Mapalo weather in October

In October, Mapalo sees average daytime highs of 31°C and overnight lows near 19°C, with 16 mm of rain across 3.3 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 31°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 Mapalo's 6th-clearest and 3rd-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Mapalo's year-round climate.

Daytime high
31°
1st warmest
Overnight low
19°
12th coldest
Rainfall
16 mm
3.3 wet days
Daylight
12 h 18 min
5:42 AM – 5:59 PM
Cloud cover
43%
6th clearest
Wind
12 km/h
3rd windiest
Solar energy
6.99 kWh/m²
Travel score
5.1
out of 10

Temperature in October

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 31°C through the month.

A typical October day in Mapalo reaches about 31°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)
13119
23119
33119
43119
53119
63119
73119
83119
93119
103119
113119
123119
133219
143219
153219
163219
173219
183219
193219
203219
213219
223219
233220
243220
253120
263120
273120
283120
293120
303120
313120

Mapalo 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°28228.312.73.7
Feb26° / 18°2272412.44.0
Mar26° / 17°16121.312.14.8
Apr27° / 16°306.411.77.1
May26° / 14°30.811.48.5
Jun25° / 12°00.111.39.2
Jul25° / 12°0011.39.3
Aug27° / 14°0011.68.5
Sep30° / 17°10.411.96.4
Oct31° / 19°163.312.35.1
Nov29° / 19°11315.812.64.5
Dec26° / 18°2622712.73.9

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 23% of October, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 26%. Skies tend to cloud over as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
18218
28119
38020
48020
57921
67822
77822
87822
97723
107624
117624
127525
137426
147426
157426
167327
177228
187228
197228
207129
217129
227129
237129
247030
257030
266931
276931
286832
296733
306634
316634

Chance of precipitation in October

Any precipitation

Mapalo gets around 16 mm of rain over 3.3 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 11% and peaks near 22% on the wettest days. The odds climb toward the end of the month.

0%10%20%30%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
15
25
35
46
56
67
77
87
98
108
119
129
139
1410
1510
1611
1711
1812
1912
2012
2113
2213
2313
2414
2515
2615
2716
2818
2919
3021
3122

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 81% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)
194420
293520
393520
491630
591630
690730
789740
888840
988840
1086950
1186950
1286950
13841060
14841060
15831160
16831160
17821260
18811270
19801370
20801370
21791470
22781570
23771670
24751780
25741880
26721990
277119100
286920110
296721120
306522130
316223141

Wind in October

Winds average 12 km/h in October.

Across October, daily wind ranges from about 11 km/h on the calmest days to 13 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
113light breeze
213light breeze
313light breeze
412light breeze
512light breeze
612light breeze
712light breeze
812light breeze
912light breeze
1012light breeze
1112light breeze
1212light breeze
1312light breeze
1412light breeze
1512light breeze
1612light breeze
1712calm
1812calm
1912calm
2012calm
2112calm
2212calm
2311calm
2411calm
2511calm
2611calm
2711calm
2811calm
2911calm
3011calm
3111calm

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 5:51 AM to 5:35 AM, and sunset from 5:58 PM to 6:03 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
112.15:515:58
212.15:505:58
312.15:505:58
412.25:495:58
512.25:485:58
612.25:485:58
712.25:475:58
812.25:465:58
912.25:465:58
1012.25:455:58
1112.25:445:58
1212.25:445:59
1312.35:435:59
1412.35:435:59
1512.35:425:59
1612.35:425:59
1712.35:415:59
1812.35:405:59
1912.35:406:00
2012.35:396:00
2112.45:396:00
2212.45:396:00
2312.45:386:01
2412.45:386:01
2512.45:376:01
2612.45:376:01
2712.45:366:01
2812.45:366:02
2912.45:366:02
3012.45:356:02
3112.55:356:03

Solar energy in October

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in October, about 6.99 kWh/m² — the sunniest month for solar.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 5.02 kWh/m² to a high of 6.99 kWh/m² in October across the year — October's 6.99 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

02468151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
17.0Intense
27.0Intense
37.0Intense
47.0Intense
57.0Intense
67.0Intense
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
236.9Intense
246.9Intense
256.9Intense
266.9Intense
276.9Intense
286.9Intense
296.8Intense
306.8Intense
316.8Intense
Planning a trip in October

Hazard calendar for Mapalo

In seasonPeak

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

Mapalo'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 Mapalo?

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

5.1
Sightseeing
7th-best month of the year
7.7
Beach & pool
6th-best month of the year

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

What to pack for Mapalo in October

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

In October, Mapalo sees daytime highs around 31°C and nights near 19°C. Pack light clothes and sun protection. About 3 days see rain.

light clothessun protection

UV index in Mapalo in October

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in October peaks around 11 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Mapalo 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
Sep11Extreme
Oct11Extreme
Nov13Extreme
Dec14Extreme

Air quality in Mapalo 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 Mapalo 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 Mapalo?

Mapalo sits at 12.9°S, 28.7°E, 1,248 m above sea level, in Zambia. The nearest listed city is Ndola, 5.0 km away.

ChambishiMpongwe

Topography around Mapalo

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Mapalo has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 83 m around an average of 1,246 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 245 m; within 80 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 563 m.

The land around Mapalo is covered by wetland (27%), grassland (25%) and artificial surfaces (23%) within 3 km, cropland (29%), grassland (24%) and trees (21%) within 16 km, and trees (66%) within 80 km.

3 km
83 m
16 km
245 m
80 km
563 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwaterwetland
October weather nearby: Ndola 5.0 km · Luanshya 35 km · Kitwe 52 km · Kalulushi 63 km · Mufulira 64 km · Mokambo 67 km · Chambishi 75 km · Mpongwe 85 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 Mapalo (-12.9369°, 28.6721°, elevation 1,248 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).