The climate in Tanzania

Climate zone: tropics

It is warm to hot all year round, inviting bathing at average water temperatures of 27 degrees. The warmest and also rainiest greaster region is East Coast. The coldest is Southern Highlands.

Temperature records of the last 74 years

The hottest temperature measured from 1949 to January 2023 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 7 weather stations in Tanzania below 1,500 meters altitude, was recorded in 1982 with an average temperature of 25.0 °C. This average temperature will normally be measured every four to six hours, thus also including the nights. Normally, this value is 22.4 degrees Celsius.

The coldest day in these 74 years was reported by the Dodoma weather station. Here the temperature dropped to zero °C in May 2021. Dodoma lies at an altitude of 1,120 meters above sea level. The coldest winter (January to March) was in 1978 with an average temperature of 22.5 °C. In Tanzania, it is usual to have about 2.2 degrees more at 24.7 °C for this three-month period.

The most precipitation fell in April 2002. With 19.0 mm per day, the Dar Es Salaam weather station recorded the highest monthly average of the last 74 years. Incidentally, the region with the most rainfall for the whole year is around Mwanza. The driest region is near Dodoma.

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. There are 7 stations in Tanzania itself. In 4 cases, neighboring but nearby weather stations were also used to obtain more accurate values.