The Climate of
Rwanda
Mount Kigali in Kigali
Climate Map
Climate map of Rwanda
What is the climate of Rwanda like?
Rwanda is a small, landlocked country located 2° south of the equator in east-central Africa. It is similar in size to its neighbour Burundi. It is bordered on the north by Uganda, on the east by Tanzania, on the south by Burundi, and on the west the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The high altitude of Rwanda provides the country with a pleasant tropical highland climate despite its proximity to the equator. In addition, trade winds from the Indian Ocean moderate the temperatures on the Central Plateau. Temperatures vary considerably from region to region because of the variations in altitude. At Kigali, on the central plateau, the average temperature is 21°C (70°F). Temperatures in the mountains of the northwest are lower, especially at night, but in parts of the eastern lowlands average temperatures approach 32°C (90°F).
A long rainy season lasts from February to May and a shorter one from October through December. Rainfall is heaviest in the southwest and lightest in the east. Average annual rainfall ranges from as little as 760 millimeters (30 inches) in the eastern lowlands to 1,800 millimeters (70 inches) in the mountains. The yearly average rainfall on the Central Plateau is about 1,150 millimeters (45 inches).
| Climate data for Kigali, Rwanda | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 26.9 (80.4) | 27.4 (81.3) | 26.9 (80.4) | 26.2 (79.2) | 25.9 (78.6) | 26.4 (79.5) | 27.1 (80.8) | 28.0 (82.4) | 28.2 (82.8) | 27.2 (81.0) | 26.1 (79.0) | 26.4 (79.5) | 26.9 (80.4) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 21.3 (70.3) | 21.6 (70.9) | 21.3 (70.3) | 21.2 (70.2) | 21.1 (70.0) | 20.9 (69.6) | 21.1 (70.0) | 22.0 (71.6) | 22.1 (71.8) | 21.6 (70.9) | 20.8 (69.4) | 21.0 (69.8) | 21.3 (70.4) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 15.6 (60.1) | 15.8 (60.4) | 15.7 (60.3) | 16.1 (61.0) | 16.2 (61.2) | 15.3 (59.5) | 15.0 (59.0) | 16.0 (60.8) | 16.0 (60.8) | 15.9 (60.6) | 15.5 (59.9) | 15.6 (60.1) | 15.7 (60.3) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 76.9 (3.03) | 91.0 (3.58) | 114.2 (4.50) | 154.2 (6.07) | 88.1 (3.47) | 18.6 (0.73) | 11.4 (0.45) | 31.1 (1.22) | 69.6 (2.74) | 105.7 (4.16) | 112.7 (4.44) | 77.4 (3.05) | 950.9 (37.44) |
| Source: World Meteorological Organization | |||||||||||||
References
- E. A. Pearce, Charles Gordon Smith, (1990) The Hutchinson World Weather Guide, John Murray Press. ISBN 1859863426
- Timothy L. Gall, (ed.), (2003), Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations, Eleventh Edition, Thomson Gale
- Hugh Chisholm, (ed.), (1911), Encyclopædia Britannica, Eleventh edition, Cambridge University Press
The Climate of
Rwanda
In summary:
Rwanda has a tropical highland climate. At Kigali, on the central plateau, the average temperature is 21°C (70°F) with little variation throughout the year. Temperatures are higher in the eastern lowlands and lower in the mountains of the northwest.
A long rainy season lasts from February to May and a short one from November through December. Rainfall is heaviest in the southwest and lightest in the east. The yearly average rainfall on the Central Plateau is about 1150 mm (45 inches).