The climate of the Hwange National Park (formerly Wankie Game Reserve) is
, tempered by altitude, with a hot, rainy season from November to March and a long dry season from April to October, within which there is a cool period from May to August. In the latter, at night the temperature can drop to the freezing point. During the day, it can get very hot from September to April, but especially from September to November, that is, before the rainy season.
The park is located in western Zimbabwe, on a plateau at about 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) above sea level.
The city of Hwange is located west of the park, at 800 meters (2,600 feet) above sea level, and has a similar climate, just warmer and drier.
. Here are the average temperatures.
January is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
23.9 °C, with a minimum of
18.5 °C and a maximum of
29.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
16 °C. However, it dropped to
11.6 °C in January 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
35.5 °C. However, it reached
39.7 °C in January 1991.
Precipitation amounts to
150 mm, distributed over 16 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 5 minutes.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
7.8 kph.
February is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of
24.2 °C, with a minimum of
18.2 °C and a maximum of
30.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
14 °C. However, it dropped to
11.8 °C in February 1999.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
34 °C. However, it reached
40.6 °C in February 1992.
Precipitation amounts to
135 mm, distributed over 14 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 40 minutes.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is of
8.1 kph.
March is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of
23.6 °C, with a minimum of
17.1 °C and a maximum of
30 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
13 °C. However, it dropped to
10.1 °C in March 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
33.5 °C. However, it reached
36.4 °C in March 1995.
Precipitation amounts to
70 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 10 minutes.
The average humidity is 66%.
The average wind speed is of
8.1 kph.
April is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
21.4 °C, with a minimum of
13.4 °C and a maximum of
29.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
8 °C. However, it dropped to
5.9 °C in April 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
33.5 °C. However, it reached
38.5 °C in April 1997.
Precipitation amounts to
30 mm, distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 35 minutes.
The average humidity is 57%.
The average wind speed is of
7.8 kph.
May is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
18.2 °C, with a minimum of
9 °C and a maximum of
27.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
4 °C. However, it dropped to
0 °C in May 2002.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
31 °C. However, it reached
34.2 °C in May 1998.
Precipitation amounts to only
3.5 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 10 minutes.
The average humidity is 50%.
The average wind speed is of
6.8 kph.
June is generally a very mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
15.5 °C, with a minimum of
5.9 °C and a maximum of
25 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
1 °C. However, it dropped to
-1.1 °C in June 1994.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
29 °C. However, it reached
30.7 °C in June 1998.
Precipitation amounts to only
0.6 mm, distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 0 minutes. June 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere.
The average humidity is 50%.
The average wind speed is of
6.7 kph.
July, the coldest month of the year, is generally a very mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
15 °C, with a minimum of
5.5 °C and a maximum of
24.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
0.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-2.4 °C in July 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
28.5 °C. However, it reached
33 °C in July 2002.
Precipitation amounts to only
0.3 mm, distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 5 minutes.
The average humidity is 47%.
The average wind speed is of
8.4 kph.
August is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
18.1 °C, with a minimum of
8.4 °C and a maximum of
27.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
3 °C. However, it dropped to
0.3 °C in August 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
32.5 °C. However, it reached
34.4 °C in August 2001.
Precipitation amounts to only
0.9 mm, distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 30 minutes.
The average humidity is 40%.
The average wind speed is of
9.5 kph.
September is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
22.4 °C, with a minimum of
13.3 °C and a maximum of
31.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
7 °C. However, it dropped to
2.4 °C in September 2004.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
35.5 °C. However, it reached
37.3 °C in September 2002.
Precipitation amounts to only
3.3 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
The average humidity is 33%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is of
10.5 kph.
October is generally a warm to hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
25 °C, with a minimum of
16.8 °C and a maximum of
33.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
11 °C. However, it dropped to
6.8 °C in October 2004.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
37 °C. However, it reached
39.1 °C in October 1998.
Precipitation amounts to
25 mm, distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 35 minutes.
The average humidity is 37%.
The average wind speed is of
11.4 kph.
November, the hottest month of the year, is generally a warm to hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
25 °C, with a minimum of
18.1 °C and a maximum of
32 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
13.5 °C. However, it dropped to
10.3 °C in November 2000.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
37 °C. However, it reached
39.1 °C in November 1998.
Precipitation amounts to
60 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 0 minutes.
The average humidity is 50%.
The average wind speed is of
9.9 kph.
December, the hottest month of the year, is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of
24.2 °C, with a minimum of
18.1 °C and a maximum of
30.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
15 °C. However, it dropped to
10.3 °C in December 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
34.5 °C. However, it reached
37.6 °C in December 2002.
Precipitation amounts to
145 mm, distributed over 15 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 20 minutes. December 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere.
The average humidity is 64%.
The average wind speed is of
8.2 kph.