A lot of people are curious what the weather is like here in Cabo Delgado and what sort of seasons we have, so I thought I'd jot down a quick little post on the climate here and my personal experience with it. According to the National Geographic, there are three types of tropical climates, and I would say that Cabo Delgado seems to fit quite comfortably in the tropical wet and dry: savanna group. This means there are three principle seasons present: one that is hot and dry, one that is hot and wet and a final one that is cool and dry. Lets go through each of these as they relate to Cabo:
"Cold season" (cool and dry) - this is the season we are entering right now and begins usually towards the beginning of May and lasts 3-4 months until July or August. While "cold" is certainly a relative term, and here means that it can get down to high 50's at night and mid-70's during the day, once one is used to the normal temperatures of the regions a blanket becomes a welcome addition to the nightly routine. This period can be breezy, which usually provides a refreshing movement in the air and helps to cool down the days when the temperature itself doesn't drop too much. This is the time people plant tomatoes, onions, cabbage, lettuce and most other 'small-scale' items (as opposed to cassava, peanuts, beans and corn, which seem to always be planted in huge quantities). Needless to say, this is one of my favorite seasons, as it's the closest I'll get to winter or Fall here!
"Hot season" (hot and dry) - this season is the one that most volunteers fear, due to the merciless heat it brings with it. This season usually begins in August and will last until December or January, depending on when the rains come that year. During the hot season the temperature is in the 90's without fail and can zip up even higher at times as well. In a coastal city like Pemba this season usually takes even fewer prisoners due to the humidity, whereas in a location a little more inland like Metoro it tends to be a slightly drier heat, though not near as dry as that of New Mexico or Arizona.
"Rainy season" (hot and wet) - the rainy season varies in its arrival, but usually starts in December or January and lasts 4 months or less. During this season it is often very hot during the day (progressively hotter as the day goes on) and then the afternoon sometimes brings rain. During this season the heat is a very humid heat and locals use this time to plant their machambas (fields) with corn, cassava, peanuts and beans. The level of production during this period is dependent on the quality and frequency of rain, which is important because the food produced during this season serves as the dietary staples for the rest of the year. This period of time is also known as the tempo de fome (time of hunger), as much of last year's product is being used up and the new production is still growing and not yet ready to be consumed.
Well, hopefully that gives you a little better picture of the swing of the seasons around these parts and know that I'll sitting back enjoying the relative cool during these days as most of you are entering the hottest months of your year!
"Cold season" (cool and dry) - this is the season we are entering right now and begins usually towards the beginning of May and lasts 3-4 months until July or August. While "cold" is certainly a relative term, and here means that it can get down to high 50's at night and mid-70's during the day, once one is used to the normal temperatures of the regions a blanket becomes a welcome addition to the nightly routine. This period can be breezy, which usually provides a refreshing movement in the air and helps to cool down the days when the temperature itself doesn't drop too much. This is the time people plant tomatoes, onions, cabbage, lettuce and most other 'small-scale' items (as opposed to cassava, peanuts, beans and corn, which seem to always be planted in huge quantities). Needless to say, this is one of my favorite seasons, as it's the closest I'll get to winter or Fall here!
"Hot season" (hot and dry) - this season is the one that most volunteers fear, due to the merciless heat it brings with it. This season usually begins in August and will last until December or January, depending on when the rains come that year. During the hot season the temperature is in the 90's without fail and can zip up even higher at times as well. In a coastal city like Pemba this season usually takes even fewer prisoners due to the humidity, whereas in a location a little more inland like Metoro it tends to be a slightly drier heat, though not near as dry as that of New Mexico or Arizona.
"Rainy season" (hot and wet) - the rainy season varies in its arrival, but usually starts in December or January and lasts 4 months or less. During this season it is often very hot during the day (progressively hotter as the day goes on) and then the afternoon sometimes brings rain. During this season the heat is a very humid heat and locals use this time to plant their machambas (fields) with corn, cassava, peanuts and beans. The level of production during this period is dependent on the quality and frequency of rain, which is important because the food produced during this season serves as the dietary staples for the rest of the year. This period of time is also known as the tempo de fome (time of hunger), as much of last year's product is being used up and the new production is still growing and not yet ready to be consumed.
Well, hopefully that gives you a little better picture of the swing of the seasons around these parts and know that I'll sitting back enjoying the relative cool during these days as most of you are entering the hottest months of your year!
