Kigali, Rwanda Climate & Monthly Averages
The climate of Kigali
Temperature barely moves in Kigali - 2°C between the average August and the average April. Rainfall does the work instead: 5.3 inches (134 mm) in April against 3 mm (0.1 in) in July.
Climate quick facts
- Hottest month: August - highs near 81°F (27°C)
- Coldest month: April - highs near 77°F (25°C)
- Decade extremes (2015-2024): 91°F (33°C) high · 52°F (11°C) low
- Wettest month: April (22 rainy days) · Sunniest: May (10.8 h sun/day)
- Climate type: tropical wet-and-dry
- Annual swing: 2°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 11°C
- Average humidity: 70%
Temperatures through the year
Warmth peaks in August: highs of 81°F (27°C), lows of 60°F (16°C). April is the coolest month, with highs of 77°F (25°C) and lows near 59°F (15°C). Across the gridded 2015-2024 daily record, the highest daily maximum for this location was 91°F (33°C) and the lowest daily minimum 52°F (11°C). Sunshine averages 10.4 hours a day over the year - sunnier than roughly 78% of the cities we track, peaking in May at 10.8 hours.
Rain, sun and snow
Between the average August and the average April lie 2°C, a narrower spread than all but 4% of the 3496 cities in our dataset. 2 months average under 20 mm of rain, the longest unbroken stretch running June through July. Precipitation concentrates in April - 5.3 inches (134 mm) on 22 days - and thins out by July.
How Kigali compares
- Kigali sits close to the middle of our dataset on most measures: 68°F (20°C) as an annual average, 33.8 inches (857 mm) of precipitation and 10.4 hours of sun a day.
Ranked against every city in our dataset, each measured on the same ten-year window.
Monthly climate table
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Precipitation | Sunshine | Daylight | Wet-day chance | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 79° | 59° | 13 | 3.0 in | 10.4 h/day | 12.2 h | 41% | 72% |
| February | 80° | 59° | 11 | 2.6 in | 10.4 h/day | 12.2 h | 40% | 73% |
| March | 79° | 59° | 17 | 3.6 in | 10.6 h/day | 12.1 h | 56% | 76% |
| April | 77° | 59° | 22 | 5.3 in | 9.8 h/day | 12.1 h | 75% | 81% |
| May | 76° | 60° | 13 | 2.3 in | 10.8 h/day | 12.0 h | 43% | 75% |
| June | 78° | 58° | 2 | 0.4 in | 10.6 h/day | 12.0 h | 7% | 63% |
| July | 80° | 59° | 1 | 0.1 in | 10.5 h/day | 12.0 h | 3% | 53% |
| August | 81° | 60° | 5 | 1.0 in | 10.3 h/day | 12.1 h | 16% | 56% |
| September | 81° | 60° | 11 | 2.1 in | 10.6 h/day | 12.1 h | 35% | 66% |
| October | 80° | 59° | 17 | 4.3 in | 10.5 h/day | 12.2 h | 55% | 71% |
| November | 78° | 59° | 21 | 4.8 in | 10.0 h/day | 12.2 h | 70% | 78% |
| December | 78° | 58° | 19 | 4.1 in | 10.6 h/day | 12.2 h | 61% | 78% |
Kigali month by month
Average high and low for each month, with the bar showing where it sits in Kigali's year (left is the coldest night, right is the warmest afternoon).
January
- Rain
- 13 days
- Sunshine
- 10.4 h
- Daylight
- 12.2 h
February
- Rain
- 11 days
- Sunshine
- 10.4 h
- Daylight
- 12.2 h
March
- Rain
- 17 days
- Sunshine
- 10.6 h
- Daylight
- 12.1 h
April
- Rain
- 22 days
- Sunshine
- 9.8 h
- Daylight
- 12.1 h
May
- Rain
- 13 days
- Sunshine
- 10.8 h
- Daylight
- 12.0 h
June
- Rain
- 2 days
- Sunshine
- 10.6 h
- Daylight
- 12.0 h
July
- Rain
- 1 day
- Sunshine
- 10.5 h
- Daylight
- 12.0 h
August
- Rain
- 5 days
- Sunshine
- 10.3 h
- Daylight
- 12.1 h
September
- Rain
- 11 days
- Sunshine
- 10.6 h
- Daylight
- 12.1 h
October
- Rain
- 17 days
- Sunshine
- 10.5 h
- Daylight
- 12.2 h
November
- Rain
- 21 days
- Sunshine
- 10.0 h
- Daylight
- 12.2 h
December
- Rain
- 19 days
- Sunshine
- 10.6 h
- Daylight
- 12.2 h
Warmer places to go, by month: January · February · March · April · May · June · July · August · September · October · November · December
Seasons in Kigali
September through November
September through November brings comfortable warmth here - highs near 80°F (26°C), nights near 59°F (15°C), and rain falls on around 49 of the 90 days. Daylight is generous - around 10.4 hours of sun a day.
December through February
December through February is mild and warm here - highs near 79°F (26°C), nights near 59°F (15°C), and rain falls on around 43 of the 90 days. Daylight is generous - around 10.5 hours of sun a day.
March through May
Through March through May, Kigali settles into easy warmth: 77°F (25°C) by day, 59°F (15°C) after dark, and rain falls on around 53 of the 90 days. Daylight is generous - around 10.4 hours of sun a day.
June through August
June through August is pleasantly warm here - highs near 80°F (26°C), nights near 59°F (15°C), and rain comes on about 8 days over the three months. Daylight is generous - around 10.5 hours of sun a day.
Climate questions, answered
How much does the weather change through the year in Kigali?
Is Kigali hot in summer?
What is the average temperature in Kigali?
Which months are driest in Kigali?
Best time to visit Kigali
June to September and February is the sweet spot for Kigali - warm days, manageable rainfall and plenty of daylight line up. Expect 80°F (27°C) in the afternoon and around 6 days of rain in a typical month of it. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in June.
Pack for Kigali with light clothing for the warm months and proper waterproofs rather than an umbrella - wet days are the norm here. Even in August, lows of 60°F (16°C) make an extra layer worth the space.
Kigali temperature records (2015-2024)
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ. Need the precipitation in other units? The mm-to-inches rainfall converter handles it.