Mzimba in Summer
In summer (December, January and February), Mzimba sees average daytime highs around 25°C and overnight lows near 18°C, with 511 mm of rain over about 69 wet days across the season. It is the 2nd-warmest season and the wettest season of the year.
Over the season highs ease from about 27°C in early December to 25°C by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 6% of the time across summer, and the air most often feels humid.
Summer is Mzimba's weakest season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Mzimba's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 25°C
- 2nd-warmest season
- Avg overnight low
- 18°C
- Rainfall
- 511 mm
- 69 wet days
- Avg wind
- 9 km/h
- Travel score
- 4.4
- weakest season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Mzimba in Summer
Over the season highs ease from about 27°C in early December to 25°C by late February.
A typical summer day in Mzimba reaches about 25°C and drops to 18°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is December, the coolest February.
Mzimba weather by month
How the three summer months (December, January and February) compare with the rest of the year — the season's months are highlighted.
| Month | High / Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) | Wet days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 25° / 18° | 199 | 25.8 | 12.6 | 4.1 |
| Feb | 25° / 18° | 164 | 23 | 12.4 | 4.2 |
| Mar | 25° / 18° | 122 | 20 | 12.1 | 5.1 |
| Apr | 25° / 17° | 27 | 5.8 | 11.7 | 7.6 |
| May | 24° / 15° | 4 | 1.2 | 11.5 | 8.9 |
| Jun | 23° / 13° | 0 | 0.1 | 11.3 | 9.1 |
| Jul | 22° / 12° | 0 | 0.1 | 11.4 | 9.0 |
| Aug | 24° / 14° | 1 | 0.1 | 11.6 | 9.3 |
| Sep | 27° / 16° | 1 | 0.1 | 11.9 | 8.9 |
| Oct | 28° / 18° | 7 | 1.5 | 12.3 | 7.6 |
| Nov | 29° / 19° | 42 | 8.2 | 12.5 | 6.1 |
| Dec | 26° / 18° | 147 | 20.5 | 12.7 | 4.9 |
Cloud cover in Summer
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 6% of the time across summer.
Chance of precipitation in Summer
Mzimba gets around 511 mm of rain over 69 wet days across summer. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Summer
Most of summer feels humid — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Summer
Winds average 9 km/h across summer.
Sunrise & sunset in Summer
Daylight runs from about 12 h 36 min in early December to 12 h 18 min by late February. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Summer
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across summer, about 4.9 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Mzimba
In summer, Mzimba overlaps its cyclone and monsoon season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.
Mzimba sits in the South Indian Ocean cyclone belt; the season peaks January–March.
Mzimba's monsoon runs December–March, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is summer a good time to visit Mzimba?
Our two travel scores rate summer for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
summer is a reasonable time to visit Mzimba for sightseeing.
What to pack for Mzimba in Summer
From summer's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In summer, Mzimba sees daytime highs around 25°C and nights near 18°C. Pack rain gear. Worth having: light clothes and sun protection. About 69 days see rain.
UV index in Mzimba in Summer
Clear-sky midday UV across summer averages around 15 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Mzimba peaks around February 15 at about 16 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 16 at about 10 (very high).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 16 | 17 | 16 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 |
| Level | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 16 | Extreme |
| Feb | 17 | Extreme |
| Mar | 16 | Extreme |
| Apr | 13 | Extreme |
| May | 10 | Extreme |
| Jun | 10 | Very high |
| Jul | 10 | Extreme |
| Aug | 11 | Extreme |
| Sep | 12 | Extreme |
| Oct | 13 | Extreme |
| Nov | 13 | Extreme |
| Dec | 14 | Extreme |
Air quality in Mzimba in Summer
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where summer falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Mzimba is worst in October — around 61 µg/m³ PM2.5 (unhealthy), about 6.6× the cleanest month (December, 9 µg/m³).
Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 11 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 19 | 26 | 61 | 27 | 9 |
| Level | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Unhealthy | Moderate | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 11 | Good |
| Feb | 12 | Good |
| Mar | 11 | Good |
| Apr | 11 | Good |
| May | 11 | Good |
| Jun | 12 | Moderate |
| Jul | 14 | Moderate |
| Aug | 19 | Moderate |
| Sep | 26 | Moderate |
| Oct | 61 | Unhealthy |
| Nov | 27 | Moderate |
| Dec | 9 | Good |
Where is Mzimba?
Mzimba sits at 11.9°S, 33.6°E, 1,339 m above sea level, in Malawi. The nearest listed city is Lundazi, 63 km away.
Topography around Mzimba
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Mzimba.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Mzimba has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 117 m around an average of 1,332 m above sea level; within 16 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 518 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,467 m.
The land around Mzimba is covered by cropland (50%) within 3 km, shrubs (40%) and cropland (33%) within 16 km, and cropland (31%), trees (26%) and shrubs (25%) within 80 km.
Malawi travel facts
- Travel advisory
- Level 2
- Exercise Increased Caution
- Power plugs
- Type G
- 230 V · 50 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 53% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $672
- 2025
- Happiness
- 3.3 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Safe drinking water
- 18%
- of population, 2024
- Homicide rate
- 1.8
- per 100k, 2012
- Road deaths
- 33.4
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- Low
- World Bank
- English
- Low
- EF EPI 465
- Religion
Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.
Data sources
Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Mzimba (-11.9°, 33.6°, elevation 1,339 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google.