Africa’s climate is characterized by dry and wet conditions because of its geographical location within the intertropical zone between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. The continent’s solar radiation intensity is high, which results in overall warm temperatures, particularly in the northern parts of the continent which are usually hot and dry.
The climate of the continent ranges from equatorial, which is characterized by wet, tropical conditions found mainly in West and Central Africa and Madagascar, to Tropical Savannah, which is similar to the equatorial climate also found in West and Central Africa’s warm desert climate found across North Africa and parts of Southern Africa and warm semi-arid conditions found in Central and Southern Africa.
Winter in Africa is generally warm, but here are more interesting facts on the continent’s winter season, which occurs over June, July, and August.
Southern Africa experiences about 4 climates, including subtropical, cold semi-arid, warm and cold desert climates. In South Africa, winter is characterized by warm and dry days and cold nights in the interior with cloudy, rainy, and cold conditions in the West’s coastal regions, and warm, sunny conditions in the East’s coastal regions. Snow usually falls in the high mountain regions of the Cape and Drakensberg.
Mozambican winters are cooler and dry, often characterized by perfect tropical weather, with plenty of sun and warmth, and almost no rain. Temperatures during the day are over 20 degrees Celsius and drop overnight, turning nighttime weather conditions to nippy.
Angolan winters are great for those who dislike cold conditions as both the southern and northern parts of the country experience warm conditions in winter. The North, however, is slightly cooler and dry. The average winter temperature is about 20 degrees Celsius.
Nigeria experiences hot temperatures all year round, with the winter season being hot and dry. All parts of the country experience intense rainfall in June starting from the northern parts and spreading out, sometimes resulting in small tornadoes due to the updrafts and downdrafts of air found in stormy conditions. Humidity is higher in winter with a mixture of sunny, cloudy skies, and daytime temperatures ranging from 25 degrees Celsius to 30 degrees Celsius.
Kenya experiences warm and tropical conditions all year round as it lies on the equator. It has no real summer or winter, but rather wet and dry seasons. The typical winter months (June, July and August) fall under the dry season where daytime temperatures reach 23 degrees Celsius and early morning temperatures are at least 10 degrees Celsius. Skies are clear and temperatures are pleasantly warm, and coastal conditions are less humid and hot.
The Sahel Region generally experiences a semi-arid climate. However, drought conditions have become more frequent, with scientists believing that this is caused by the rise in water temperatures in the nearby Gulf of Guinea that has caused a shift in the flow of rain clouds southward. The region usually experiences rainfall in winter, and the weather is usually warm in temperate all year round. Winter temperatures average 27 degrees Celsius in winter, with minimum temperatures averaging 21 degrees Celsius. The region is very sunny, experiencing between 2700 hours to 3500 hours of sunlight all year.
In Ethiopia, winter falls in the months of December, January, and February, when the weather is cooler and drier. Ethiopian winters are very warm and sunny, with temperatures ranging from 27 degrees Celsius to 30 degrees Celsius during the day, and frost in early January mornings. Minimum temperatures drop to between 9 and 11 degrees Celsius.
Egyptian winters last from November to April and are characterized by cool temperatures inland, on the coast, and in the desert. Desert temperatures can be as high as 18 degrees Celsius in winter during the day, dropping to 0 degrees at night, while the Delta and Northern Nile Valley regions can experience snowfall during winter. In Cairo, winter temperatures during the day vary between 18 and 23 degrees Celsius during the day with traces of rainfall.
Moroccan winters, which generally fall over December and January, are sunny, warm, and pleasant, with temperatures reaching an average of 21 degrees Celsius during the day. The country has a tropical climate, which makes it warm (and hot in summer) all year round. Marrakesh is one of the cities in the country that enjoys pleasant winters where days are temperate and nights are cool or cold. Exploring the Sahara is best in winter as temperatures average 21 degrees Celsius, while nights are cold.
Africa’s islands enjoy warm weather all year round, with winter months experiencing less humidity and pleasant warmth. In Mauritius, winter is considered as June to September, where temperatures are an average of 20 degrees Celsius, and experiences between 5 and 7 hours of sunlight. Most of the rainfall occurs in summer. In Seychelles, temperatures are between 24 and 32 degrees Celsius all year round. The dry period, which brings in cooler weather, occurs between May and October, where there’s very little precipitation, rougher seas due to the southeast trade winds, and an average temperature of 27 degrees Celsius.