Chipata in Summer
In summer (December, January and February), Chipata sees average daytime highs around 27°C and overnight lows near 19°C, with 738 mm of rain over about 75 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 29°C in early December to 26°C by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 5% of the time across summer, and the air most often feels muggy.
Summer is Chipata's weakest season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Chipata's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 27°C
- 2nd-warmest season
- Avg overnight low
- 19°C
- Rainfall
- 738 mm
- 75 wet days
- Avg wind
- 8 km/h
- Travel score
- 4.0
- weakest season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Chipata in Summer
Over the season highs ease from about 29°C in early December to 26°C by late February.
A typical summer day in Chipata reaches about 27°C and drops to 19°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is December, the coolest February.
Chipata 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° / 19° | 279 | 27.4 | 12.7 | 3.8 |
| Feb | 26° / 18° | 219 | 22.7 | 12.5 | 4.2 |
| Mar | 26° / 18° | 166 | 21.6 | 12.1 | 4.8 |
| Apr | 26° / 16° | 35 | 7.3 | 11.7 | 7.2 |
| May | 25° / 14° | 5 | 1.2 | 11.4 | 8.7 |
| Jun | 24° / 12° | 1 | 0.1 | 11.2 | 9.1 |
| Jul | 23° / 11° | 1 | 0.2 | 11.3 | 9.0 |
| Aug | 26° / 13° | 1 | 0.2 | 11.5 | 8.8 |
| Sep | 29° / 16° | 2 | 0.4 | 11.9 | 7.5 |
| Oct | 31° / 19° | 18 | 3.4 | 12.3 | 5.7 |
| Nov | 30° / 20° | 78 | 12 | 12.6 | 4.6 |
| Dec | 27° / 19° | 240 | 25.2 | 12.8 | 4.0 |
Cloud cover in Summer
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 5% of the time across summer.
Chance of precipitation in Summer
Chipata gets around 738 mm of rain over 75 wet days across summer. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Summer
Most of summer feels muggy — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Summer
Winds average 8 km/h across summer.
Sunrise & sunset in Summer
Daylight runs from about 12 h 42 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 5.4 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Chipata
In summer, Chipata overlaps its monsoon season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.
Chipata's monsoon runs December–March, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is summer a good time to visit Chipata?
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 Chipata for sightseeing.
What to pack for Chipata in Summer
From summer's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In summer, Chipata sees daytime highs around 27°C and nights near 19°C. Pack light clothes and rain gear. Worth having: sun protection. About 75 days see rain.
UV index in Chipata 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 Chipata peaks around January 19 at about 16 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 18 at about 9 (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 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
| Level | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | Very high | Very high | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 16 | Extreme |
| Feb | 15 | Extreme |
| Mar | 15 | Extreme |
| Apr | 13 | Extreme |
| May | 10 | Very high |
| Jun | 9 | Very high |
| Jul | 9 | Very high |
| Aug | 11 | Extreme |
| Sep | 11 | Extreme |
| Oct | 12 | Extreme |
| Nov | 13 | Extreme |
| Dec | 14 | Extreme |
Air quality in Chipata 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 Chipata is worst in August — around 26 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.4× the cleanest month (December, 11 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) | 12 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 21 | 26 | 24 | 19 | 13 | 11 |
| Level | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 12 | Good |
| Feb | 14 | Moderate |
| Mar | 15 | Moderate |
| Apr | 15 | Moderate |
| May | 16 | Moderate |
| Jun | 18 | Moderate |
| Jul | 21 | Moderate |
| Aug | 26 | Moderate |
| Sep | 24 | Moderate |
| Oct | 19 | Moderate |
| Nov | 13 | Moderate |
| Dec | 11 | Good |
Where is Chipata?
Chipata sits at 13.6°S, 32.6°E, 1,147 m above sea level, in Zambia. The nearest listed city is Mchinji, 31 km away.
Topography around Chipata
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Chipata.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Chipata has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 498 m around an average of 1,209 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 735 m; within 80 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,173 m.
The land around Chipata is covered by artificial surfaces (34%), shrubs (28%) and trees (21%) within 3 km, cropland (34%), trees (24%) and shrubs (24%) within 16 km, and cropland (38%), trees (25%) and shrubs (20%) within 80 km.
Zambia travel facts
- Travel advisory
- Level 1
- Exercise Normal Precautions
- Power plugs
- Type C / D / G
- 230 V · 50 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 30% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $1,318
- 2025
- Happiness
- 4.1 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Homicide rate
- 5.2
- per 100k, 2015
- Road deaths
- 20.5
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- Lower middle
- World Bank
- English
- High
- EF EPI 573
- 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 Chipata (-13.6333°, 32.65°, elevation 1,147 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.