Nchelenge weather in December

In December, Nchelenge sees average daytime highs of 26°C and overnight lows near 22°C, with 246 mm of rain across 28.8 wet days and about 12.5 hours of daylight. It is the 10th-warmest and 2nd-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 26°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 2% of the time in December, and the air most often feels muggy.

Daylight stretches from about 12 h 30 min at the start of December to 12 h 30 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Nchelenge's 11th-clearest and 12th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Nchelenge's year-round climate.

Daytime high
26°
10th warmest
Overnight low
22°
7th coldest
Rainfall
246 mm
28.8 wet days
Daylight
12 h 30 min
5:45 AM – 6:17 PM
Cloud cover
85%
11th clearest
Wind
7 km/h
12th windiest
Solar energy
5.27 kWh/m²
Travel score
3.7
out of 10

Nchelenge is town.

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in December

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 26°C through the month.

A typical December day in Nchelenge reaches about 26°C in the afternoon and slips back to 22°C overnight — a 4°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 24°C and 27°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 1°C cooler than November and on par with January.

20°23°25°28°30°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12622
22622
32622
42622
52622
62622
72622
82622
92622
102622
112622
122622
132622
142622
152622
162622
172622
182622
192622
202622
212622
222622
232622
242622
252622
262622
272622
282622
292622
302622
312622

Nchelenge weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 10th-warmest and 2nd-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan26° / 22°21127.212.53.9
Feb26° / 23°18122.512.34.1
Mar26° / 22°25427.212.14.0
Apr26° / 22°13215.911.85.6
May27° / 22°102.111.68.2
Jun25° / 20°0011.59.1
Jul25° / 19°0011.59.3
Aug27° / 21°00.111.78.8
Sep28° / 23°51.611.97.3
Oct28° / 24°5911.712.25.6
Nov27° / 23°18923.212.44.3
Dec26° / 22°24628.812.53.7

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 2% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 7% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 91%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
11288
21288
31288
41189
51189
61189
71090
81090
91090
101090
111090
12991
13991
14991
15991
16991
17991
18991
19991
20991
21892
22892
23892
24892
25892
26793
27793
28793
29793
30793
31793

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Nchelenge gets around 246 mm of rain over 28.8 wet days in December. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 93% and peaks near 94% on the wettest days.

0%20%40%60%80%100%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
192
292
393
493
593
693
794
894
994
1094
1194
1294
1394
1494
1594
1694
1794
1894
1994
2093
2193
2293
2392
2492
2591
2691
2790
2890
2990
3089
3189

Humidity in December

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, December lands in the muggy band about 94% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 100% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)
11927
21936
30946
40946
50946
60946
70946
80946
90946
100946
110946
120946
130946
140946
150946
160946
170946
180946
190946
200946
210946
220946
230946
240946
250946
260946
270946
280946
290946
300946
310946

Wind in December

Winds average 7 km/h in December, the calmest month.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 7 km/h on the calmest days to 8 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
17calm
27calm
37calm
47calm
57calm
67calm
77calm
87calm
97calm
107calm
117calm
127calm
137calm
147calm
157calm
167calm
177calm
187calm
197calm
207calm
217calm
227calm
237calm
247calm
257calm
267calm
277calm
287calm
297calm
308calm
318calm

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

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

Days grow by about 0 minutes over December. Sunrise moves from 5:40 AM to 5:52 AM, and sunset from 6:10 PM to 6:24 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
112.55:406:10
212.55:406:10
312.55:406:11
412.55:406:11
512.55:416:12
612.55:416:12
712.55:416:13
812.55:426:13
912.55:426:14
1012.55:436:14
1112.55:436:15
1212.55:436:15
1312.55:446:16
1412.55:446:16
1512.55:456:17
1612.55:456:17
1712.55:456:18
1812.55:466:18
1912.55:466:19
2012.55:476:19
2112.55:476:20
2212.55:486:20
2312.55:486:21
2412.55:496:21
2512.55:496:22
2612.55:506:22
2712.55:506:23
2812.55:516:23
2912.55:516:24
3012.55:526:24
3112.55:526:24

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 5.27 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 5.27 kWh/m² to a high of 6.57 kWh/m² in September across the year — December's 5.27 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.4Bright
25.4Bright
35.4Bright
45.3Bright
55.3Bright
65.3Bright
75.3Bright
85.3Bright
95.3Bright
105.3Bright
115.3Bright
125.2Bright
135.2Bright
145.2Bright
155.2Bright
165.2Bright
175.2Bright
185.2Bright
195.2Bright
205.2Bright
215.3Bright
225.3Bright
235.3Bright
245.3Bright
255.3Bright
265.3Bright
275.3Bright
285.3Bright
295.3Bright
305.3Bright
315.3Bright
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Nchelenge

In seasonPeak

In December, Nchelenge sits inside its monsoon season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.

Nchelenge's monsoon runs November–April, when most of the year's rain falls.

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

Is December a good time to visit Nchelenge?

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

3.7
Sightseeing
12th-best month of the year
3.5
Beach & pool
12th-best month of the year

December is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Nchelenge.

What to pack for Nchelenge in December

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

In December, Nchelenge sees daytime highs around 26°C and nights near 22°C. Pack rain gear. Worth having: light clothes and sun protection. About 29 days see rain.

rain gearlight clothessun protection

UV index in Nchelenge in December

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 13 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Nchelenge peaks around February 20 at about 16 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near August 12 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 highExtremeFeb 20UV 16Aug 12UV 9
UV index (midday)Level
Jan15Extreme
Feb16Extreme
Mar16Extreme
Apr14Extreme
May10Extreme
Jun10Very high
Jul10Very high
Aug9Very high
Sep12Extreme
Oct13Extreme
Nov12Extreme
Dec13Extreme

Air quality in Nchelenge in December

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where December falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in Nchelenge is worst in August — around 77 µg/m³ PM2.5 (unhealthy), about 10.7× the cleanest month (May, 7 µg/m³).

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

020406080JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateGoodModerateUnhealthyModerateGoodAug 1774 µg/m³May 97 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan12Moderate
Feb13Moderate
Mar9Good
Apr7Good
May7Good
Jun17Moderate
Jul51Poor
Aug77Unhealthy
Sep54Poor
Oct26Moderate
Nov14Moderate
Dec9Good
Location & terrain

Where is Nchelenge?

Nchelenge sits at 9.3°S, 28.7°E, 933 m above sea level, in Zambia. The nearest listed city is Mwansabombwe, 53 km away.

ChiengiPwetoKaputaMporokosoLuwinguMansa

Topography around Nchelenge

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Nchelenge has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 64 m around an average of 943 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 148 m; within 80 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 751 m.

The land around Nchelenge is covered by water (36%) within 3 km, water (46%) within 16 km, and trees (46%) and water (24%) within 80 km.

3 km
64 m
16 km
148 m
80 km
751 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswaterwetland
December weather nearby: Mwansabombwe 53 km · Kawambwa 62 km · Chiengi 89 km · Pweto 99 km · Kaputa 141 km · Mporokoso 153 km · Luwingu 166 km · Mansa 207 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 Nchelenge (-9.3451°, 28.734°, elevation 933 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).