Kigali climate — normals and trends

Q: What is the climate of Kigali?

Kigali has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen Aw). Over 1940-2025, the average annual temperature is 19.6 °C and it receives 1,060 mm of precipitation per year.

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

The hottest day measured in Kigali between 1940 and 2025 was 23 February 2005, reaching 32.6 °C.

Q: What is the coldest day in Kigali?

The coldest day measured in Kigali between 1940 and 2025 was 1 July 1972, at 8.4 °C.

Q: Does it snow in Kigali?

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

Q: Has the climate of Kigali warmed?

Yes: Kigali warmed by +1.6 °C between 1940 and 2025, a statistically significant trend.

Q: What is the wettest day in Kigali?

The wettest day measured in Kigali between 1940 and 2025 was 19 April 2020, with 76 mm of rain in 24 hours.

Q: What was the windiest day in Kigali?

The windiest day measured in Kigali between 1940 and 2025 was 5 October 2014, with winds reaching 20.6 km/h.

Q: What is the warmest month in Kigali?

The warmest month in Kigali is August (20.7 °C on average); the coldest is November (18.9 °C).

Q: How much does it rain in Kigali?

Kigali receives on average 1,060 mm of precipitation per year, spread over about 186 rainy days.

Q: Is it sunny in Kigali?

Kigali gets on average 10.4 hours of sunshine per day, roughly 3,796 hours per year over 1940-2025.

Kigali (Rwanda) has a tropical savanna climate (Aw) under the Köppen-Geiger classification. Its mean annual temperature is 19.6 °C and it receives 1,060 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 August (20.7 °C on average) and the coldest is November (18.9 °C). Rainfall peaks in April.

Kigali averages 0 frost days, 1 hot days (≥ 30 °C) and 186 rainy days per year.

Kigali has warmed by +1.6 °C between 1940 and 2025, or +0.18 °C per decade. This trend is statistically significant.

The hottest day of the period reached 32.6 °C (on 23 February 2005) and the coldest 8.4 °C (on 1 July 1972).

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

KigaliKigali

coords: -1.95°, 30.06°
period: 1940–2025 · 86 yrs

AwTropical savannaWarmest monthAugustColdest monthNovemberWettest monthAprilDriest monthJuly

Mean daily temperature

19.6°C

Average daily high

25.0°C

Average daily low

14.7°C

Annual rainfall

1,060mm

Sunshine / day

10.4h

Mean relative humidity

72%

Average peak wind

10.3km/h

Seasonal range

1.8°C

Frost days (< 0 °C)

0 d/yr

Hot days (≥ 30 °C)

1 d/yr

Rainy days (≥ 1 mm)

186 d/yr

Annual snowfall

0.0 cm

Average feels-like high

26.3 °C

Average feels-like low

15.0 °C

Average peak gust

29.1 km/h

Tropical nights (≥ 20 °C)

0 d/yr

Solar radiation

18.9 MJ/m²

Has the climate changed?

One stripe per year, 1940 to 2025

+1.6 °C

since 1940

+0.2 °C per decade · r² = 0.53 · 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

32.6 °C

23 February 2005

Coldest day

8.4 °C

1 July 1972

Wettest day

76 mm

19 April 2020

Windiest day

20.6 km/h

5 October 2014

Strongest gust

50.8 km/h

17 October 2005

Hottest feels-like

33.6 °C

20 February 1973

Coldest feels-like

6.8 °C

1 July 1972

Sunniest day

12.0 h

2 January 1940

Year	Hottest day	Coldest day	Annual mean	Rainfall	Hot days
2025	31.0 °C26 February 2025	12.7 °C16 June 2025	20.7 °C	939 mm	3
2024	30.7 °C14 September 2024	11.9 °C26 June 2024	21.5 °C	1,031 mm	2
2023	30.7 °C27 August 2023	12.9 °C3 February 2023	21.0 °C	1,157 mm	6
2022	29.7 °C26 January 2022	12.5 °C6 June 2022	20.5 °C	1,155 mm	0
2021	31.3 °C29 August 2021	13.0 °C12 March 2021	20.6 °C	835 mm	1
2020	30.8 °C17 August 2020	13.1 °C1 November 2020	21.0 °C	1,174 mm	3
2019	29.5 °C23 September 2019	12.2 °C29 March 2019	20.6 °C	1,003 mm	0
2018	29.4 °C27 September 2018	12.2 °C9 July 2018	20.2 °C	1,118 mm	0
2017	29.4 °C17 January 2017	13.0 °C2 July 2017	20.5 °C	874 mm	0
2016	30.7 °C18 February 2016	12.3 °C18 December 2016	20.9 °C	811 mm	2
2015	29.7 °C20 August 2015	12.2 °C9 July 2015	20.5 °C	889 mm	0
2014	28.8 °C19 July 2014	12.7 °C29 January 2014	20.2 °C	835 mm	0
2013	29.9 °C22 January 2013	12.4 °C15 July 2013	20.2 °C	1,002 mm	0
2012	31.3 °C9 February 2012	11.8 °C5 July 2012	19.8 °C	1,076 mm	5
2011	29.8 °C8 February 2011	12.0 °C14 August 2011	19.6 °C	1,125 mm	0
2010	30.8 °C24 August 2010	12.3 °C28 July 2010	20.5 °C	946 mm	4
2009	29.4 °C13 August 2009	12.1 °C20 July 2009	20.0 °C	952 mm	0
2008	29.7 °C23 December 2008	10.5 °C6 May 2008	19.6 °C	817 mm	0
2007	29.2 °C24 September 2007	11.7 °C16 December 2007	19.8 °C	808 mm	0
2006	30.1 °C11 February 2006	11.7 °C1 June 2006	20.0 °C	1,040 mm	2
2005	32.6 °C23 February 2005	12.2 °C27 July 2005	20.4 °C	824 mm	8
2004	29.5 °C28 January 2004	11.6 °C9 July 2004	20.3 °C	792 mm	0
2003	30.1 °C8 March 2003	12.2 °C9 November 2003	20.1 °C	654 mm	1
2002	30.7 °C1 October 2002	12.3 °C11 November 2002	19.9 °C	821 mm	1
2001	28.4 °C4 March 2001	11.3 °C3 August 2001	19.4 °C	916 mm	0
2000	30.1 °C22 February 2000	11.3 °C22 March 2000	19.8 °C	641 mm	2
1999	29.6 °C20 February 1999	11.6 °C7 July 1999	19.4 °C	700 mm	0
1998	29.1 °C16 August 1998	12.3 °C17 December 1998	20.2 °C	890 mm	0
1997	31.2 °C25 September 1997	11.9 °C23 June 1997	19.9 °C	1,060 mm	3
1996	28.3 °C3 August 1996	11.1 °C13 December 1996	19.5 °C	897 mm	0
1995	29.1 °C7 September 1995	11.9 °C18 January 1995	19.7 °C	891 mm	0
1994	29.0 °C2 September 1994	10.9 °C8 July 1994	19.5 °C	970 mm	0
1993	29.4 °C26 September 1993	12.0 °C1 January 1993	19.8 °C	800 mm	0
1992	28.5 °C12 March 1992	11.0 °C19 July 1992	19.6 °C	914 mm	0
1991	29.3 °C21 September 1991	11.8 °C20 June 1991	19.5 °C	1,157 mm	0
1990	27.6 °C10 January 1990	11.5 °C21 December 1990	19.8 °C	1,136 mm	0
1989	28.6 °C27 August 1989	10.9 °C18 February 1989	19.5 °C	1,109 mm	0
1988	28.5 °C2 March 1988	11.8 °C2 June 1988	19.7 °C	1,144 mm	0
1987	29.6 °C30 December 1987	12.1 °C1 December 1987	20.2 °C	1,257 mm	0
1986	29.2 °C23 August 1986	11.3 °C1 March 1986	19.6 °C	1,269 mm	0
1985	28.3 °C17 March 1985	12.0 °C4 January 1985	19.3 °C	1,325 mm	0
1984	27.9 °C21 February 1984	11.1 °C8 February 1984	19.2 °C	957 mm	0
1983	29.9 °C10 February 1983	11.4 °C30 November 1983	19.9 °C	968 mm	0
1982	29.7 °C8 September 1982	11.4 °C12 January 1982	19.6 °C	1,059 mm	0
1981	28.7 °C23 February 1981	11.3 °C24 November 1981	19.5 °C	1,211 mm	0
1980	28.4 °C18 March 1980	11.8 °C28 November 1980	19.5 °C	1,019 mm	0
1979	29.7 °C2 October 1979	11.4 °C4 March 1979	19.5 °C	1,034 mm	0
1978	29.2 °C7 February 1978	11.6 °C20 July 1978	19.3 °C	1,278 mm	0
1977	28.5 °C21 August 1977	11.3 °C20 June 1977	19.3 °C	1,200 mm	0
1976	28.3 °C16 March 1976	10.1 °C20 August 1976	18.6 °C	1,222 mm	0
1975	28.5 °C22 February 1975	10.3 °C30 July 1975	18.5 °C	1,493 mm	0
1974	28.5 °C22 August 1974	10.1 °C3 February 1974	18.7 °C	1,061 mm	0
1973	29.8 °C20 February 1973	9.1 °C29 June 1973	19.2 °C	1,073 mm	0
1972	28.9 °C23 September 1972	8.4 °C1 July 1972	18.6 °C	1,534 mm	0
1971	29.1 °C20 August 1971	9.9 °C1 March 1971	18.7 °C	1,406 mm	0
1970	29.1 °C8 October 1970	10.5 °C1 January 1970	19.3 °C	1,312 mm	0
1969	29.2 °C24 August 1969	10.4 °C23 June 1969	19.3 °C	1,139 mm	0
1968	28.9 °C31 August 1968	9.9 °C30 June 1968	19.1 °C	1,435 mm	0
1967	29.5 °C4 September 1967	10.4 °C5 October 1967	19.1 °C	1,147 mm	0
1966	29.0 °C20 August 1966	10.1 °C14 December 1966	18.9 °C	1,142 mm	0
1965	28.2 °C12 October 1965	9.4 °C21 January 1965	18.8 °C	1,096 mm	0
1964	28.9 °C11 March 1964	10.4 °C10 December 1964	18.7 °C	1,036 mm	0
1963	29.2 °C13 September 1963	10.6 °C31 December 1963	18.8 °C	1,335 mm	0
1962	27.5 °C2 February 1962	11.1 °C11 July 1962	18.5 °C	1,457 mm	0
1961	28.4 °C30 August 1961	10.1 °C11 January 1961	18.9 °C	1,342 mm	0
1960	28.1 °C30 December 1960	10.5 °C31 July 1960	19.2 °C	1,148 mm	0
1959	28.3 °C17 March 1959	11.0 °C24 June 1959	19.5 °C	1,344 mm	0
1958	30.5 °C11 September 1958	10.8 °C14 June 1958	19.7 °C	1,147 mm	1
1957	29.5 °C16 September 1957	11.6 °C1 July 1957	19.4 °C	1,473 mm	0
1956	27.5 °C21 September 1956	10.3 °C11 January 1956	18.6 °C	1,169 mm	0
1955	28.5 °C31 August 1955	10.0 °C15 June 1955	18.9 °C	1,130 mm	0
1954	28.4 °C7 September 1954	10.9 °C15 June 1954	19.2 °C	1,028 mm	0
1953	29.3 °C11 September 1953	11.2 °C7 July 1953	18.9 °C	1,887 mm	0
1952	29.7 °C30 August 1952	11.9 °C25 January 1952	19.3 °C	1,094 mm	0
1951	29.0 °C11 August 1951	10.5 °C13 July 1951	19.1 °C	1,439 mm	0
1950	28.8 °C14 September 1950	9.8 °C3 June 1950	18.9 °C	1,160 mm	0
1949	30.6 °C23 August 1949	11.6 °C20 January 1949	19.5 °C	959 mm	3
1948	28.5 °C31 August 1948	11.4 °C24 May 1948	19.2 °C	962 mm	0
1947	29.7 °C25 September 1947	10.8 °C23 July 1947	19.4 °C	977 mm	0
1946	31.3 °C25 February 1946	11.2 °C4 August 1946	19.6 °C	857 mm	2
1945	29.4 °C10 September 1945	10.6 °C9 June 1945	19.5 °C	710 mm	0
1944	31.7 °C21 September 1944	10.8 °C22 May 1944	19.9 °C	644 mm	5
1943	29.8 °C15 January 1943	9.5 °C9 June 1943	19.6 °C	546 mm	0
1942	30.1 °C1 October 1942	9.8 °C11 January 1942	19.6 °C	618 mm	1
1941	29.8 °C27 March 1941	10.3 °C29 December 1941	19.7 °C	984 mm	0
1940	28.7 °C21 August 1940	10.8 °C7 November 1940	18.9 °C	1,183 mm	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

25.6 °C

+0.6 °C

Hot days (≥ 30 °C)

3 d/yr

Frost days (< 0 °C)

0 d/yr

Annual rainfall

939 mm

-121 mm

Month by month

	High	vs. normal	Precipitation	vs. normal
Jan	26.0 °C	+1.0 °C	84 mm	-5 mm
Feb	27.2 °C	+1.7 °C	25 mm	-74 mm
Mar	26.2 °C	+1.1 °C	127 mm	-3 mm
Apr	25.0 °C	+0.7 °C	179 mm	+18 mm
May	24.4 °C	+0.4 °C	114 mm	+6 mm
Jun	24.8 °C	+0.3 °C	22 mm	+8 mm
Jul	25.6 °C	+0.2 °C	1 mm	-3 mm
Aug	25.8 °C	-0.4 °C	34 mm	+13 mm
Sep	27.1 °C	+1.1 °C	24 mm	-38 mm
Oct	25.5 °C	+0.2 °C	173 mm	+54 mm
Nov	25.0 °C	+0.7 °C	71 mm	-74 mm
Dec	24.5 °C	+0.1 °C	84 mm	-24 mm

The year's extremes

Hottest day

31.0 °C

26 Feb 2025

Coldest day

12.7 °C

16 Jun 2025

Wettest day

24.6 mm

4 Oct 2025

Windiest day

15.5 km/h

9 Jul 2025

Strongest gust

39.6 km/h

18 Sep 2025

Hottest feels-like

32.2 °C

28 Feb 2025

Coldest feels-like

11.6 °C

31 Jul 2025

Sunniest day

12.0 h

1 Jan 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 Kigali?

Kigali has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen Aw). Over 1940-2025, the average annual temperature is 19.6 °C and it receives 1,060 mm of precipitation per year.

What is the hottest day ever recorded in Kigali?

The hottest day measured in Kigali between 1940 and 2025 was 23 February 2005, reaching 32.6 °C.

What is the coldest day in Kigali?

The coldest day measured in Kigali between 1940 and 2025 was 1 July 1972, at 8.4 °C.

Does it snow in Kigali?

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

Has the climate of Kigali warmed?

Yes: Kigali warmed by +1.6 °C between 1940 and 2025, a statistically significant trend.

What is the wettest day in Kigali?

The wettest day measured in Kigali between 1940 and 2025 was 19 April 2020, with 76 mm of rain in 24 hours.

What was the windiest day in Kigali?

The windiest day measured in Kigali between 1940 and 2025 was 5 October 2014, with winds reaching 20.6 km/h.

What is the warmest month in Kigali?

The warmest month in Kigali is August (20.7 °C on average); the coldest is November (18.9 °C).

How much does it rain in Kigali?

Kigali receives on average 1,060 mm of precipitation per year, spread over about 186 rainy days.

Is it sunny in Kigali?

Kigali gets on average 10.4 hours of sunshine per day, roughly 3,796 hours per year over 1940-2025.

Are there tropical nights in Kigali?

Almost never: tropical nights (temperature staying above 20 °C) are virtually non-existent in Kigali.

What was the most extreme apparent temperature in Kigali?

In Kigali, between 1940 and 2025, the highest apparent temperature reached 33.6 °C on 20 February 1973, and the lowest was 6.8 °C on 1 July 1972.

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