Mzuzu weather in October

In October, Mzuzu sees average daytime highs of 26°C and overnight lows near 17°C, with 43 mm of rain across 8.6 wet days and about 12.3 hours of daylight. It is the 2nd-warmest and 8th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 26°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 74% of the time in October, and the air most often feels comfortable.

Daylight stretches from about 12 h 06 min at the start of October to 12 h 24 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, October is Mzuzu's 3rd-clearest and 1st-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Mzuzu's year-round climate.

Daytime high
26°
2nd warmest
Overnight low
17°
7th coldest
Rainfall
43 mm
8.6 wet days
Daylight
12 h 18 min
5:21 AM – 5:37 PM
Cloud cover
29%
3rd clearest
Wind
9 km/h
1st windiest
Solar energy
7.17 kWh/m²
Travel score
7.4
out of 10

Mzuzu is city in Malawi.

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in October

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 26°C through the month.

A typical October day in Mzuzu reaches about 26°C in the afternoon and slips back to 17°C overnight — a 10°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 24°C and 29°C. Set against its neighbours, October runs about 2°C warmer than September and on par with November.

10°15°20°25°30°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12616
22616
32616
42616
52616
62616
72616
82616
92616
102616
112616
122617
132617
142617
152617
162617
172717
182717
192717
202717
212717
222717
232717
242717
252717
262717
272717
282717
292717
302717
312718

Mzuzu weather by month

How October compares with the rest of the year at a glance. October is the 2nd-warmest and 8th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan25° / 18°30028.512.63.7
Feb25° / 18°25124.812.43.9
Mar25° / 18°22329.112.13.8
Apr24° / 16°14024.211.84.7
May22° / 14°5013.511.56.5
Jun21° / 12°227.611.37.1
Jul20° / 11°196.811.47.3
Aug22° / 12°165.211.68.1
Sep25° / 15°123.611.98.5
Oct26° / 17°438.612.37.4
Nov27° / 18°10414.412.56.0
Dec26° / 18°24625.912.74.3

Cloud cover in October

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 74% of the time in October.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 13% of October, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 13%. Skies tend to cloud over as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
18911
28911
38911
48911
58911
68911
78911
88911
98812
108812
118812
128812
138812
148713
158713
168713
178713
188713
198713
208614
218614
228614
238614
248515
258515
268515
278416
288317
298317
308218
318119

Chance of precipitation in October

Any precipitation

Mzuzu gets around 43 mm of rain over 8.6 wet days in October. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 27% and peaks near 37% on the wettest days. The odds climb toward the end of the month.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
117
218
318
419
520
621
722
822
923
1024
1124
1225
1325
1426
1526
1627
1728
1828
1929
2030
2130
2231
2331
2432
2533
2633
2734
2835
2935
3036
3137

Humidity in October

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of October feels comfortable — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

By dew point, October lands in the comfortable band about 55% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)
13258100
23059110
32959120
42760130
52561140
62460160
72261170
82161180
92061190
101960201
111860211
121760221
131660231
141560241
151559251
161459261
171458271
181357291
191356301
201255321
211253341
221152361
231150381
241049400
251048420
26946440
27845471
28743481
29742501
30641521
31540541

Wind in October

Winds average 9 km/h in October, the windiest month of the year.

Across October, daily wind ranges from about 9 km/h on the calmest days to 9 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
19calm
29calm
39calm
49calm
59calm
69calm
79calm
89calm
99calm
109calm
119calm
129calm
139calm
149calm
159calm
169calm
179calm
189calm
199calm
209calm
219calm
229calm
239calm
249calm
259calm
269calm
279calm
289calm
299calm
309calm
319calm

Sunrise & sunset in October

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 12 h 06 min at the start of October to 12 h 24 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 18 minutes over October. Sunrise moves from 5:30 AM to 5:15 AM, and sunset from 5:36 PM to 5:40 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
112.15:305:36
212.15:295:36
312.15:295:36
412.15:285:36
512.15:275:36
612.25:275:36
712.25:265:36
812.25:265:36
912.25:255:36
1012.25:245:36
1112.25:245:36
1212.25:235:36
1312.25:235:36
1412.25:225:37
1512.25:225:37
1612.35:215:37
1712.35:215:37
1812.35:205:37
1912.35:205:37
2012.35:195:37
2112.35:195:37
2212.35:185:38
2312.35:185:38
2412.35:185:38
2512.35:175:38
2612.45:175:38
2712.45:175:39
2812.45:165:39
2912.45:165:39
3012.45:165:39
3112.45:155:40

Solar energy in October

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in October, about 7.17 kWh/m² — the sunniest month for solar.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 4.95 kWh/m² to a high of 7.17 kWh/m² in October across the year — October's 7.17 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

02468151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
17.1Intense
27.1Intense
37.1Intense
47.1Intense
57.1Intense
67.1Intense
77.1Intense
87.1Intense
97.1Intense
107.2Intense
117.2Intense
127.2Intense
137.2Intense
147.2Intense
157.2Intense
167.2Intense
177.2Intense
187.2Intense
197.2Intense
207.2Intense
217.2Intense
227.2Intense
237.2Intense
247.2Intense
257.2Intense
267.2Intense
277.2Intense
287.2Intense
297.1Intense
307.1Intense
317.1Intense
Planning a trip in October

Hazard calendar for Mzuzu

In seasonPeak

None of Mzuzu's seasonal hazards are active in October. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do peak.

Mzuzu sits in the South Indian Ocean cyclone belt; the season peaks January–March.

Mzuzu's monsoon runs December–April, when most of the year's rain falls.

Cyclone
Monsoon
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is October a good time to visit Mzuzu?

Our two travel scores rate October for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).

7.4
Sightseeing
3rd-best month of the year
7.3
Beach & pool
2nd-best month of the year

October is one of the better times to visit Mzuzu for general sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.

What to pack for Mzuzu in October

From October's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In October, Mzuzu sees daytime highs around 26°C and nights near 17°C. Pack sun protection. Worth having: light clothes and rain gear. About 9 days see rain.

sun protectionlight clothesrain gear

UV index in Mzuzu in October

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in October peaks around 13 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Mzuzu peaks around February 15 at about 16 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 16 at about 9 (very high).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeVery highExtremeFeb 15UV 16Jun 16UV 9
UV index (midday)Level
Jan16Extreme
Feb17Extreme
Mar16Extreme
Apr13Extreme
May10Very high
Jun9Very high
Jul10Very high
Aug11Extreme
Sep12Extreme
Oct13Extreme
Nov13Extreme
Dec14Extreme

Air quality in Mzuzu in October

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where October falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in Mzuzu is worst in October — around 57 µg/m³ PM2.5 (unhealthy), about 6.1× the cleanest month (December, 9 µg/m³).

Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).

0204060JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModeratePoorModerateOct 1553 µg/m³Dec 2210 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan11Good
Feb12Good
Mar11Good
Apr11Good
May12Good
Jun16Moderate
Jul21Moderate
Aug28Moderate
Sep32Moderate
Oct57Unhealthy
Nov24Moderate
Dec9Good
Location & terrain

Where is Mzuzu?

Mzuzu sits at 11.5°S, 34.0°E, 1,275 m above sea level, in Malawi. The nearest listed city is Nkhata Bay, 33 km away.

RumphiMzimbaTingiMbingaMatiriLundaziKigonsera

Topography around Mzuzu

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Mzuzu.

Within 3 km, the terrain around Mzuzu has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 193 m around an average of 1,267 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 972 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,043 m.

The land around Mzuzu is covered by artificial surfaces (36%) and shrubs (29%) within 3 km, trees (42%) and shrubs (31%) within 16 km, and water (34%), trees (23%) and shrubs (21%) within 80 km.

3 km
193 m
16 km
972 m
80 km
2,043 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswater
October weather nearby: Nkhata Bay 33 km · Rumphi 53 km · Mzimba 67 km · Tingi 112 km · Mbinga 124 km · Matiri 125 km · Lundazi 130 km · Kigonsera 134 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
Protestant 34%other Christian 27%Roman Catholic 17%Muslim 14%

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 Mzuzu (-11.4656°, 34.0207°, elevation 1,275 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. Tropical-cyclone seasons are the published climatological basin seasons (NOAA National Hurricane Center / regional warning centres). UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).