Weather of Mozambique

Mozambique is a country with a relatively stable weather system which doesn't ever get too extreme. With a long coastline of approximately 2000 kilometers, all on the warm Indian Ocean, this does have a fairly large impact on the weather. Of course like weather the world over, the prediction of what tomorrow may hold is often a risky science at best so it pays to be prepared for anything. That said there are slight variations between the north and south of the country and there is also a definite rainy season.

As with most subtropical climates, the country has pretty much only 2 seasons, rainy or dry. All in all the best time to visit the country will depend on what activities you want to partake in.

Rainy season

Starting in October and generally lasting till about March each year, the rainy season is characterized by heavy rainfall in the coastal regions which lessens the further inland you go. Along with the rains you will normally experience quite high humidity levels. Interestingly enough Mozambique doesn't get as much rain in this period as it should due to the fact that the island of Madagascar captures a large portion of the rain before it reaches Mozambique. This rain protection also extends to somewhat sheltering the country from tropical storms, meaning the country suffers from very few natural disasters. There is an occurrence of cyclones though so it is best to confirm the possibility of these before making travel arrangements.

Dry season

Usually starting in April and ending in September, the dry season is more reminiscent of perfect tropical weather, without the intense humidity and threat of rain. In this period the weather is typified by plenty of sunshine and beautiful clear skies, making this the most popular time for visitors to the country. This period encompasses the coolest months of the year, June to August, with the night time temperatures becoming quite cool towards September and October.

Coastal regions

The coastal parts of the country receive a much larger amount of rain than the interior as well as being quite a bit hotter and humid. The north eastern part of the coast tends to be both the hottest and most humid region of the country which leads most visitors to stay more to the south.

Interior regions

The interior of Mozambique receives less rainfall than the rest of the country due to its elevation. Another effect of the height above sea level is that these regions tend to be cooler and less humid, with the lowest temperatures being recorded in these areas.

Weather statistics

• Average temperature: 28 degrees Celsius
• Range of average monthly temperature is 10.5 degrees Celsius
• Hottest average months tend to be December through to February.
• Coolest average months tend to be May through to August.
• Average yearly rainfall for the entire country is about 590mm although the rainfall amount varies considerably depending on where in the country you are.
• Hours of sunlight range between 8-9 hours per day.