Chart of the week
In just five months, Windhoek’s 2025 rainfall is on track to become the second-highest annual total since at least 2008 – the earliest year for which consistent data is available.
After several consecutive years of severe drought across Namibia, 2025 appears to offer some much-needed relief, with 539.2mm of rainfall recorded between January and May alone.
Rainfall is critical for Namibia’s agriculture, tourism, and municipal services. The rainy season typically spans from December to March or April, and seasonal forecasts often hinge on the likelihood of El Niño or La Niña events.
Interestingly, while El Niño years are usually associated with below-average rainfall in Namibia, 2010 – a predominantly El Niño year – delivered the second-highest rainfall total in the dataset, with 583mm.
On average:
•El Niño years recorded 350mm of rainfall – although this figure is skewed by 2010. Excluding that year, the average drops to 272mm.
•Neutral years averaged 324mm.
•La Niña years posted the highest average at 568mm – though this is also skewed by 2011, which recorded a record-breaking 1,221mm. Without 2011, the La Niña average stands at 405mm.
From 2008 to present, Windhoek’s overall average rainfall has been around 400mm per year. However, since 2012, that figure drops to roughly 300mm annually – a reflection of the unusually wet years between 2008 and 2011, which averaged around 700mm during that short window.
The driest year on record was 2019, with just 109mm of rainfall.
While rainfall outcomes are subject to volatility and occasional outliers, broader climate patterns such as El Niño and La Niña remain useful indicators for anticipating seasonal conditions – particularly for water-intensive sectors.
After several consecutive years of severe drought across Namibia, 2025 appears to offer some much-needed relief, with 539.2mm of rainfall recorded between January and May alone.
Rainfall is critical for Namibia’s agriculture, tourism, and municipal services. The rainy season typically spans from December to March or April, and seasonal forecasts often hinge on the likelihood of El Niño or La Niña events.
Interestingly, while El Niño years are usually associated with below-average rainfall in Namibia, 2010 – a predominantly El Niño year – delivered the second-highest rainfall total in the dataset, with 583mm.
On average:
•El Niño years recorded 350mm of rainfall – although this figure is skewed by 2010. Excluding that year, the average drops to 272mm.
•Neutral years averaged 324mm.
•La Niña years posted the highest average at 568mm – though this is also skewed by 2011, which recorded a record-breaking 1,221mm. Without 2011, the La Niña average stands at 405mm.
From 2008 to present, Windhoek’s overall average rainfall has been around 400mm per year. However, since 2012, that figure drops to roughly 300mm annually – a reflection of the unusually wet years between 2008 and 2011, which averaged around 700mm during that short window.
The driest year on record was 2019, with just 109mm of rainfall.
While rainfall outcomes are subject to volatility and occasional outliers, broader climate patterns such as El Niño and La Niña remain useful indicators for anticipating seasonal conditions – particularly for water-intensive sectors.
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