Zimbabwe
Weather locations in Zimbabwe
Choose a location in Zimbabwe to view its available forecast products.
Zimbabwe illustrated weather map
16 mapped locations
Only locations with a verified coordinate are marked. The complete location list is below.
Map Disclaimer: Maps and geographic illustrations on this website are simplified, stylized representations for weather visualization only. They are not drawn to scale and should not be interpreted as authoritative representations of national boundaries, territorial status, or geographic relationships.
Climate of Zimbabwe
Country climate guideZimbabwe is a landlocked country in southern Africa, lying between about 15°S and 23°S, bounded by Zambia to the north, Mozambique to the east, South Africa to the south and Botswana to the west. Most of the country stands on a plateau between 800 and 1,500 metres, and the highest ground is the eastern highlands on the Mozambique border. That elevation makes the climate tropical in latitude but gentle in temperature, with neither a hot lowland summer nor a cold winter. Two broad regions, the wetter north-east and the drier south-west, carry the seasonal picture.
Main climate types
The whole country is classified as tropical savanna climate, with rain in the summer months and a long dry season in winter. A better description separates the wetter eastern highlands, the humid north around the Zambezi, and a semi-arid south-west where under 600 mm is normal. Above about 1,800 metres there is a montane variant where frost touches the ground in the coldest months.
Temperatures
Altitude keeps the country cooler than its latitude suggests. Harare, at about 1,640 metres, averages about 20 °C in January and about 17 °C in July, with highs near 28 °C in January and about 22 °C in July. Bulawayo, at 1,000 metres, averages about 23 °C in January and about 16 °C in July. The lowveld around Beitbridge has highs above 35 °C in October and November. Frost occurs in June and July in the highlands.
Rainfall
Rain falls mostly between November and March, when tropical air converges over the subcontinent. Harare receives about 800 mm to 900 mm a year, with January or February usually the wettest. Bulawayo takes about 500 mm to 650 mm. The eastern highlands around Inyanga and Chipinge take 1,200 mm to 1,800 mm, and the semi-arid lowveld less than 500 mm.
When to go
The dry season, from about May to September, is the best time for sightseeing, when the weather is mild and Victoria Falls is at its most dramatic. The rainy season from November to March brings afternoon storms and some road problems, but the country is lushest and the falls widest. Tropical cyclones occasionally reach the eastern highlands around February to April.