Tanzania Records Hottest Year Ever in 2024 Amid Surging Nighttime Temperatures

In 2024, Tanzania witnessed its hottest year since records began in 1970, driven largely by surging nighttime minimum temperatures. The national average temperature for the year reached 24.3°C, which is 0.7°C above normal, breaking the previous record set in 2023. The average minimum temperature hit 19.3°C, 1.1°C higher than the long-term average, indicating a stronger rise during nighttime than daytime. The year also became the fourth wettest in history, intensifying climate stress, especially for a country where 80% of the population depends on agriculture.

Key Highlights of Tanzania’s 2024 Climate Report

General Climate Overview

• Record Year: 2024 was Tanzania’s hottest year ever since 1970.
• Average Temperature (2024): 24.3°C — 0.7°C above normal
• Previous Record: Set in 2023
• Nighttime Focus: Minimum temperatures rose 1.1°C above average (stronger than daytime increases)

Nighttime Temperature Trends

• Minimum Temperature (Avg 2024): 19.3°C
• Maximum Temperature (Avg 2024): 28.8°C (only 0.4°C above normal)
• February: Highest anomaly at +1.5°C
• March–May: Minimum temps exceeded +1°C anomalies

Rainfall and Wet Conditions

• Total Rainfall in 2024: 1,307.6 mm — 28% above average
• Rank: 4th wettest year since 1970
• Wettest Year in Last 20 Years
• November 2023–April 2024: Wettest rainy season since 1970
• Rainfall: 1,354.6 mm (172% of long-term avg)

Climate Drivers

Extreme Rainfall Influenced By,

• El Niño
• Positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD)
• Stations like Dar es Salaam, Kibaha, Morogoro, Zanzibar, and Tanga recorded rainfall 3 to 6 times higher than normal.