Arusha in Summer
In summer (December, January and February), Arusha sees average daytime highs around 26°C and overnight lows near 15°C, with 263 mm of rain over about 36 wet days across the season. It is the warmest season of the year and the 2nd-wettest season.
Over the season highs climb from about 25°C in early December to 27°C by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 21% of the time across summer, and the air most often feels comfortable.
Summer is Arusha's 3rd-best season to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Arusha's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 26°C
- warmest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 15°C
- Rainfall
- 263 mm
- 36 wet days
- Avg wind
- 5 km/h
- Travel score
- 6.3
- 3rd-best season
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Arusha in Summer
Over the season highs climb from about 25°C in early December to 27°C by late February.
A typical summer day in Arusha reaches about 26°C and drops to 15°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is February, the coolest January.
Arusha 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 | 26° / 15° | 82 | 10.6 | 12.2 | 6.6 |
| Feb | 27° / 15° | 73 | 8.9 | 12.1 | 6.5 |
| Mar | 26° / 16° | 143 | 16.7 | 12 | 5.6 |
| Apr | 24° / 16° | 145 | 21.7 | 11.9 | 4.9 |
| May | 22° / 14° | 50 | 11.9 | 11.8 | 6.2 |
| Jun | 21° / 12° | 7 | 2.3 | 11.8 | 7.3 |
| Jul | 21° / 11° | 4 | 1.1 | 11.8 | 7.5 |
| Aug | 22° / 11° | 4 | 1.1 | 11.9 | 7.8 |
| Sep | 24° / 12° | 4 | 1.1 | 12 | 8.3 |
| Oct | 25° / 14° | 30 | 7.3 | 12.1 | 7.2 |
| Nov | 25° / 15° | 103 | 17.7 | 12.2 | 5.6 |
| Dec | 25° / 15° | 108 | 16.7 | 12.2 | 5.7 |
Cloud cover in Summer
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 21% of the time across summer.
Chance of precipitation in Summer
Arusha gets around 263 mm of rain over 36 wet days across summer. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Summer
Most of summer feels comfortable — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Summer
Winds average 5 km/h across summer.
Sunrise & sunset in Summer
Daylight runs from about 12 h 12 min in early December to 12 h 06 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 5.9 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Arusha
In summer, Arusha overlaps its rainy season season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.
Arusha's rainy season runs November–April, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is summer a good time to visit Arusha?
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 Arusha for sightseeing.
What to pack for Arusha in Summer
From summer's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In summer, Arusha sees daytime highs around 26°C and nights near 15°C. Pack rain gear and sun protection. Worth having: light clothes. About 36 days see rain.
UV index in Arusha 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 Arusha peaks around March 14 at about 16 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 19 at about 10 (extreme).
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) | 15 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 |
| Level | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 15 | Extreme |
| Feb | 16 | Extreme |
| Mar | 16 | Extreme |
| Apr | 15 | Extreme |
| May | 12 | Extreme |
| Jun | 10 | Extreme |
| Jul | 11 | Extreme |
| Aug | 11 | Extreme |
| Sep | 14 | Extreme |
| Oct | 14 | Extreme |
| Nov | 14 | Extreme |
| Dec | 13 | Extreme |
Air quality in Arusha 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 Arusha is worst in June — around 16 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 1.7× the cleanest month (November, 10 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) | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 13 |
| Level | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Good | Moderate |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 14 | Moderate |
| Feb | 13 | Moderate |
| Mar | 13 | Moderate |
| Apr | 12 | Moderate |
| May | 13 | Moderate |
| Jun | 16 | Moderate |
| Jul | 16 | Moderate |
| Aug | 13 | Moderate |
| Sep | 12 | Good |
| Oct | 11 | Good |
| Nov | 10 | Good |
| Dec | 13 | Moderate |
Where is Arusha?
Arusha sits at 3.4°S, 36.7°E, 1,415 m above sea level, in Tanzania. The nearest listed city is Usa River, 19 km away.
Topography around Arusha
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Arusha.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Arusha has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 236 m around an average of 1,419 m above sea level; within 16 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 3,490 m; within 80 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 4,854 m.
The land around Arusha is covered by artificial surfaces (57%) and trees (36%) within 3 km, trees (30%), cropland (25%) and grassland (23%) within 16 km, and grassland (41%) and shrubs (32%) within 80 km.
Tanzania travel facts
- Travel advisory
- Level 3
- Reconsider Travel
- Power plugs
- Type D / G
- 230 V · 50 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 29% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $1,319
- 2025
- Happiness
- 3.9 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Safe drinking water
- 31%
- of population, 2024
- Homicide rate
- 3.7
- per 100k, 2020
- Road deaths
- 31.1
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- Lower middle
- World Bank
- English
- Low
- EF EPI 479
- 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 Arusha (-3.3667°, 36.6833°, elevation 1,415 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.