Mpika in Summer
In summer (December, January and February), Mpika sees average daytime highs around 25°C and overnight lows near 17°C, with 815 mm of rain over about 80 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 26°C in early December to 24°C by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 3% of the time across summer, and the air most often feels humid.
Summer is Mpika's weakest season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Mpika's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 25°C
- 2nd-warmest season
- Avg overnight low
- 17°C
- Rainfall
- 815 mm
- 80 wet days
- Avg wind
- 7 km/h
- Travel score
- 3.9
- weakest season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Mpika in Summer
Over the season highs ease from about 26°C in early December to 24°C by late February.
A typical summer day in Mpika reaches about 25°C and drops to 17°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is December, the coolest February.
Mpika 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 | 24° / 17° | 294 | 29 | 12.6 | 3.7 |
| Feb | 24° / 17° | 244 | 25.4 | 12.4 | 3.9 |
| Mar | 24° / 17° | 182 | 25 | 12.1 | 4.5 |
| Apr | 23° / 15° | 48 | 11.3 | 11.7 | 6.7 |
| May | 23° / 13° | 4 | 1.2 | 11.5 | 8.7 |
| Jun | 22° / 11° | 1 | 0.2 | 11.3 | 8.8 |
| Jul | 22° / 10° | 1 | 0.3 | 11.4 | 8.8 |
| Aug | 24° / 12° | 1 | 0.2 | 11.6 | 9.2 |
| Sep | 27° / 15° | 2 | 0.5 | 11.9 | 8.5 |
| Oct | 29° / 17° | 15 | 3.1 | 12.3 | 6.7 |
| Nov | 28° / 18° | 101 | 12.1 | 12.5 | 5.6 |
| Dec | 25° / 17° | 277 | 25.8 | 12.7 | 4.2 |
Cloud cover in Summer
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 3% of the time across summer.
Chance of precipitation in Summer
Mpika gets around 815 mm of rain over 80 wet days across summer. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Summer
Most of summer feels humid — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Summer
Winds average 7 km/h across summer.
Sunrise & sunset in Summer
Daylight runs from about 12 h 36 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 5.1 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Mpika
In summer, Mpika overlaps its monsoon season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.
Mpika's monsoon runs December–March, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is summer a good time to visit Mpika?
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 Mpika.
What to pack for Mpika in Summer
From summer's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In summer, Mpika sees daytime highs around 25°C and nights near 17°C. Pack rain gear. Worth having: light clothes and sun protection. About 80 days see rain.
UV index in Mpika 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 Mpika peaks around February 19 at about 16 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 17 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) | 15 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 13 |
| Level | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | Very high | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 15 | Extreme |
| Feb | 16 | Extreme |
| Mar | 16 | Extreme |
| Apr | 13 | Extreme |
| May | 10 | Extreme |
| Jun | 9 | Very high |
| Jul | 10 | Very high |
| Aug | 11 | Extreme |
| Sep | 11 | Extreme |
| Oct | 13 | Extreme |
| Nov | 13 | Extreme |
| Dec | 13 | Extreme |
Air quality in Mpika 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 Mpika is worst in September — around 55 µg/m³ PM2.5 (poor), about 8.8× the cleanest month (December, 6 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) | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 18 | 34 | 55 | 36 | 11 | 6 |
| Level | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Poor | Poor | Good | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 9 | Good |
| Feb | 9 | Good |
| Mar | 8 | Good |
| Apr | 7 | Good |
| May | 7 | Good |
| Jun | 10 | Good |
| Jul | 18 | Moderate |
| Aug | 34 | Moderate |
| Sep | 55 | Poor |
| Oct | 36 | Poor |
| Nov | 11 | Good |
| Dec | 6 | Good |
Where is Mpika?
Mpika sits at 11.8°S, 31.5°E, 1,428 m above sea level, in Zambia. The nearest listed city is Chinsali, 159 km away.
Topography around Mpika
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Mpika.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Mpika has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 340 m around an average of 1,448 m above sea level; within 16 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 458 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,287 m.
The land around Mpika is covered by cropland (44%), shrubs (21%) and artificial surfaces (21%) within 3 km, shrubs (36%), trees (24%) and cropland (22%) within 16 km, and trees (61%) and shrubs (23%) 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 Mpika (-11.8343°, 31.4529°, elevation 1,428 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.