Weather and climate in Hwange National Park (Zimbabwe)

The climate of the Hwange National Park (formerly Wankie Game Reserve) is sub-tropical, 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.

Hwange National Park - Climate data

The average temperature of the coldest month (July) is of 15.0 °C (59.0 °F), that of the warmest month (November) is of 25.0 °C (77.0 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Precipitation amounts to 625 millimeters (24.6 inches) per year: so, it is at an intermediate level. It ranges from 0 mm (0 in) in the driest month (July) to 150 mm (5.9 in) in the wettest one (January). Here is the average precipitation.

Hwange National Park - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2018

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January is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of 23.9 °C (75 °F), with a minimum of 18.5 °C (65.4 °F) and a maximum of 29.3 °C (84.8 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 16 °C (60.5 °F). However, it dropped to 11.6 °C (52.9 °F) in January 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 35.5 °C (96.5 °F). However, it reached 39.7 °C (103.5 °F) in January 1991.
Precipitation amounts to 150 mm (5.9 in), 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 8 kph (5 mph).

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February is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of 24.2 °C (76 °F), with a minimum of 18.2 °C (64.8 °F) and a maximum of 30.2 °C (86.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 14 °C (57.5 °F). However, it dropped to 11.8 °C (53.2 °F) in February 1999.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34 °C (93 °F). However, it reached 40.6 °C (105.1 °F) in February 1992.
Precipitation amounts to 135 mm (5.3 in), distributed over 14 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 40 minutes.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).

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March is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of 23.6 °C (74 °F), with a minimum of 17.1 °C (62.9 °F) and a maximum of 30 °C (85.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 13 °C (55 °F). However, it dropped to 10.1 °C (50.2 °F) in March 1996.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 33.5 °C (92 °F). However, it reached 36.4 °C (97.5 °F) in March 1995.
Precipitation amounts to 70 mm (2.8 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 10 minutes.
The average humidity is 66%.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).

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April is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 21.4 °C (70 °F), with a minimum of 13.4 °C (56.2 °F) and a maximum of 29.3 °C (84.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 8 °C (46.5 °F). However, it dropped to 5.9 °C (42.6 °F) in April 1997.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 33.5 °C (92 °F). However, it reached 38.5 °C (101.3 °F) in April 1997.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 35 minutes.
The average humidity is 57%.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).

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May is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 18.2 °C (65 °F), with a minimum of 9 °C (48.2 °F) and a maximum of 27.5 °C (81.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 4 °C (39 °F). However, it dropped to 0 °C (32 °F) in May 2002.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 31 °C (88 °F). However, it reached 34.2 °C (93.6 °F) in May 1998.
Precipitation amounts to only 4 mm (0.2 in), 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 7 kph (4 mph).

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June is generally a very mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 15.5 °C (60 °F), with a minimum of 5.9 °C (42.6 °F) and a maximum of 25 °C (77 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 1 °C (34 °F). However, it dropped to -1.1 °C (30 °F) in June 1994.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 29 °C (84.5 °F). However, it reached 30.7 °C (87.3 °F) in June 1998.
Precipitation amounts to only 1 mm (0 in), 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 7 kph (4 mph).

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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 15.0 °C (59 °F), with a minimum of 5.5 °C (42 °F) and a maximum of 24.4 °C (76 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 0.5 °C (33 °F). However, it dropped to -2.4 °C (27.7 °F) in July 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 28.5 °C (83.5 °F). However, it reached 33 °C (91.4 °F) in July 2002.
Precipitation amounts to only 0 mm (0 in), so on average it never rains in the whole month.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 5 minutes.
The average humidity is 47%.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).

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August is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 18.1 °C (64 °F), with a minimum of 8.4 °C (47 °F) and a maximum of 27.8 °C (82 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 3 °C (37.5 °F). However, it dropped to 0.3 °C (32.5 °F) in August 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 32.5 °C (90 °F). However, it reached 34.4 °C (93.9 °F) in August 2001.
Precipitation amounts to only 1 mm (0 in), distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 30 minutes.
The average humidity is 40%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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September is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 22.4 °C (72 °F), with a minimum of 13.3 °C (55.9 °F) and a maximum of 31.5 °C (88.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 7 °C (45 °F). However, it dropped to 2.4 °C (36.3 °F) in September 2004.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 35.5 °C (96 °F). However, it reached 37.3 °C (99.1 °F) in September 2002.
Precipitation amounts to only 3 mm (0.1 in), 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 11 kph (7 mph).

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October is generally a warm to hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 25.0 °C (77 °F), with a minimum of 16.8 °C (62.2 °F) and a maximum of 33.2 °C (91.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 11 °C (51.5 °F). However, it dropped to 6.8 °C (44.2 °F) in October 2004.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 37 °C (99 °F). However, it reached 39.1 °C (102.4 °F) in October 1998.
Precipitation amounts to 25 mm (1 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 35 minutes.
The average humidity is 37%.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

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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 25.0 °C (77 °F), with a minimum of 18.1 °C (64.5 °F) and a maximum of 32 °C (89.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 13.5 °C (56.5 °F). However, it dropped to 10.3 °C (50.5 °F) in November 2000.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 37 °C (98.5 °F). However, it reached 39.1 °C (102.4 °F) in November 1998.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 0 minutes.
The average humidity is 50%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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December, the hottest month of the year, is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of 24.2 °C (76 °F), with a minimum of 18.1 °C (64.6 °F) and a maximum of 30.2 °C (86.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 15 °C (59 °F). However, it dropped to 10.3 °C (50.5 °F) in December 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34.5 °C (94 °F). However, it reached 37.6 °C (99.7 °F) in December 2002.
Precipitation amounts to 145 mm (5.7 in), 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 8 kph (5 mph).