All Countries
Weather & Climate in Gisenyi, Rwanda
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Gisenyi experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 50°F (10°C). Winters average 49°F in January while summers reach 50°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 354 sunny days per year, well above the U.S. average of 205 / making it one of the sunnier locations in the country. Annual precipitation totals 55.7 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The city sits at an elevation of 4,793 feet.
Temperature
49°F Jan (9°C)
50°F Jul (10°C)
| Annual Average | 50.1°F |
| 7% below US avg | |
| January Average | 49°F (9°C) |
| July Average | 50°F (10°C) |
| Sunny Days | 354 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 4,793 ft (1,461 m) |
| Area | 210.6 sq mi (545.4 km²) |
| Population Density | 818/sq mi |
| Coordinates | -1.7028°N, 29.2564°W |
| Timezone | Africa/Kigali |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Earthquake History
115 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M6.2.
| Oct 24, 2002 | 34 km SW of Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo | M6.2 | 35 km | 11 km |
| Feb 3, 2008 | 20 km N of Cyangugu, Rwanda | M5.9 | 77 km | 10 km |
| Aug 7, 2015 | 37 km N of Cyangugu, Rwanda | M5.8 | 63 km | 11 km |
| Oct 24, 2002 | 28 km SSW of Sake, Democratic Republic of the Congo | M5.5 | 34 km | 10 km |
| Aug 7, 2015 | 43 km N of Cyangugu, Rwanda | M5.5 | 55 km | 10 km |
| Sep 4, 1990 | 72 km SSW of Butembo, Democratic Republic of the Congo | M5.4 | 137 km | 10 km |
| Feb 14, 2008 | 8 km N of Cyangugu, Rwanda | M5.3 | 87 km | 10 km |
| Aug 5, 2003 | 46 km NNW of Ntungamo, Uganda | M5.2 | 133 km | 10 km |
| Mar 20, 2003 | Rwanda - Burundi region | M5.2 | 86 km | 10 km |
| Jan 22, 2002 | 8 km NW of Sake, Democratic Republic of the Congo | M5.2 | 36 km | 10 km |
| Jan 21, 2002 | 22 km S of Sake, Democratic Republic of the Congo | M5.1 | 25 km | 10 km |
| Apr 29, 1995 | 56 km WNW of Sake, Democratic Republic of the Congo | M5.1 | 84 km | 10 km |
| Feb 4, 2016 | 69 km W of Sake, Democratic Republic of the Congo | M5.1 | 94 km | 10 km |
| Jan 20, 2002 | 13 km SSW of Sake, Democratic Republic of the Congo | M5.1 | 31 km | 10 km |
| Oct 24, 2002 | 37 km W of Kibuye, Rwanda | M5.0 | 44 km | 10 km |
| Feb 3, 2008 | 11 km NE of Cyangugu, Rwanda | M5.0 | 84 km | 10 km |
| Sep 15, 2017 | 24 km S of Kabare, Democratic Republic of the Congo | M5.0 | 124 km | 12 km |
| Jan 28, 2010 | 50 km W of Ntungamo, Uganda | M4.9 | 89 km | 10 km |
| Sep 28, 1993 | 21 km W of Kabare, Democratic Republic of the Congo | M4.9 | 117 km | 10 km |
| Feb 3, 2008 | 22 km NNE of Cyangugu, Rwanda | M4.9 | 72 km | 10 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tsunami History
1 tsunami recorded within 500 km.
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 1938 | NYAMURAGIRA | Astronomical | — | — | 33 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
7 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Nyiragongo (20 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Nyiragongo | Stratovolcano | 3,470 m (11,385 ft) | 2020 | 20 km |
| Karisimbi | Stratovolcano | 4,490 m (14,731 ft) | -8050 | 31 km |
| Nyamuragira | Shield | 3,058 m (10,033 ft) | 2020 | 33 km |
| Visoke | Stratovolcano | 3,696 m (12,126 ft) | 1957 | 37 km |
| Muhavura | Stratovolcano | 4,103 m (13,461 ft) | Unknown | 59 km |
| Bunyaruguru | Maar(s) | 1,554 m (5,098 ft) | Unknown | 191 km |
| Katwe-Kikorongo | Tuff cone(s) | 1,067 m (3,501 ft) | Unknown | 195 km |
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 49°F (9°C) | 3.6 in | Coldest |
| February | 67°F (20°C) | 4.1 in | Warmest |
| March | 67°F (19°C) | 5.2 in | |
| April | 67°F (20°C) | 6.5 in | Wettest |
| May | 67°F (19°C) | 5.0 in | |
| June | 66°F (19°C) | 2.2 in | |
| July | 50°F (10°C) | 1.1 in | Driest |
| August | 67°F (20°C) | 2.4 in | |
| September | 66°F (19°C) | 4.8 in | |
| October | 67°F (19°C) | 5.5 in | |
| November | 65°F (18°C) | 6.1 in | |
| December | 66°F (19°C) | 4.4 in |
Gisenyi has a seasonal temperature swing of 19°F / from 49°F in January to 67°F in February. Total annual precipitation is 51.0 inches, with April being the wettest month (6.5") and July the driest (1.1").