The climate in Tanzania

Climate zone: tropics

It is warm to hot all year round and invites to bathe at average water temperatures of 27 degrees. The warmest and rainiest part of the country is Dar es Salaam. The coldest is Ruvuma.

Temperature records of the last 73 years

The hottest temperature measured from 1949 to March 2022 was reported by the Mtwara weather station. In October 2019 the record temperature of 43.0 °C was reported here. The hottest summer from July to September, based on all 6 weather stations in Tanzania below 1190 metres altitude, was recorded in 1982 with an average temperature of 25.0 °C. This average temperature will normally be measured every 4 to 6 hours, thus also including the nights. Normally, this value is 22.2 degrees Celsius.

The coldest day in these 73 years was reported by the weather station Dodoma. Here the temperature dropped to 0.0 °C in May 2021. Dodoma lies at an altitude of 1120 meters above sea level. The coldest winter (January to March) was in 1978 with an average temperature of 22.4 °C. In Tanzania, it is usual to have about 2.7 degrees more at 25.1 °C for this three-month period.

The most precipitation fell in January 2022. With 19.6 mm per day, the Mtwara weather station recorded the highest monthly average of the last 73 years.

Data basis and methodology

The data of 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. There are 7 stations in Tanzania itself.In 2 cases, neighboring but nearby weather stations were also used to obtain more accurate values.