cloud cover, and humidity levels.
Weather in July » Weather in August
The trend of drier weather persists in
Makambako through the month of
August. Rainfall remains scarce, with the total only rising to 3mm (0.12"). Moving into
September, the nights feel relatively cooler due to a slight decline in temperatures.
Weather in August »Weather in September
September ushers in few transformations to the climatic pattern in
Makambako. Rainfall makes a slight comeback, with the total increasing to 5mm (0.2"). Changes becoming more evident as
October rolls in, featuring slight increases in rain and relative humidity.
Weather in September »
Weather in October
In
Makambako,
October marks a shift towards a wetter period. The rainfall increases considerably, with a record of 27mm (1.06") for the month. On the path to
November, there is a noticeable increase in precipitation and dip in temperature.
Weather in October »Weather in November
November, the last month of the spring in
Makambako, is warm month, with an average temperature ranging between max 25.7°C (78.3°F) and min 15.5°C (59.9°F). Welcoming November, Makambako notes an average high-temperature of a still warm 25.7°C (78.3°F), nearly consistent with
October's 27°C (80.6°F).
Weather in November » Weather in December
December in
Makambako delivers a combination of profound rainfall and cooler temperatures. The year comes full circle, with a significant surge in rainfall to 336mm (13.23"). Transitioning into the new year, consistency in precipitation is evident.
Weather in December » [Resources]