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Weather & Climate in Musanze, Rwanda
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Musanze 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 6,066 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 | 6,066 ft (1,849 m) |
| Area | 10.0 sq mi (25.8 km²) |
| Population Density | 15,414/sq mi |
| Coordinates | -1.4998°N, 29.6350°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 | 82 km | 11 km |
| Feb 3, 2008 | 20 km N of Cyangugu, Rwanda | M5.9 | 121 km | 10 km |
| Aug 7, 2015 | 37 km N of Cyangugu, Rwanda | M5.8 | 109 km | 11 km |
| Aug 7, 2015 | 43 km N of Cyangugu, Rwanda | M5.5 | 101 km | 10 km |
| Oct 24, 2002 | 28 km SSW of Sake, Democratic Republic of the Congo | M5.5 | 81 km | 10 km |
| Sep 4, 1990 | 72 km SSW of Butembo, Democratic Republic of the Congo | M5.4 | 129 km | 10 km |
| Jul 30, 2017 | 52 km SSW of Kilembe, Uganda | M5.3 | 143 km | 10 km |
| Feb 14, 2008 | 8 km N of Cyangugu, Rwanda | M5.3 | 128 km | 10 km |
| Mar 20, 2003 | Rwanda - Burundi region | M5.2 | 102 km | 10 km |
| Jan 22, 2002 | 8 km NW of Sake, Democratic Republic of the Congo | M5.2 | 71 km | 10 km |
| Aug 5, 2003 | 46 km NNW of Ntungamo, Uganda | M5.2 | 111 km | 10 km |
| Jan 21, 2002 | 22 km S of Sake, Democratic Republic of the Congo | M5.1 | 73 km | 10 km |
| Feb 4, 2016 | 69 km W of Sake, Democratic Republic of the Congo | M5.1 | 136 km | 10 km |
| Apr 29, 1995 | 56 km WNW of Sake, Democratic Republic of the Congo | M5.1 | 116 km | 10 km |
| Jan 20, 2002 | 13 km SSW of Sake, Democratic Republic of the Congo | M5.1 | 75 km | 10 km |
| Oct 24, 2002 | 37 km W of Kibuye, Rwanda | M5.0 | 90 km | 10 km |
| Feb 3, 2008 | 11 km NE of Cyangugu, Rwanda | M5.0 | 125 km | 10 km |
| Feb 3, 2008 | 22 km NNE of Cyangugu, Rwanda | M4.9 | 114 km | 10 km |
| Jan 28, 2010 | 50 km W of Ntungamo, Uganda | M4.9 | 82 km | 10 km |
| Nov 20, 2012 | 51 km N of Rukungiri, Uganda | M4.8 | 129 km | 17 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 | — | — | 49 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
7 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Muhavura (14 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Muhavura | Stratovolcano | 4,103 m (13,461 ft) | Unknown | 14 km |
| Visoke | Stratovolcano | 3,696 m (12,126 ft) | 1957 | 17 km |
| Karisimbi | Stratovolcano | 4,490 m (14,731 ft) | -8050 | 21 km |
| Nyiragongo | Stratovolcano | 3,470 m (11,385 ft) | 2020 | 43 km |
| Nyamuragira | Shield | 3,058 m (10,033 ft) | 2020 | 49 km |
| Bunyaruguru | Maar(s) | 1,554 m (5,098 ft) | Unknown | 153 km |
| Katwe-Kikorongo | Tuff cone(s) | 1,067 m (3,501 ft) | Unknown | 161 km |
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 49°F (9°C) | 4.2 in | Coldest |
| February | 59°F (15°C) | 4.7 in | Warmest |
| March | 59°F (15°C) | 6.1 in | |
| April | 58°F (14°C) | 8.0 in | Wettest |
| May | 58°F (14°C) | 5.7 in | |
| June | 58°F (14°C) | 1.7 in | |
| July | 50°F (10°C) | 1.1 in | Driest |
| August | 59°F (15°C) | 2.6 in | |
| September | 59°F (15°C) | 5.3 in | |
| October | 58°F (15°C) | 5.9 in | |
| November | 58°F (15°C) | 6.4 in | |
| December | 58°F (15°C) | 5.2 in |
Musanze has a seasonal temperature swing of 10°F / from 49°F in January to 59°F in February. Total annual precipitation is 56.9 inches, with April being the wettest month (8.0") and July the driest (1.1").