Zimbabwe Weather Forecast

Zimbabwe's climate is predominantly subtropical, tempered by its position on the central southern African plateau at elevations generally between 900 and 1,500 meters. The country has a wet season from November to March when tropical moisture from the Indian Ocean brings thunderstorms and the majority of annual rainfall, and a dry season from April to October characterized by clear skies and minimal precipitation. The Eastern Highlands along the Mozambique border are the wettest region, receiving up to 2,000mm annually.

The Highveld plateau running through central Zimbabwe, where Harare is located, has the most pleasant climate with warm, rainy summers and cool, dry winters. The Lowveld in the southern Limpopo basin and the Zambezi Valley in the north are significantly hotter and drier, with temperatures exceeding 35°C for extended periods. Zimbabwe is susceptible to drought cycles linked to El Nino events, which can severely impact agriculture and water supplies across the country.

Harare enjoys a comfortable subtropical highland climate with average temperatures of 21°C in summer and 14°C in winter, and frost is rare but possible on clear June and July nights. Bulawayo in the southwest is slightly drier and warmer. The resort town of Nyanga in the Eastern Highlands has the coolest climate in the country, with mist-shrouded mountains and lush vegetation. The Zambezi Valley around Kariba and Mana Pools is known for extreme October heat, locally called the "suicide month," before the rains bring relief.