Francistown climate — normals and trends

Q: What is the climate of Francistown?

Francistown has a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen BSh). Over 1940-2025, the average annual temperature is 21.4 °C and it receives 435 mm of precipitation per year.

Q: What is the hottest day ever recorded in Francistown?

The hottest day measured in Francistown between 1940 and 2025 was 7 January 2016, reaching 41.6 °C.

Q: What is the coldest day in Francistown?

The coldest day measured in Francistown between 1940 and 2025 was 13 June 1968, at -0.2 °C.

Q: Does it snow in Francistown?

Almost never: Francistown sees virtually no snow, with about 0 frost days per year.

Q: Has the climate of Francistown warmed?

Yes: Francistown warmed by +0.9 °C between 1940 and 2025, a statistically significant trend.

Q: What is the wettest day in Francistown?

The wettest day measured in Francistown between 1940 and 2025 was 6 February 2000, with 90 mm of rain in 24 hours.

Q: What was the windiest day in Francistown?

The windiest day measured in Francistown between 1940 and 2025 was 15 September 2000, with winds reaching 43.2 km/h.

Q: What is the warmest month in Francistown?

The warmest month in Francistown is October (24.8 °C on average); the coldest is July (15.0 °C).

Q: How much does it rain in Francistown?

Francistown receives on average 435 mm of precipitation per year, spread over about 63 rainy days.

Q: Is it sunny in Francistown?

Francistown gets on average 10.6 hours of sunshine per day, roughly 3,869 hours per year over 1940-2025.

Francistown (Botswana) has a hot semi-arid climate (BSh) under the Köppen-Geiger classification. Its mean annual temperature is 21.4 °C and it receives 435 mm of precipitation per year.

These figures are normals computed over 86 complete calendar years, from 1940 to 2025, using ERA5 reanalysis data from the Copernicus programme.

The warmest month is October (24.8 °C on average) and the coldest is July (15.0 °C). Rainfall peaks in December.

Francistown averages 0 frost days, 131 hot days (≥ 30 °C) and 63 rainy days per year.

Francistown has warmed by +0.9 °C between 1940 and 2025, or +0.11 °C per decade. This trend is statistically significant.

The hottest day of the period reached 41.6 °C (on 7 January 2016) and the coldest -0.2 °C (on 13 June 1968).

Data from ERA5 reanalysis (Copernicus Climate Change Service), redistributed under a CC-BY 4.0 licence. Normals are recomputed whenever the archive is updated.

Climate normals · ERA5

FrancistownCity of Francistown

coords: -21.17°, 27.51°
period: 1940–2025 · 86 yrs

BShHot semi-aridWarmest monthOctoberColdest monthJulyWettest monthDecemberDriest monthAugust

Mean daily temperature

21.4°C

Average daily high

28.0°C

Average daily low

15.5°C

Annual rainfall

435mm

Sunshine / day

10.6h

Mean relative humidity

53%

Average peak wind

19.1km/h

Seasonal range

9.8°C

Frost days (< 0 °C)

0 d/yr

Hot days (≥ 30 °C)

131 d/yr

Rainy days (≥ 1 mm)

63 d/yr

Annual snowfall

0.0 cm

Average feels-like high

27.6 °C

Average feels-like low

14.0 °C

Average peak gust

37.4 km/h

Tropical nights (≥ 20 °C)

71 d/yr

Solar radiation

20.6 MJ/m²

Has the climate changed?

One stripe per year, 1940 to 2025

+0.9 °C

since 1940

+0.1 °C per decade · r² = 0.12 · p = < 0.001

19402025

Trend fitted by linear regression (ordinary least squares) on annual means. A trend is shown only when it is statistically significant (p < 0.05).

A climograph overlays rainfall (bars) and temperature (line): the standard reading in climatology, where you can see at a glance whether the warm season is also the dry one.

Records for the period

Hottest day

41.6 °C

7 January 2016

Coldest day

-0.2 °C

13 June 1968

Wettest day

90 mm

6 February 2000

Windiest day

43.2 km/h

15 September 2000

Strongest gust

76.3 km/h

15 September 2000

Hottest feels-like

42.9 °C

7 January 2016

Coldest feels-like

-4.6 °C

15 June 1968

Sunniest day

13.3 h

8 December 1940

Year	Hottest day	Coldest day	Annual mean	Rainfall	Hot days	Frost days
2025	38.3 °C26 October 2025	3.7 °C10 June 2025	21.1 °C	838 mm	111	0
2024	40.7 °C13 December 2024	1.6 °C5 June 2024	22.8 °C	317 mm	190	0
2023	39.6 °C8 October 2023	4.3 °C11 July 2023	22.7 °C	438 mm	185	0
2022	39.6 °C4 October 2022	4.3 °C14 June 2022	21.6 °C	426 mm	144	0
2021	39.1 °C16 October 2021	3.6 °C23 July 2021	21.2 °C	479 mm	126	0
2020	39.3 °C8 November 2020	3.1 °C14 July 2020	21.5 °C	483 mm	141	0
2019	40.2 °C28 October 2019	3.6 °C7 July 2019	22.6 °C	372 mm	180	0
2018	38.8 °C8 January 2018	3.9 °C7 June 2018	22.0 °C	381 mm	152	0
2017	39.1 °C16 October 2017	3.9 °C6 July 2017	21.0 °C	556 mm	102	0
2016	41.6 °C7 January 2016	4.2 °C28 July 2016	22.5 °C	418 mm	168	0
2015	40.8 °C14 November 2015	4.3 °C18 June 2015	22.8 °C	235 mm	191	0
2014	37.8 °C9 October 2014	1.8 °C7 June 2014	21.0 °C	656 mm	109	0
2013	38.4 °C16 November 2013	5.6 °C20 June 2013	21.9 °C	413 mm	162	0
2012	38.8 °C23 February 2012	2.5 °C11 June 2012	22.4 °C	258 mm	192	0
2011	41.0 °C25 October 2011	2.1 °C26 June 2011	21.3 °C	435 mm	122	0
2010	40.5 °C11 October 2010	2.5 °C17 July 2010	22.0 °C	402 mm	159	0
2009	37.9 °C8 October 2009	3.5 °C28 June 2009	21.0 °C	486 mm	127	0
2008	40.1 °C3 November 2008	4.5 °C15 June 2008	21.4 °C	388 mm	141	0
2007	37.2 °C23 September 2007	1.0 °C23 May 2007	21.1 °C	444 mm	142	0
2006	37.7 °C25 October 2006	3.0 °C5 June 2006	21.2 °C	412 mm	120	0
2005	39.1 °C2 November 2005	5.6 °C1 July 2005	22.8 °C	326 mm	174	0
2004	38.4 °C7 October 2004	4.0 °C13 July 2004	21.4 °C	387 mm	132	0
2003	39.0 °C16 January 2003	4.8 °C8 July 2003	22.4 °C	345 mm	188	0
2002	39.2 °C19 October 2002	4.6 °C5 July 2002	22.3 °C	175 mm	200	0
2001	38.4 °C10 January 2001	1.9 °C23 July 2001	21.0 °C	568 mm	133	0
2000	36.8 °C10 October 2000	1.2 °C18 July 2000	20.1 °C	808 mm	86	0
1999	38.4 °C5 November 1999	4.2 °C30 June 1999	21.5 °C	341 mm	130	0
1998	38.7 °C3 November 1998	5.1 °C2 July 1998	21.6 °C	444 mm	149	0
1997	40.6 °C9 November 1997	3.4 °C1 July 1997	20.9 °C	390 mm	109	0
1996	38.2 °C20 October 1996	2.8 °C9 July 1996	20.6 °C	704 mm	108	0
1995	39.6 °C12 October 1995	4.7 °C7 August 1995	22.2 °C	416 mm	157	0
1994	38.7 °C14 November 1994	1.6 °C1 July 1994	21.2 °C	274 mm	141	0
1993	38.3 °C31 October 1993	4.2 °C13 June 1993	21.8 °C	388 mm	129	0
1992	40.0 °C26 February 1992	3.5 °C6 July 1992	22.6 °C	309 mm	185	0
1991	37.7 °C9 October 1991	4.2 °C10 July 1991	21.3 °C	350 mm	139	0
1990	39.6 °C14 November 1990	5.3 °C30 June 1990	21.8 °C	278 mm	133	0
1989	37.1 °C2 October 1989	3.1 °C20 July 1989	21.5 °C	243 mm	127	0
1988	37.7 °C25 December 1988	2.7 °C9 June 1988	20.8 °C	564 mm	110	0
1987	39.2 °C19 November 1987	2.4 °C22 July 1987	22.5 °C	326 mm	181	0
1986	36.3 °C24 September 1986	4.6 °C26 June 1986	21.4 °C	410 mm	132	0
1985	36.8 °C2 March 1985	3.1 °C14 July 1985	21.3 °C	421 mm	116	0
1984	38.4 °C29 January 1984	4.1 °C23 July 1984	21.7 °C	352 mm	162	0
1983	38.9 °C11 January 1983	4.5 °C27 June 1983	22.5 °C	267 mm	177	0
1982	37.8 °C10 February 1982	4.5 °C10 June 1982	21.7 °C	235 mm	155	0
1981	39.3 °C6 November 1981	1.7 °C10 June 1981	20.1 °C	545 mm	96	0
1980	38.2 °C4 January 1980	1.0 °C30 June 1980	20.8 °C	359 mm	126	0
1979	38.2 °C1 December 1979	4.5 °C5 July 1979	21.0 °C	292 mm	151	0
1978	36.5 °C29 September 1978	1.5 °C17 June 1978	19.8 °C	717 mm	68	0
1977	37.8 °C3 November 1977	3.6 °C6 July 1977	20.8 °C	710 mm	109	0
1976	35.9 °C25 October 1976	3.0 °C21 June 1976	20.1 °C	439 mm	94	0
1975	37.0 °C16 October 1975	3.2 °C26 July 1975	20.2 °C	488 mm	95	0
1974	37.2 °C17 October 1974	4.8 °C28 July 1974	19.9 °C	580 mm	62	0
1973	37.7 °C6 January 1973	5.1 °C5 July 1973	21.2 °C	398 mm	143	0
1972	37.7 °C22 December 1972	3.7 °C2 August 1972	20.6 °C	555 mm	104	0
1971	37.3 °C4 October 1971	5.3 °C1 August 1971	21.1 °C	420 mm	124	0
1970	38.2 °C12 January 1970	5.3 °C5 July 1970	22.2 °C	353 mm	163	0
1969	36.7 °C19 November 1969	4.4 °C18 June 1969	20.9 °C	549 mm	120	0
1968	39.1 °C17 October 1968	-0.2 °C13 June 1968	21.3 °C	318 mm	152	3
1967	37.0 °C23 October 1967	3.1 °C7 June 1967	20.3 °C	419 mm	86	0
1966	39.2 °C6 January 1966	4.7 °C23 August 1966	21.1 °C	519 mm	110	0
1965	38.1 °C31 October 1965	2.7 °C24 June 1965	21.3 °C	119 mm	142	0
1964	36.7 °C1 October 1964	1.0 °C28 June 1964	21.0 °C	311 mm	133	0
1963	36.4 °C6 October 1963	2.5 °C12 July 1963	20.6 °C	312 mm	104	0
1962	39.2 °C18 October 1962	5.3 °C28 August 1962	21.4 °C	522 mm	133	0
1961	38.9 °C24 October 1961	6.6 °C8 July 1961	21.1 °C	378 mm	115	0
1960	38.0 °C10 October 1960	4.9 °C2 July 1960	21.1 °C	378 mm	137	0
1959	37.8 °C18 October 1959	6.9 °C23 July 1959	20.7 °C	312 mm	101	0
1958	36.6 °C11 October 1958	4.5 °C17 June 1958	20.5 °C	835 mm	90	0
1957	36.4 °C25 November 1957	5.9 °C21 June 1957	21.1 °C	503 mm	99	0
1956	34.9 °C15 October 1956	3.9 °C14 June 1956	20.6 °C	419 mm	89	0
1955	38.2 °C13 November 1955	3.7 °C29 June 1955	19.6 °C	743 mm	54	0
1954	39.5 °C26 October 1954	4.3 °C25 July 1954	22.2 °C	217 mm	194	0
1953	38.4 °C31 October 1953	2.8 °C29 June 1953	20.5 °C	687 mm	66	0
1952	38.2 °C20 November 1952	5.8 °C19 July 1952	21.6 °C	379 mm	141	0
1951	38.8 °C20 December 1951	4.1 °C14 July 1951	22.3 °C	336 mm	164	0
1950	38.4 °C24 October 1950	5.6 °C10 August 1950	21.5 °C	308 mm	110	0
1949	38.8 °C9 January 1949	5.6 °C19 July 1949	21.3 °C	388 mm	149	0
1948	37.2 °C24 October 1948	5.3 °C5 July 1948	20.2 °C	750 mm	78	0
1947	38.6 °C8 October 1947	4.5 °C13 July 1947	21.2 °C	603 mm	95	0
1946	38.7 °C23 October 1946	5.0 °C7 July 1946	21.1 °C	427 mm	118	0
1945	38.0 °C22 October 1945	3.5 °C28 June 1945	21.2 °C	487 mm	97	0
1944	39.8 °C26 September 1944	6.5 °C15 July 1944	21.5 °C	534 mm	121	0
1943	37.4 °C13 October 1943	5.5 °C3 July 1943	20.6 °C	469 mm	82	0
1942	37.7 °C23 October 1942	3.3 °C21 July 1942	21.1 °C	504 mm	99	0
1941	39.1 °C15 October 1941	4.5 °C5 July 1941	22.1 °C	337 mm	148	0
1940	38.1 °C7 November 1940	3.7 °C16 July 1940	22.2 °C	309 mm	167	0

Normals computed over complete calendar years 1940–2025.

A specific year

Pick a year and see how it compares to normal — warmer, drier or more extreme than usual?

Year

Across the whole year

Average daily high

27.8 °C

-0.2 °C

Hot days (≥ 30 °C)

111 d/yr

-20

Frost days (< 0 °C)

0 d/yr

Annual rainfall

838 mm

+403 mm

Month by month

	High	vs. normal	Precipitation	vs. normal
Jan	27.9 °C	-2.0 °C	246 mm	+153 mm
Feb	28.3 °C	-1.2 °C	299 mm	+214 mm
Mar	28.3 °C	-0.9 °C	10 mm	-32 mm
Apr	27.6 °C	-0.3 °C	12 mm	-5 mm
May	24.0 °C	-1.7 °C	2 mm	-2 mm
Jun	23.3 °C	+0.4 °C	0 mm	-3 mm
Jul	23.4 °C	+0.6 °C	2 mm	-0 mm
Aug	28.6 °C	+2.5 °C	1 mm	+1 mm
Sep	32.8 °C	+3.0 °C	1 mm	-4 mm
Oct	32.3 °C	+0.5 °C	3 mm	-16 mm
Nov	28.0 °C	-2.9 °C	108 mm	+48 mm
Dec	28.6 °C	-1.4 °C	152 mm	+50 mm

The year's extremes

Hottest day

38.3 °C

26 Oct 2025

Coldest day

3.7 °C

10 Jun 2025

Wettest day

79.7 mm

10 Feb 2025

Windiest day

37.3 km/h

25 Sep 2025

Strongest gust

61.9 km/h

25 Sep 2025

Hottest feels-like

39.1 °C

1 Nov 2025

Coldest feels-like

-0.2 °C

10 Jun 2025

Sunniest day

13.0 h

31 Dec 2025

What was the weather like that day?

Your birthday, a wedding, a memorable trip: discover the actual weather for any date since 1940.

Date

Frequently asked questions

What is the climate of Francistown?

Francistown has a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen BSh). Over 1940-2025, the average annual temperature is 21.4 °C and it receives 435 mm of precipitation per year.

What is the hottest day ever recorded in Francistown?

The hottest day measured in Francistown between 1940 and 2025 was 7 January 2016, reaching 41.6 °C.

What is the coldest day in Francistown?

The coldest day measured in Francistown between 1940 and 2025 was 13 June 1968, at -0.2 °C.

Does it snow in Francistown?

Almost never: Francistown sees virtually no snow, with about 0 frost days per year.

Has the climate of Francistown warmed?

Yes: Francistown warmed by +0.9 °C between 1940 and 2025, a statistically significant trend.

What is the wettest day in Francistown?

The wettest day measured in Francistown between 1940 and 2025 was 6 February 2000, with 90 mm of rain in 24 hours.

What was the windiest day in Francistown?

The windiest day measured in Francistown between 1940 and 2025 was 15 September 2000, with winds reaching 43.2 km/h.

What is the warmest month in Francistown?

The warmest month in Francistown is October (24.8 °C on average); the coldest is July (15.0 °C).

How much does it rain in Francistown?

Francistown receives on average 435 mm of precipitation per year, spread over about 63 rainy days.

Is it sunny in Francistown?

Francistown gets on average 10.6 hours of sunshine per day, roughly 3,869 hours per year over 1940-2025.

Are there tropical nights in Francistown?

Yes: Francistown has on average 71 tropical nights per year (temperature staying above 20 °C), over 1940-2025.

What was the most extreme apparent temperature in Francistown?

In Francistown, between 1940 and 2025, the highest apparent temperature reached 42.9 °C on 7 January 2016, and the lowest was -4.6 °C on 15 June 1968.

Compare Francistown with another city

Pick a second city: its normals will be set against these, indicator by indicator.

Nearby cities

The climate around Francistown

Other cities — Botswana

All cities in Botswana →