Kitwe weather in October

In October, Kitwe sees average daytime highs of 32°C and overnight lows near 19°C, with 17 mm of rain across 3.6 wet days and about 12.3 hours of daylight. It is the 1st-warmest and 7th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 32°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 50% of the time in October, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 12 h 06 min at the start of October to 12 h 30 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, October is Kitwe's 6th-clearest and 3rd-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Kitwe's year-round climate.

Daytime high
32°
1st warmest
Overnight low
19°
12th coldest
Rainfall
17 mm
3.6 wet days
Daylight
12 h 18 min
5:43 AM – 6:01 PM
Cloud cover
44%
6th clearest
Wind
11 km/h
3rd windiest
Solar energy
7 kWh/m²
Travel score
5.0
out of 10

Kitwe is city in Zambia.

Founded
1936

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 32°C through the month.

A typical October day in Kitwe reaches about 32°C in the afternoon and slips back to 19°C overnight — a 12°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 29°C and 34°C. Set against its neighbours, October runs about 1°C warmer than September and about 2°C warmer than November.

15°20°25°30°35°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
13219
23219
33219
43219
53219
63219
73219
83219
93219
103219
113219
123219
133219
143219
153219
163219
173219
183219
193219
203219
213219
223219
233219
243219
253220
263220
273220
283120
293119
303119
313119

Kitwe weather by month

How October compares with the rest of the year at a glance. October is the 1st-warmest and 7th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan26° / 18°27728.512.73.7
Feb26° / 18°23124.212.43.9
Mar27° / 18°17321.912.14.7
Apr27° / 16°346.811.77.0
May27° / 14°30.811.48.4
Jun25° / 12°00.111.39.2
Jul25° / 11°0011.39.3
Aug28° / 14°0011.68.4
Sep30° / 17°10.211.96.3
Oct32° / 19°173.612.35.0
Nov30° / 19°1231712.64.3
Dec27° / 18°25727.712.73.8

Cloud cover in October

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 50% of the time in October.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 22% of October, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 29%. Skies tend to cloud over as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
18119
28020
38020
47822
57822
67822
77624
87624
97624
107525
117426
127327
137327
147129
157129
167129
176931
186931
196931
206832
216832
226832
236733
246733
256634
266634
276535
286535
296436
306337
316238

Chance of precipitation in October

Any precipitation

Kitwe gets around 17 mm of rain over 3.6 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 12% and peaks near 26% on the wettest days. The odds climb toward the end of the month.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
14
25
35
46
56
67
77
88
98
108
119
129
1310
1411
1511
1612
1712
1813
1913
2013
2114
2215
2315
2416
2517
2618
2719
2821
2922
3024
3126

Humidity in October

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, October lands in the dry band about 78% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)
193520
292620
392620
491630
590730
690730
789740
888840
987850
1087850
1186860
1285960
1384970
14831070
15821170
16811180
17801280
18791380
19771490
20761590
21751690
227317100
237218100
247019110
256820120
266621130
276422140
286223150
296023161
305724181
315525191

Wind in October

Winds average 11 km/h in October.

Across October, daily wind ranges from about 10 km/h on the calmest days to 11 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
111calm
211calm
311calm
411calm
511calm
611calm
711calm
811calm
911calm
1011calm
1111calm
1211calm
1311calm
1411calm
1511calm
1611calm
1711calm
1811calm
1911calm
2011calm
2111calm
2210calm
2310calm
2410calm
2510calm
2610calm
2710calm
2810calm
2910calm
3010calm
3110calm

Sunrise & sunset in October

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 12 h 06 min at the start of October to 12 h 30 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 24 minutes over October. Sunrise moves from 5:53 AM to 5:37 AM, and sunset from 6:00 PM to 6:04 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
112.15:536:00
212.15:526:00
312.15:516:00
412.15:516:00
512.25:506:00
612.25:496:00
712.25:496:00
812.25:486:00
912.25:486:00
1012.25:476:00
1112.25:466:00
1212.25:466:00
1312.35:456:00
1412.35:456:01
1512.35:446:01
1612.35:436:01
1712.35:436:01
1812.35:426:01
1912.35:426:01
2012.35:416:02
2112.35:416:02
2212.45:406:02
2312.45:406:02
2412.45:406:02
2512.45:396:03
2612.45:396:03
2712.45:386:03
2812.45:386:03
2912.45:386:04
3012.45:376:04
3112.55:376:04

Solar energy in October

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in October, about 7 kWh/m² — the sunniest month for solar.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 5.07 kWh/m² to a high of 7 kWh/m² in October across the year — October's 7 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
77.0Intense
87.0Intense
97.0Intense
107.0Intense
117.0Intense
127.0Intense
137.0Intense
147.0Intense
157.0Intense
167.0Intense
177.0Intense
187.0Intense
197.0Intense
207.0Intense
217.0Intense
227.0Intense
237.0Intense
246.9Intense
256.9Intense
266.9Intense
276.9Intense
286.9Intense
296.8Intense
306.8Intense
316.8Intense
Planning a trip in October

Hazard calendar for Kitwe

In seasonPeak

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

Kitwe's monsoon runs December–March, when most of the year's rain falls.

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

Is October a good time to visit Kitwe?

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

5.0
Sightseeing
7th-best month of the year
7.6
Beach & pool
6th-best month of the year

October is a reasonable time to visit Kitwe for sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.

What to pack for Kitwe in October

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

In October, Kitwe sees daytime highs around 32°C and nights near 19°C. Pack light clothes and sun protection. About 4 days see rain.

light clothessun protection

UV index in Kitwe in October

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in October peaks around 12 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Kitwe peaks around March 10 at about 15 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 19 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 highExtremeMar 10UV 15Jun 19UV 9
UV index (midday)Level
Jan15Extreme
Feb15Extreme
Mar15Extreme
Apr13Extreme
May10Extreme
Jun9Very high
Jul10Very high
Aug11Extreme
Sep12Extreme
Oct12Extreme
Nov13Extreme
Dec14Extreme

Air quality in Kitwe 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 Kitwe is worst in August — around 55 µg/m³ PM2.5 (unhealthy), about 5.2× the cleanest month (May, 11 µg/m³).

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

0204060JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateGoodModeratePoorModerateAug 2054 µg/m³May 1011 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan15Moderate
Feb16Moderate
Mar14Moderate
Apr11Good
May11Good
Jun19Moderate
Jul37Poor
Aug55Unhealthy
Sep48Poor
Oct30Moderate
Nov18Moderate
Dec14Moderate
Location & terrain

Where is Kitwe?

Kitwe sits at 12.8°S, 28.2°E, 1,224 m above sea level, in Zambia. The nearest listed city is Kalulushi, 14 km away.

Topography around Kitwe

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Kitwe has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 75 m around an average of 1,229 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 168 m; within 80 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 476 m.

The land around Kitwe is covered by artificial surfaces (58%) and trees (23%) within 3 km, trees (29%) and grassland (29%) within 16 km, and trees (60%) and grassland (21%) within 80 km.

3 km
75 m
16 km
168 m
80 km
476 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwaterwetland
October weather nearby: Kalulushi 14 km · Chambishi 26 km · Mufulira 28 km · Luanshya 43 km · Mokambo 44 km · Chingola 47 km · Ndola 49 km · Mapalo 52 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
Protestant 75%Roman Catholic 20%other 3%none 2%

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 Kitwe (-12.8024°, 28.2132°, elevation 1,224 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. 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).