Chirundu in Summer
In summer (December, January and February), Chirundu sees average daytime highs around 31°C and overnight lows near 22°C, with 527 mm of rain over about 55 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 33°C in early December to 30°C by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 18% of the time across summer, and the air most often feels oppressive.
Summer is Chirundu's 3rd-best season to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Chirundu's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 31°C
- 2nd-warmest season
- Avg overnight low
- 22°C
- Rainfall
- 527 mm
- 55 wet days
- Avg wind
- 6 km/h
- Travel score
- 3.6
- 3rd-best season
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Chirundu in Summer
Over the season highs ease from about 33°C in early December to 30°C by late February.
A typical summer day in Chirundu reaches about 31°C and drops to 22°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is December, the coolest February.
How summer really feels in Chirundu
Once humidity and wind are folded in, summer brings about 90 days that feel above 32°C and 0 that feel at or below 0°C.
The story in summer is heat — humidity pushes the afternoon "feels like" well above the raw temperature.
Chirundu 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 | 30° / 22° | 212 | 20.6 | 12.8 | 3.5 |
| Feb | 30° / 22° | 146 | 17.2 | 12.5 | 3.8 |
| Mar | 31° / 22° | 86 | 12.3 | 12.1 | 4.5 |
| Apr | 31° / 19° | 20 | 2.9 | 11.6 | 5.8 |
| May | 29° / 16° | 1 | 0.2 | 11.3 | 7.4 |
| Jun | 27° / 14° | 0 | 0 | 11.1 | 8.9 |
| Jul | 26° / 13° | 0 | 0 | 11.1 | 9.0 |
| Aug | 29° / 15° | 0 | 0 | 11.5 | 7.4 |
| Sep | 33° / 19° | 1 | 0.1 | 11.9 | 4.7 |
| Oct | 36° / 22° | 6 | 1 | 12.4 | 3.0 |
| Nov | 35° / 24° | 51 | 7.1 | 12.7 | 2.7 |
| Dec | 32° / 23° | 169 | 17.5 | 12.9 | 3.4 |
Cloud cover in Summer
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 18% of the time across summer.
Chance of precipitation in Summer
Chirundu gets around 527 mm of rain over 55 wet days across summer. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Summer
Most of summer feels oppressive — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Summer
Winds average 6 km/h across summer.
Sunrise & sunset in Summer
Daylight runs from about 12 h 54 min in early December to 12 h 24 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 5.6 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Chirundu
In summer, Chirundu overlaps its monsoon season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.
Chirundu's monsoon runs December–February, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is summer a good time to visit Chirundu?
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 weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Chirundu.
What to pack for Chirundu in Summer
From summer's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In summer, Chirundu sees daytime highs around 31°C and nights near 22°C. Pack light clothes and rain gear. Worth having: sun protection. About 55 days see rain.
UV index in Chirundu in Summer
Clear-sky midday UV across summer averages around 14 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Chirundu peaks around January 19 at about 16 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near July 10 at about 8 (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 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 13 |
| Level | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | Very high | Very high | Very high | Very high | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 16 | Extreme |
| Feb | 14 | Extreme |
| Mar | 14 | Extreme |
| Apr | 11 | Extreme |
| May | 9 | Very high |
| Jun | 8 | Very high |
| Jul | 8 | Very high |
| Aug | 9 | Very high |
| Sep | 10 | Very high |
| Oct | 11 | Extreme |
| Nov | 13 | Extreme |
| Dec | 13 | Extreme |
Air quality in Chirundu 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 Chirundu is worst in September — around 37 µg/m³ PM2.5 (poor), about 3.3× 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) | 13 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 17 | 22 | 28 | 36 | 37 | 26 | 15 | 11 |
| Level | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Poor | Poor | Moderate | Moderate | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 13 | Moderate |
| Feb | 14 | Moderate |
| Mar | 13 | Moderate |
| Apr | 14 | Moderate |
| May | 17 | Moderate |
| Jun | 22 | Moderate |
| Jul | 28 | Moderate |
| Aug | 36 | Poor |
| Sep | 37 | Poor |
| Oct | 26 | Moderate |
| Nov | 15 | Moderate |
| Dec | 11 | Good |
Where is Chirundu?
Chirundu sits at 16.0°S, 28.8°E, 394 m above sea level, in Zambia. The nearest listed city is Kariba, 54 km away.
Topography around Chirundu
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Chirundu.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Chirundu has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 98 m around an average of 398 m above sea level; within 16 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 343 m; within 80 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,110 m.
The land around Chirundu is covered by grassland (39%) and shrubs (21%) within 3 km, shrubs (54%) within 16 km, and shrubs (45%) and trees (29%) 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 Chirundu (-16.0358°, 28.8431°, elevation 394 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.