The climate in Madagascar

Climate zone: The northern part of Madagascar is located in the equatorial tropics, while the southern parts of the country belong geographically to the subtropics.

High humidity and hot temperatures make the weather in Madagascar pleasant at times but also tropical humid. It is warm to hot all year round, inviting bathing at average water temperatures of 26 degrees. The warmest and at the same time rainiest province is Mahajanga. The coldest is Antananarivo. Because of the lower temperatures, the best time for traveling is in July. Try to avoid the rainy season from December to March.

Temperature records of the last 72 years

The hottest temperature measured from 1951 to January 2023 was reported by the Ranohira weather station. In February 2020, the record temperature of 49.4 °C was reported here. The hottest summer from July to September, based on all 27 weather stations in Madagascar below 1,530 meters altitude, was recorded in 2011 with an average temperature of 23.1 °C. This average temperature will normally be measured every four to six hours, thus also including the nights. Normally, this value is 22.2 degrees Celsius. The average maximum daily temperature at that time was 27.6 °C.

The coldest day in these 72 years was reported by the Ranohira weather station. Here the temperature dropped to -23.6 °C in July 2017. Ranohira lies at an altitude of 824 meters above sea level. The coldest winter (January to March) was in 1965 with an average temperature of 25.3 °C. In Madagascar, it is usual to have about 1.1 degrees more at 26.4 °C for this three-month period.

The most precipitation fell in May 2002. With 47.6 mm per day, the Toamasina weather station recorded the highest monthly average of the last 72 years. Incidentally, the region with the most rainfall for the whole year is around Toamasina. The driest region is near Toliara.

Data basis and methodology

The data from the individual measuring stations are based on the archives of the German Weather Service, individual values averaged and supplemented by own elements. In order to determine a representative national average, average values were first calculated for each part of the country, which were then summarized at the national level. Thus, if a disproportionate number of weather stations are located in a small area, their number does not affect the national average.