Considerable regional differences occur in Sudan's climate. In the northern desert areas, the weather is hot and dry, with almost no rainfall, and temperatures reach a maximum of 43.3 degrees C (110 degrees F). Lowest temperatures in winter can be as low as 4.4 degrees C (40 degrees F), particularly at night. The region is prone to severe dust storms, known as haboobs.
In the central region around Khartoum, temperatures are slightly lower, with an annual average of about 26.7 degrees C (about 80 degrees F). About 254mm (10 inches) of rain falls annually, mostly between the months of June and September.
Southern Sudan has an equatorial climate, with high temperatures, high rainfall and very high humidity. The average annual temperature in this region is about 29.4 degrees C (about 85 degrees F), with an annual rainfall of more than 1015mm (more than 40 inches). In the extreme south, the rainy season can last for almost nine months.
In Khartoum, average humidity and maximum temperatures (C) are as follows:
|
Humidity |
Maximum temperature C |
|
|
January |
20% |
32.1 |
|
February |
15% |
33.2 |
|
March |
12% |
37.8 |
|
April |
11% |
40.5 |
|
May |
13% |
42.6 |
|
June |
18% |
40.7 |
|
July |
32% |
39.5 |
|
August |
41% |
37.9 |
|
September |
30% |
39.8 |
|
October |
21% |
40.0 |
|
November |
20% |
35.7 |
|
December |
22% |
33.0 |