Lusaka, Zambia Climate & Monthly Averages
The climate of Lusaka
Lusaka's year is organised around rain rather than temperature. 70% of its 29.8 inches (758 mm) annual total arrives in the December to February window, while August averages less than 1 mm. Temperatures move far less: 88°F (31°C) at the year's warmest against 72°F (22°C) at its coolest.
Climate quick facts
- Hottest month: October - highs near 88°F (31°C)
- Coldest month: July - highs near 72°F (22°C)
- Decade extremes (2015-2024): 98°F (37°C) high · 45°F (7°C) low
- Wettest month: January (25 rainy days) · Sunniest: September (11.7 h sun/day)
- Climate type: humid subtropical
- Annual swing: 8°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 10°C
- Months averaging 30°C or hotter: 1
- Average humidity: 60%
Temperatures through the year
July is the coolest month, with highs of 72°F (22°C) and lows near 53°F (12°C). October is the warm end of the year, averaging 88°F (31°C) by day and 67°F (20°C) overnight. The gridded 2015-2024 daily record for this location tops out at 98°F (37°C) and bottoms at 45°F (7°C) - decade extremes, not all-time station records. 6 months average under 20 mm of rain, the longest unbroken stretch running May through October.
Rain, sun and snow
September is the brightest month at 11.7 hours of sun a day, against an annual average of 10.7 - sunnier than roughly 88% of the cities we track. Rainfall is strongly seasonal: 70% of the annual total falls in the December to February window, leaving August at less than 1 mm. Between the average October and the average July lie 8°C, a narrower spread than about 79% of the cities we track. Five of the twelve months pair mild highs with fewer than twelve wet days; the longest unbroken run is April through August.
How Lusaka compares
- 70% of the year's precipitation falls in its wettest three months - more seasonal than 97% of the 3496 cities we track.
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 | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 77° | 64° | 25 | 9.3 in | 9.2 h/day | 82% |
| February | 78° | 64° | 22 | 5.9 in | 10.0 h/day | 82% |
| March | 78° | 63° | 16 | 3.7 in | 10.5 h/day | 77% |
| April | 76° | 61° | 7 | 1.3 in | 10.6 h/day | 71% |
| May | 75° | 57° | 1 | 0.1 in | 11.0 h/day | 59% |
| June | 72° | 54° | 0 | 0.0 in | 10.5 h/day | 56% |
| July | 72° | 53° | 0 | 0.0 in | 10.5 h/day | 52% |
| August | 78° | 57° | 0 | 0.0 in | 11.2 h/day | 43% |
| September | 85° | 63° | 0 | 0.0 in | 11.7 h/day | 36% |
| October | 88° | 67° | 2 | 0.4 in | 11.6 h/day | 38% |
| November | 85° | 67° | 13 | 3.1 in | 10.9 h/day | 56% |
| December | 82° | 66° | 19 | 5.8 in | 10.2 h/day | 71% |
Lusaka month by month
Lusaka weather in January
January brings highs around 77°F (25°C), lows near 64°F (18°C), about 25 wet days - typically the wettest month of the year in Lusaka.
Lusaka weather in February
February brings highs around 78°F (26°C), lows near 64°F (18°C), about 22 wet days.
Lusaka weather in March
March brings highs around 78°F (26°C), lows near 63°F (17°C), about 16 wet days.
Lusaka weather in April
April brings highs around 76°F (25°C), lows near 61°F (16°C), about 7 wet days.
Lusaka weather in May
May brings highs around 75°F (24°C), lows near 57°F (14°C), about 1 wet days.
Lusaka weather in June
June brings highs around 72°F (22°C), lows near 54°F (12°C), about 0 wet days.
Lusaka weather in July
July brings highs around 72°F (22°C), lows near 53°F (12°C), about 0 wet days - typically the coldest month of the year in Lusaka.
Lusaka weather in August
August brings highs around 78°F (26°C), lows near 57°F (14°C), about 0 wet days - typically the driest month of the year in Lusaka.
Lusaka weather in September
September brings highs around 85°F (29°C), lows near 63°F (17°C), about 0 wet days - typically the sunniest month of the year in Lusaka.
Lusaka weather in October
October brings highs around 88°F (31°C), lows near 67°F (20°C), about 2 wet days - typically the hottest month of the year in Lusaka.
Lusaka weather in November
November brings highs around 85°F (30°C), lows near 67°F (20°C), about 13 wet days.
Lusaka weather in December
December brings highs around 82°F (28°C), lows near 66°F (19°C), about 19 wet days.
Seasons in Lusaka
Spring (September through November)
Spring runs hot here - highs near 86°F (30°C), nights near 66°F (19°C), and rain comes on about 14 days over the three months. Daylight is generous - around 11.4 hours of sun a day.
Summer (December through February)
Summer in Lusaka is pleasantly warm, with daytime highs averaging 79°F (26°C) and nights around 65°F (18°C); rain falls on around 66 of the 90 days.
Fall (March through May)
Through fall, Lusaka is pleasantly warm: 77°F (25°C) by day, 60°F (16°C) after dark, and expect showers on roughly 23 days across the season. Daylight is generous - around 10.7 hours of sun a day.
Winter (June through August)
Winter brings comfortable warmth here - highs near 74°F (23°C), nights near 55°F (13°C), and precipitation is essentially absent. Daylight is generous - around 10.7 hours of sun a day.
Climate questions, answered
How sunny is Lusaka?
Is Lusaka hot in summer?
How humid does Lusaka get?
When is the dry season in Lusaka?
What is the average temperature in Lusaka?
Best time to visit Lusaka
Aim for April to August if you get the choice: the rains have stopped and the heat has not yet peaked, and highs average 75°F (24°C) against roughly 2 wet days a month. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in April.
Pack for Lusaka with light clothing for the warm months and a compact umbrella or rain shell. Note the gap between afternoon and night: October pairs 88°F (31°C) with 67°F (20°C).
Lusaka temperature records (2015-2024)
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ.