AI-generatedLusaka at a glance
- Best time
- Apr – Sep
- Warmest month
- Oct · 31°
- Sunshine a year
- 2,500 h
- Rain a year
- 829 mm
- Climate
- Subtropical
- Time zone
- UTC+2
- Elevation
- 1,277 m
Climate in Lusaka
Lusaka has a subtropical climate with warm summers and mild winters. October is the warmest month with average highs of 31 °C, while July is the coolest at 22 °C. With around 2,500 hours of sunshine a year, Lusaka is sunny; September is the sunniest month with 9.1 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Good
Best time to visit: April – September
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 24°
- Midday, 13:00: about 30°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 30°
- Evening, 20:00: about 25°
- Night, 23:00: about 22°
05:4018:05
Warm enough for a T-shirt in the evening.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 05:27–06:08 · evening 17:36–18:18
- Blue hour
- Morning 05:18–05:27 · evening 18:18–18:27
Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.
What is the weather like in Lusaka in October?
In October, Lusaka is hot: daytime highs average 31 °C, and nights cool down to about 19 °C. The sun shines for around 9 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 2 days bring 10 mm in total. On about 21 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. All in all, October is a good month for a holiday in Lusaka.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 12 h 25 min05:40 – 18:05
- UV index
- 14 · extremeclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 22 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 27 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 21 days30 °C or moreAll months
- Time zone
- UTC+2Africa/Lusaka
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %55 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %95 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %100 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “City break”.
What to pack in October
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses & sun hat
- Light, breathable clothes
- Water bottle – drink plenty
Sunshine hours in Lusaka
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 8.7 of 12.4 hours of daylight in Lusaka, 70 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: estimated from radiation data (ERA5, 1996–2025) and calibrated against measured station values; no weather station is close enough here. Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
UV index in Lusaka
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 14 · extremeAvoid the midday sun; SPF 50+, covering clothes, hat and sunglasses.
The sun is strongest in February (UV 14).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 10 min
- Fair skin
- about 10 min
- Light brown skin
- about 15 min
- Olive skin
- about 20 min
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen it, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Rain in Lusaka: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Lusaka has about 2 rainy days with 10 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Lusaka
How breezy and how cloudy Lusaka is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.
Wind
Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.
In October, the wind in Lusaka typically peaks at 22 km/h during the day: Beaufort 4, moderate breeze.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 27 % of the sky over Lusaka: mostly sunny, with about 8.7 hours of sunshine a day.
Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.
Heat and humidity in Lusaka
How often the day gets hot in Lusaka (30 °C and more), and in which months heat and humidity come together. Tap a month to select it.
Heat calendar
- pleasant
- some hot or muggy days
- often muggy
- often hot
- hot and muggy
In October, Lusaka has about 21 hot days, with an average daytime high of 31 °C: often hot. Avoid the midday sun, look for shade and drink plenty.
Hot days reach at least 30 °C; a month counts as muggy when the mean dew point reaches 18 °C on at least 15 days. Averages from ERA5 and ERA5-Land, 1996–2025. Muggy nights through the year
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Lusaka
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Cool 8–15°
- Pleasant 15–20°
- Warm 20–24°
- muggy month (10+ muggy days)
PleasantOctober: nights around 19°. Ideal for sleeping, often with the window open.
The coolest nights are in July (11°), the warmest in November (20°). Tropical nights of 20 °C and more are the rule in November; then air conditioning or a fan helps you sleep. Nights are pleasant for sleeping (15 to 20 °C) from September to October and from December to April. It is muggy (dew point 18 °C or more) on about 70 days a year, mostly from December to March.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 54 | 25° | 18° | 4.3 h | 26 | 245 |
| FebruaryFeb | 57 | 25° | 18° | 5.0 h | 21 | 166 |
| MarchMar | 61 | 25° | 18° | 5.7 h | 17 | 105 |
| AprilApr | 89 | 25° | 16° | 6.6 h | 5 | 26 |
| MayMay | 96 | 24° | 14° | 7.7 h | 1 | 3 |
| JuneJun | 94 | 22° | 12° | 7.2 h | 0 | 1 |
| JulyJul | 94 | 22° | 11° | 7.3 h | 0 | 1 |
| AugustAug | 98 | 25° | 13° | 8.5 h | 0 | 0 |
| SeptemberSep | 89 | 29° | 17° | 9.1 h | 0 | 2 |
| OctoberOct | 76 | 31° | 19° | 8.7 h | 2 | 10 |
| NovemberNov | 62 | 29° | 20° | 6.9 h | 13 | 83 |
| DecemberDec | 56 | 26° | 18° | 4.9 h | 22 | 188 |
Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences
15.41° S, 28.29° E · 1,277 m · Africa/Lusaka
Best time to visit Lusaka
The best time to visit Lusaka is from April to September. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from April to August. Rain is most frequent from November to March; the wettest month is January with 245 mm.
Lusaka through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Lusaka in spring
Sep – Nov
Good
- 29–31 °C by day
- 8 h of sun a day
- 15 rainy days in all
Lusaka in summer
Dec – Feb
Fair
- 25–26 °C by day
- 5 h of sun a day
- 69 rainy days in all
Lusaka in autumn
Mar – May
Excellent
- 24–25 °C by day
- 7 h of sun a day
- 23 rainy days in all
Lusaka in winter
Jun – Aug
Excellent
- 22–25 °C by day
- 8 h of sun a day
- 0 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Lusaka for you.
Your best months: May – July
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Lusaka
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
August has the better holiday weather in Lusaka: score 98 against 76. In August, days are 6 °C cooler than in October. August has 2 fewer rainy days.
| Month | October | August |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 76 | 98better |
| Day high | 31° | 25° |
| Night low | 19° | 13° |
| Sunshine | 8.7 h | 8.5 h |
| Rainy days | 2 | 0better |
| Rainfall | 10 mm | 0 mmbetter |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
No sea nearby
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
Apr – Aug
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
Nov – Mar
12 or more rainy days
Lusaka month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
54January25° · 4 h
In January, Lusaka is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and nights cool down to about 18 °C. Expect around 4 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 26 days, adding up to 245 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, January is a so-so month for a holiday in Lusaka.
Lusaka in January57February25° · 5 h
In February, Lusaka is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and nights cool down to about 18 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 21 days, adding up to 166 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, February is a so-so month for a holiday in Lusaka.
Lusaka in February61March25° · 6 h
In March, Lusaka is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and nights cool down to about 18 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 17 days, adding up to 105 mm. All in all, March is a good month for a holiday in Lusaka.
Lusaka in March89April25° · 7 h
In April, Lusaka is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and nights cool down to about 16 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain falls on about 5 days, adding up to 26 mm. All in all, April is an excellent month for a holiday in Lusaka.
Lusaka in April96May24° · 8 h
In May, Lusaka is warm: daytime highs average 24 °C, and nights cool down to about 14 °C. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. It hardly ever rains. All in all, May is an excellent month for a holiday in Lusaka.
Lusaka in May94June22° · 7 h
In June, Lusaka is warm: daytime highs average 22 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. It hardly ever rains. All in all, June is an excellent month for a holiday in Lusaka.
Lusaka in June94July22° · 7 h
In July, Lusaka is warm: daytime highs average 22 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. It hardly ever rains. All in all, July is an excellent month for a holiday in Lusaka.
Lusaka in July98August25° · 9 h
In August, Lusaka is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and nights cool down to about 13 °C. The sun shines for around 9 hours a day. It hardly ever rains. All in all, August is an excellent month for a holiday in Lusaka.
Lusaka in August89September29° · 9 h
In September, Lusaka is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and nights cool down to about 17 °C. With around 9 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. It hardly ever rains. On about 10 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. All in all, September is an excellent month for a holiday in Lusaka.
Lusaka in September76October31° · 9 h
In October, Lusaka is hot: daytime highs average 31 °C, and nights cool down to about 19 °C. The sun shines for around 9 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 2 days bring 10 mm in total. On about 21 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. All in all, October is a good month for a holiday in Lusaka.
Lusaka in October62November29° · 7 h
In November, Lusaka is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and nights cool down to about 20 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 83 mm in total. On about 12 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. All in all, November is a good month for a holiday in Lusaka.
Lusaka in November56December26° · 5 h
In December, Lusaka is warm: daytime highs average 26 °C, and nights cool down to about 18 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 22 days, adding up to 188 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, December is a so-so month for a holiday in Lusaka.
Lusaka in DecemberLusaka compared
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Lusaka vs. Harare
In October Harare has the better holiday weather (score 88 vs. 76). During the day Harare is 3 °C cooler than Lusaka. Harare gets one hour less sunshine a day.
| in October | Lusaka | Harare |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 76 | 88 |
| Daytime high | 31° | 28° |
| Sunshine | 9 h | 8 h |
| Rainy days | 2 | 5 |
| Best time | Apr – Sep | Apr – Oct |
Through the year
Planning a trip to Lusaka
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Lusaka in the school holidays
How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.
Lusaka has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 97) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 55).
- 81
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Excellent
- 25 °C by day
- 6.3 h of sun a day
- 9 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 96
May half-term
May – Jun
Excellent
- 23 °C by day
- 7.6 h of sun a day
- 1 rainy day a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 97
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
ExcellentBest holidays
- 24 °C by day
- 8.1 h of sun a day
- 0 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 76
October half-term
Oct
Good
- 31 °C by day
- 8.7 h of sun a day
- 2 rainy days a month
- 55
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Fair
- 26 °C by day
- 4.6 h of sun a day
- 24 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 10 h 5 min
- Distance
- 7,940 km
- Time zone
- UTC+2
- Jet lag
- Hardly any (under 3 h)
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Frequently asked questions about Lusaka
When is the best time to visit Lusaka?
The best time to visit Lusaka is from April to September. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
What is the warmest month in Lusaka?
October is the warmest month, with average highs of 31 °C and nights around 19 °C. July is the coolest month at 22 °C.
When does it rain most in Lusaka?
Rain is most frequent from November to March; the wettest month is January with 245 mm. The driest month is August with 0 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Lusaka get?
Lusaka gets around 2,500 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is September with 9.1 hours a day; in January there are 4.3 hours a day.
What time zone is Lusaka in?
Lusaka uses the time zone Africa/Lusaka, at UTC+2 all year.
How long is the flight from London to Lusaka?
A nonstop flight from London to Lusaka takes about 10 h 5 min, for a straight-line distance of about 7,940 km.
Which school holidays are best for Lusaka?
Lusaka has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 97) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 55). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 81, May half-term 96, Summer holidays 97, October half-term 76, Christmas holidays 55.
Near Lusaka
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Lusaka
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Lusaka's – good alternatives.