Nkhata Bay weather in February

In February, Nkhata Bay sees average daytime highs of 26°C and overnight lows near 23°C, with 352 mm of rain across 26 wet days and about 12.4 hours of daylight. It is the 4th-warmest and 4th-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 5% of the time in February, and the air most often feels muggy.

Daylight stretches from about 12 h 30 min at the start of February to 12 h 18 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, February is Nkhata Bay's 11th-clearest and 11th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Nkhata Bay's year-round climate.

Daytime high
26°
4th warmest
Overnight low
23°
9th coldest
Rainfall
352 mm
26 wet days
Daylight
12 h 24 min
5:46 AM – 6:09 PM
Cloud cover
83%
11th clearest
Wind
7 km/h
11th windiest
Solar energy
5.27 kWh/m²
Travel score
3.7
out of 10

Nkhata Bay is city in Malawi.

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

Temperature in February

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

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

A typical February day in Nkhata Bay reaches about 26°C in the afternoon and slips back to 23°C overnight — a 3°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 24°C and 27°C. Set against its neighbours, February runs on par with January and on par with March.

20°23°25°28°30°151015202528
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12623
22623
32623
42623
52623
62623
72623
82623
92623
102623
112623
122623
132623
142623
152623
162623
172623
182623
192623
202623
212623
222623
232622
242622
252622
262622
272622
282622

Nkhata Bay weather by month

How February compares with the rest of the year at a glance. February is the 4th-warmest and 4th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan26° / 23°41429.512.63.6
Feb26° / 23°3522612.43.7
Mar25° / 22°45229.912.13.7
Apr25° / 21°32025.511.74.7
May23° / 20°8214.111.56.7
Jun22° / 19°399.511.37.2
Jul21° / 18°308.611.47.4
Aug23° / 19°225.411.68.3
Sep25° / 21°163.511.98.6
Oct27° / 23°769.112.37.3
Nov28° / 23°22716.912.55.6
Dec26° / 22°43428.512.73.9

Cloud cover in February

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 5% of the time in February.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 9% of February, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 86%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202528
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
11189
21189
31189
41189
51288
61288
71288
81387
91486
101585
111585
121585
131585
141486
151486
161486
171486
181585
191585
201684
211684
221585
231585
241585
251585
261684
271684
281783

Chance of precipitation in February

Any precipitation

Nkhata Bay gets around 352 mm of rain over 26 wet days in February. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 93% and peaks near 94% on the wettest days.

0%20%40%60%80%100%151015202528
Rain chance (%)
194
294
394
494
594
694
794
893
993
1093
1193
1293
1393
1493
1593
1693
1793
1893
1992
2092
2193
2293
2393
2493
2593
2694
2794
2894

Humidity in February

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, February lands in the muggy band about 68% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 100% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202528
Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)
16733
26733
36832
46931
56931
67030
77030
87030
97129
107129
117129
127030
137030
147030
156931
166931
176832
186733
196733
206634
216634
226634
236634
246634
256634
266733
276832
286931

Wind in February

Winds average 7 km/h in February.

Across February, daily wind ranges from about 7 km/h on the calmest days to 7 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202528
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
17calm
27calm
37calm
47calm
57calm
67calm
77calm
87calm
97calm
107calm
117calm
127calm
137calm
147calm
157calm
167calm
177calm
187calm
197calm
207calm
217calm
227calm
237calm
247calm
257calm
267calm
277calm
287calm

Sunrise & sunset in February

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 12 h 30 min at the start of February to 12 h 18 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 12 minutes over February. Sunrise moves from 5:41 AM to 5:49 AM, and sunset from 6:12 PM to 6:04 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202528
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
112.55:416:12
212.55:426:11
312.55:426:11
412.55:426:11
512.55:436:11
612.55:436:11
712.55:436:11
812.45:446:11
912.45:446:10
1012.45:446:10
1112.45:456:10
1212.45:456:10
1312.45:456:09
1412.45:466:09
1512.45:466:09
1612.45:466:09
1712.45:466:08
1812.45:476:08
1912.35:476:08
2012.35:476:07
2112.35:476:07
2212.35:486:06
2312.35:486:06
2412.35:486:06
2512.35:486:05
2612.35:486:05
2712.35:496:04
2812.35:496:04

Solar energy in February

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in February, about 5.27 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 4.97 kWh/m² to a high of 7.19 kWh/m² in October across the year — February's 5.27 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

0246151015202528
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.2Bright
25.2Bright
35.2Bright
45.2Bright
55.2Bright
65.2Bright
75.2Bright
85.3Bright
95.3Bright
105.3Bright
115.3Bright
125.3Bright
135.3Bright
145.3Bright
155.3Bright
165.3Bright
175.3Bright
185.3Bright
195.3Bright
205.3Bright
215.3Bright
225.3Bright
235.3Bright
245.3Bright
255.3Bright
265.3Bright
275.3Bright
285.3Bright
Planning a trip in February

Hazard calendar for Nkhata Bay

In seasonPeak

In February, Nkhata Bay sits inside its cyclone and monsoon season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.

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

Nkhata Bay's monsoon runs November–April, when most of the year's rain falls.

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

Is February a good time to visit Nkhata Bay?

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

3.7
Sightseeing
10th-best month of the year
3.5
Beach & pool
10th-best month of the year

February is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Nkhata Bay.

What to pack for Nkhata Bay in February

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

In February, Nkhata Bay sees daytime highs around 26°C and nights near 23°C. Pack rain gear. Worth having: light clothes and sun protection. About 26 days see rain.

rain gearlight clothessun protection

UV index in Nkhata Bay in February

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in February peaks around 16 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Nkhata Bay peaks around February 16 at about 16 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 17 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 16UV 16Jun 17UV 9
UV index (midday)Level
Jan15Extreme
Feb16Extreme
Mar15Extreme
Apr13Extreme
May10Very high
Jun9Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug10Very high
Sep11Extreme
Oct13Extreme
Nov12Extreme
Dec13Extreme

Air quality in Nkhata Bay in February

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

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

Air quality in Nkhata Bay is worst in September — around 26 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 3.7× the cleanest month (December, 7 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodSep 1926 µg/m³May 177 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan9Good
Feb10Good
Mar9Good
Apr8Good
May7Good
Jun8Good
Jul11Good
Aug20Moderate
Sep26Moderate
Oct23Moderate
Nov13Moderate
Dec7Good
Location & terrain

Where is Nkhata Bay?

Nkhata Bay sits at 11.6°S, 34.3°E, 547 m above sea level, in Malawi. The nearest listed city is Mzuzu, 33 km away.

RumphiMzimbaTingiMbingaMatiriKigonseraLundazi

Topography around Nkhata Bay

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Nkhata Bay has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 263 m around an average of 560 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 809 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,549 m.

The land around Nkhata Bay is covered by trees (37%), shrubs (35%) and water (23%) within 3 km, water (47%) and trees (26%) within 16 km, and water (52%) and trees (20%) within 80 km.

3 km
263 m
16 km
809 m
80 km
1,549 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswater
February weather nearby: Mzuzu 33 km · Rumphi 81 km · Mzimba 82 km · Tingi 88 km · Mbinga 109 km · Matiri 116 km · Kigonsera 122 km · Lundazi 143 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 Nkhata Bay (-11.6066°, 34.2907°, elevation 547 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).