Nkhotakota climate — normals and trends

Nkhotakota (Malawi) has a tropical savanna climate (Aw) under the Köppen-Geiger classification. Its mean annual temperature is 23.6 °C and it receives 1,596 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 November (26.2 °C on average) and the coldest is July (20.2 °C). Rainfall peaks in January.

Nkhotakota averages 0 frost days, 20 hot days (≥ 30 °C) and 146 rainy days per year.

Nkhotakota has warmed by +1.1 °C between 1940 and 2025, or +0.13 °C per decade. This trend is statistically significant.

The hottest day of the period reached 34.6 °C (on 24 November 2021) and the coldest 14.6 °C (on 26 July 1975).

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

NkhotakotaCentral Region

coords
-12.93°, 34.30°
period
19402025 · 86 yrs
AwTropical savannaWarmest monthNovemberColdest monthJulyWettest monthJanuaryDriest monthAugust

Mean daily temperature

23.6°C

Average daily high

26.2°C

Average daily low

21.5°C

Annual rainfall

1,596mm

Sunshine / day

10.8h

Mean relative humidity

73%

Average peak wind

16.0km/h

Seasonal range

6.0°C

Frost days (< 0 °C)

0 d/yr

Hot days (≥ 30 °C)

20 d/yr

Rainy days (≥ 1 mm)

146 d/yr

Annual snowfall

0.0 cm

Average feels-like high

28.8 °C

Average feels-like low

22.7 °C

Average peak gust

30.9 km/h

Tropical nights (≥ 20 °C)

267 d/yr

Solar radiation

21.0 MJ/m²

Has the climate changed?

One stripe per year, 1940 to 2025

+1.1 °C

since 1940

+0.1 °C per decade · r² = 0.56 · p = < 0.001

1940Each stripe is one year, from 1940 (left) to 2025 (right). Blue = colder than the period average, red = warmer.2025

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

34.6 °C

24 November 2021

Coldest day

14.6 °C

26 July 1975

Wettest day

133 mm

25 March 1944

Windiest day

37.7 km/h

25 March 1944

Strongest gust

66.6 km/h

25 March 1944

Hottest feels-like

38.4 °C

19 December 2023

Coldest feels-like

11.3 °C

14 July 1985

Sunniest day

12.8 h

11 December 1942

YearHottest dayColdest dayAnnual meanRainfallHot daysFrost days
202531.7 °C26 October 202516.2 °C3 August 202524.1 °C1,585 mm250
202432.5 °C29 October 202416.9 °C9 July 202424.6 °C1,212 mm530
202332.4 °C18 November 202317.1 °C12 July 202324.5 °C1,843 mm550
202231.5 °C31 October 202216.7 °C28 June 202223.9 °C1,906 mm300
202134.6 °C24 November 202115.4 °C26 July 202124.0 °C1,567 mm580
202032.5 °C24 November 202015.9 °C1 August 202024.2 °C1,223 mm320
201932.5 °C29 October 201915.1 °C24 July 201924.2 °C1,852 mm300
201831.5 °C15 October 201816.1 °C19 July 201824.0 °C1,699 mm200
201733.0 °C17 November 201716.9 °C17 July 201724.1 °C1,770 mm270
201631.6 °C14 November 201615.9 °C22 July 201624.4 °C1,146 mm450
201532.6 °C22 November 201516.3 °C10 August 201524.4 °C1,218 mm420
201433.0 °C25 November 201416.6 °C13 July 201424.1 °C1,511 mm410
201333.1 °C18 November 201316.3 °C3 August 201324.1 °C1,406 mm340
201232.5 °C19 October 201216.2 °C19 July 201224.0 °C1,498 mm320
201134.0 °C27 October 201116.0 °C25 July 201124.0 °C1,451 mm250
201032.1 °C30 October 201015.1 °C13 August 201024.1 °C1,515 mm420
200930.5 °C8 October 200915.8 °C30 July 200923.7 °C1,488 mm80
200832.0 °C16 November 200816.0 °C3 July 200823.6 °C1,395 mm240
200732.0 °C25 November 200716.6 °C4 July 200723.8 °C1,674 mm170
200631.7 °C24 October 200615.8 °C28 June 200623.7 °C1,521 mm210
200532.8 °C15 November 200516.3 °C20 July 200524.3 °C881 mm350
200431.6 °C21 November 200415.2 °C16 July 200423.5 °C1,810 mm80
200332.4 °C6 November 200315.2 °C8 July 200323.8 °C1,567 mm280
200232.7 °C5 November 200216.4 °C23 June 200223.8 °C1,402 mm230
200132.5 °C23 November 200115.6 °C26 July 200123.9 °C1,526 mm400
200031.0 °C25 October 200015.7 °C6 July 200023.4 °C1,885 mm30
199931.6 °C25 October 199916.4 °C22 July 199923.5 °C1,494 mm220
199831.9 °C17 December 199816.5 °C14 July 199824.2 °C1,130 mm390
199732.9 °C10 November 199716.7 °C15 July 199723.9 °C1,860 mm270
199632.8 °C18 November 199614.9 °C3 July 199623.9 °C1,468 mm430
199532.9 °C23 November 199516.0 °C3 July 199524.2 °C1,248 mm410
199433.2 °C21 November 199415.5 °C14 July 199423.8 °C1,237 mm300
199331.7 °C29 October 199316.1 °C16 August 199323.9 °C1,445 mm230
199231.4 °C27 February 199215.5 °C14 August 199224.1 °C1,155 mm200
199131.1 °C1 November 199115.6 °C18 July 199123.7 °C1,460 mm140
199031.6 °C6 November 199016.4 °C15 August 199024.0 °C1,155 mm240
198931.3 °C11 November 198916.5 °C22 July 198923.4 °C2,265 mm130
198830.6 °C4 November 198816.6 °C16 July 198823.8 °C1,417 mm70
198731.7 °C7 November 198714.7 °C2 July 198724.0 °C1,242 mm280
198630.9 °C25 October 198615.5 °C23 July 198623.2 °C2,086 mm10
198530.9 °C5 November 198515.3 °C14 July 198523.1 °C1,642 mm60
198431.0 °C15 October 198416.7 °C17 June 198423.4 °C1,832 mm30
198332.7 °C15 November 198316.1 °C21 July 198324.2 °C1,403 mm330
198231.2 °C9 November 198215.8 °C17 July 198223.4 °C1,724 mm90
198132.3 °C27 November 198114.9 °C20 June 198123.3 °C1,372 mm170
198031.0 °C14 November 198015.6 °C11 July 198023.3 °C1,706 mm90
197932.1 °C2 November 197915.8 °C15 June 197923.3 °C1,641 mm230
197831.2 °C19 October 197815.8 °C17 July 197823.3 °C2,436 mm120
197732.7 °C23 October 197715.8 °C5 July 197723.7 °C1,883 mm180
197631.9 °C30 November 197615.2 °C18 July 197623.1 °C1,707 mm290
197531.2 °C4 November 197514.6 °C26 July 197523.3 °C1,329 mm60
197431.9 °C3 December 197415.8 °C27 July 197423.0 °C1,779 mm130
197332.3 °C6 November 197315.4 °C11 July 197323.5 °C1,413 mm210
197230.6 °C5 October 197215.7 °C15 July 197223.2 °C1,715 mm80
197132.2 °C9 November 197116.2 °C7 June 197123.1 °C1,626 mm70
197031.4 °C20 November 197017.3 °C21 June 197023.5 °C1,460 mm120
196931.6 °C9 November 196916.1 °C23 June 196923.6 °C1,418 mm190
196830.3 °C29 October 196816.1 °C10 July 196823.2 °C1,574 mm40
196730.1 °C8 October 196715.6 °C19 July 196723.3 °C1,402 mm20
196630.6 °C27 September 196615.9 °C23 August 196623.5 °C1,490 mm10
196530.3 °C20 November 196515.4 °C7 July 196522.8 °C1,460 mm20
196430.3 °C18 November 196415.8 °C23 July 196423.3 °C1,139 mm60
196330.3 °C30 October 196316.0 °C6 June 196323.2 °C1,908 mm10
196231.8 °C24 November 196217.4 °C31 July 196223.4 °C1,686 mm150
196130.8 °C26 October 196116.1 °C11 August 196123.2 °C1,999 mm50
196031.5 °C11 December 196016.0 °C18 July 196023.3 °C1,368 mm160
195931.3 °C2 November 195917.3 °C19 July 195923.5 °C1,832 mm80
195830.8 °C29 October 195815.6 °C13 August 195823.6 °C2,152 mm30
195731.5 °C11 November 195717.0 °C18 June 195723.2 °C2,919 mm270
195630.9 °C23 November 195616.3 °C27 July 195623.1 °C1,896 mm110
195530.7 °C21 October 195515.5 °C11 August 195522.9 °C2,038 mm110
195431.6 °C26 October 195415.1 °C21 June 195423.4 °C1,059 mm120
195331.6 °C28 October 195315.7 °C23 July 195323.0 °C2,572 mm150
195230.8 °C3 November 195216.7 °C30 July 195223.4 °C1,520 mm50
195131.3 °C1 November 195115.7 °C25 July 195123.6 °C1,244 mm230
195032.0 °C25 October 195016.2 °C20 August 195022.8 °C2,110 mm50
194932.7 °C29 November 194916.4 °C5 June 194923.6 °C1,544 mm330
194832.3 °C11 November 194816.2 °C4 September 194823.5 °C1,652 mm230
194731.3 °C28 November 194715.8 °C17 July 194723.3 °C1,696 mm240
194630.8 °C30 October 194615.8 °C18 June 194623.1 °C1,738 mm150
194531.1 °C22 October 194516.7 °C21 June 194523.1 °C1,768 mm120
194431.5 °C10 November 194416.7 °C18 May 194423.3 °C1,557 mm170
194332.8 °C1 December 194316.5 °C27 June 194323.5 °C1,138 mm540
194232.1 °C9 November 194215.9 °C26 July 194223.6 °C1,191 mm70
194131.7 °C21 October 194116.7 °C5 July 194123.5 °C1,467 mm190
194031.2 °C20 November 194016.2 °C16 July 194023.2 °C1,845 mm90

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?

Across the whole year

Average daily high
26.6 °C
+0.4 °C
Hot days (≥ 30 °C)
25 d/yr
+5
Frost days (< 0 °C)
0 d/yr
0
Annual rainfall
1585 mm
-11 mm

Month by month

Highvs. normalPrecipitationvs. normal
Jan27.4 °C+0.6 °C417 mm+29 mm
Feb28.4 °C+1.5 °C157 mm-190 mm
Mar27.6 °C+0.8 °C202 mm-75 mm
Apr26.9 °C+0.7 °C133 mm+21 mm
May24.8 °C-0.2 °C65 mm+49 mm
Jun24.2 °C+0.8 °C6 mm+3 mm
Jul22.8 °C-0.1 °C2 mm-0 mm
Aug24.7 °C+0.3 °C0 mm-1 mm
Sep28.2 °C+1.3 °C0 mm-1 mm
Oct29.1 °C+0.3 °C4 mm-11 mm
Nov28.3 °C-0.6 °C163 mm+58 mm
Dec27.4 °C0.0 °C436 mm+107 mm

The year's extremes

Hottest day
31.7 °C
26 Oct 2025
Coldest day
16.2 °C
3 Aug 2025
Wettest day
62.1 mm
29 Dec 2025
Windiest day
31.1 km/h
22 May 2025
Strongest gust
53.6 km/h
9 Jul 2025
Hottest feels-like
36.4 °C
13 Jan 2025
Coldest feels-like
14.3 °C
3 Aug 2025
Sunniest day
12.7 h
7 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 Nkhotakota?

Nkhotakota has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen Aw). Over 1940-2025, the average annual temperature is 23.6 °C and it receives 1,596 mm of precipitation per year.

What is the hottest day ever recorded in Nkhotakota?

The hottest day measured in Nkhotakota between 1940 and 2025 was 24 November 2021, reaching 34.6 °C.

What is the coldest day in Nkhotakota?

The coldest day measured in Nkhotakota between 1940 and 2025 was 26 July 1975, at 14.6 °C.

Does it snow in Nkhotakota?

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

Has the climate of Nkhotakota warmed?

Yes: Nkhotakota warmed by +1.1 °C between 1940 and 2025, a statistically significant trend.

What is the wettest day in Nkhotakota?

The wettest day measured in Nkhotakota between 1940 and 2025 was 25 March 1944, with 133 mm of rain in 24 hours.

What was the windiest day in Nkhotakota?

The windiest day measured in Nkhotakota between 1940 and 2025 was 25 March 1944, with winds reaching 37.7 km/h.

What is the warmest month in Nkhotakota?

The warmest month in Nkhotakota is November (26.2 °C on average); the coldest is July (20.2 °C).

How much does it rain in Nkhotakota?

Nkhotakota receives on average 1,596 mm of precipitation per year, spread over about 146 rainy days.

Is it sunny in Nkhotakota?

Nkhotakota gets on average 10.8 hours of sunshine per day, roughly 3,942 hours per year over 1940-2025.

Are there tropical nights in Nkhotakota?

Yes: Nkhotakota has on average 267 tropical nights per year (temperature staying above 20 °C), over 1940-2025.

What was the most extreme apparent temperature in Nkhotakota?

In Nkhotakota, between 1940 and 2025, the highest apparent temperature reached 38.4 °C on 19 December 2023, and the lowest was 11.3 °C on 14 July 1985.

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