When does the rain start in Southern Africa?
From the Highveld storms of October to the main rains of November, a guide to the season that most of the region depends on.
A summer rainfall region
Most of Southern Africa gets its rain in the southern summer. Across the interior of South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique, the wet season runs roughly from November to March, with the heaviest falls from December to February. The exception is the south-western tip: Cape Town and the Western Cape get most of their rain in winter, from May to August, and are drying out now.
The first storms
On the Highveld around Johannesburg and Pretoria, the season usually opens in October with afternoon thunderstorms that build over hot ground. They can be short and violent, and hail is common from October to January. Further north in Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi, the steady rains usually settle in during November. A few early showers are not the same as onset: agricultural advisers generally recommend waiting until the soil is properly wet before planting.
Wet year or dry year?
The Pacific plays a large role here. El Niño years tend to bring drought to Southern Africa, as in 2015 to 2016 and again in the 2023 to 2024 season, when crops failed across Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi. La Niña years lean wetter. The regional outlook forum SARCOF publishes its seasonal outlook before the rains, and national services refine it. For the week ahead, the seven-day forecasts for Pretoria, Lusaka, Harare and Lilongwe on AfricaMeteo show when storms are likely.