Does It Snow in Africa? Snowiest Locations and Common Quantities

Does it snow in Africa? When individuals consider Africa, they consider a spot that’s at all times sizzling, whether or not it’s the dry, scorching warmth of the Sahara Desert or the humid warmth of a Congolese rainforest. However out of 54 international locations, 10 African international locations expertise durations of snowfall. Right here they’re and the way a lot snowfall they often get.

1. Namibia

Granted, there hasn’t been snowfall in Namibia since sooner or later in early June, 2011, however it did occur. This was in Spreetshoogte Cross in Namib-Naukluft Park, which is a park within the western a part of the nation within the Namib Desert. The snowfall lasted from round 11 a.m. till afternoon, and the temperatures sunk to a document low of 28.7 levels Fahrenheit and by no means went above 41 levels F.

2. Ethiopia

The Simien Mountains of Ethiopia are one of many few locations in equatorial Africa that obtain snowfall yearly. The very best peaks embody the 14,872 foot Ras Dejen, the 14,534 foot Bwahit, and the 14,501 foot excessive Silki, all of which have been shaped from a defend volcano. The annual snowfall is about 5 inches.

3. South Africa

You’ll discover snow throughout the winters on the Cape and Drakensberg, with the western and northern elements of the Cape having probably the most accumulation. As with Namibia, the snow comes round June and lasts until August. Accumulations are solely about 1.18 inches.

4. Algeria

Algeria is within the northern a part of the continent, with the Mediterranean Sea within the north and the Sahara Desert within the south. Due to this, Algeria has a continental local weather, a Mediterranean local weather, and a desert local weather. The locations that get probably the most snow are the provinces of Setif and Batna. Setif Province is on the Mediterranean Sea, and Batna is shut by. They each have Mediterranean climates. Setif will get about 16 inches of snow a yr, whereas Batna will get about 6.54 inches.

5. Lesotho

The local weather of Lesotho is surprisingly cool, because the nation ranges from 4,593 to 11,424 toes above sea stage. Certainly, it snows all yr within the capital metropolis of Maseru, although the whole accumulation is barely about half an inch. As a result of Lesotho is south of the equator, its winter lasts from June until August, with low temperatures round 32 levels F. and excessive temperatures reaching 60.8 to 66 levels F.

6. Morocco

Like Algeria, Morocco is within the northern a part of the continent and borders not simply the Mediterranean Sea however the Atlantic Ocean. Due to this, it has a number of local weather zones. A few of these zones obtain snowfall within the winter, which lasts from December to February. Certainly, the city of Ifrane is thought for its snowboarding resort. Different locations recognized for his or her snowfall are Oukaimeden, Imlil, and Midelt. The typical snowfall is about 2 inches.

7. Kenya

The one place that will get an considerable quantity of snow on this nation is Mount Kenya, which has not less than three ski resorts. It rains and snows on this 17,057 foot extinct volcano from March to December, and snow falls on the mountain beginning at about 14,800 toes. December is the snowiest month on the mountain, however over the previous few years the quantity of snowfall has been lower than 2 inches. The final important quantity of snow fell on March 26, 2023, with an accumulation of two.8 inches.

8. Uganda

When you’re searching for snow in Uganda, you’ll discover it within the Rwenzori Mountains, proper on the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. These mountains not solely get snow, however numerous rain, and the annual precipitation averages as a lot 98 inches. The mountains have an alpine local weather and the tallest peaks, Mount Baker, Mount Speke, and Mount Stanley have everlasting snowcaps and glaciers. Nonetheless, climatologists imagine the snow and ice will disappear over the following 30 years. These peaks are additionally referred to as the Mountains of the Moon.

9. Tanzania

Tanzania is the house of Mount Kilimanjaro, and it’s the one place within the nation the place it snows. At 19,341 toes this mountain is the tallest in Africa. It’s so tall that it has 5 local weather zones and the temperature on the summit can sink to as little as -20 levels F. There’s no set time when Kilimanjaro experiences snowfall, however it’s most definitely to occur originally of December, with different important snowfalls taking place from July until September. The annual accumulation of snow and graupel is 9.8 to 19.7 inches a yr.

10. Tunisia

Like Algeria, Tunisia borders the Mediterranean Sea and the Sahara. Due to this, the northern and southern elements of this small nation have completely different climates. As a result of it’s north of the equator, Tunisia experiences snowfall from December into February, particularly in its central and northern areas. Snow additionally falls on its highest mountains, together with Jebel ech Chambi within the nation’s west central area. Nonetheless, snowfall in Tunisia is sparse in comparison with different locations. A January 2023 snowfall round Ain Drahem, a mountain metropolis within the northwest, resulted in an accumulation of about 0.79 of an inch.

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