Burundi Climate
Top 5 Cities: Bujumbura, Gitega, Muyinga, Ruyigi, and Ngozi
This month in numbers
Burundi experienced its 4th warmest April on record, with an average temperature of 20.88°C, an anomaly of +1.5°C compared to the 1961–1990 baseline. The past three months (February–April 2026) were the 2nd warmest on record for the country, with an average temperature of 21.42°C, an anomaly of +1.8°C. Globally, April 2026 was the 2nd warmest April on record for land temperatures, with the February–April 2026 period also ranking as the 2nd warmest for global land temperatures.
What changed
Burundi's consistently high temperatures over the past three months continue a warming trend, with 2025 already being the warmest year on record. The country's 3-month anomaly of +1.8°C places it 103rd out of 234 regions in cross-region rankings, indicating a significant warming trend within a global context where many regions are experiencing elevated temperatures. The current NOAA ONI 3-month (February-April 2026) indicates Neutral ENSO conditions, with an anomaly of +0.11°C.
What’s driving change?
The persistent warming in Burundi is part of a broader trend of land warming faster than the ocean. The region has also been significantly impacted by extreme weather events. In early February 2026, torrential rains, thunderstorms, and hailstorms led to a deadly landslide in Rutunda village, Bujumbura province, killing at least nine people and injuring six. This event was part of a wider pattern of extreme weather affecting the region, including severe flooding and landslides in neighbouring countries. Additionally, violent rains, strong winds, and hail struck Cibitoke district in early February, resulting in four deaths, dozens injured, and over 400 houses destroyed. These events highlight Burundi's vulnerability to climate-related hazards, which are a major cause of internal displacement, with flooding and landslides being recurrent issues. The country has also seen a resurgence of cholera in April 2026, partly attributed to poor hygiene practices and inadequate sanitation, which can be exacerbated by extreme weather events.
Looking ahead
The NOAA CPC probability forecast suggests an increasing likelihood of El Niño developing in the coming months, with a 61% chance for May–July and a 79% chance for June–August, which typically brings heavier rainfall to East Africa.
Generated by Gemini from climate data and web sources
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Data Sources
Data Sources for Burundi
Every figure on this page is sourced from official, openly published climate datasets. Anomalies are calculated against the 1961–1990 baseline (temperature) and 1991–2020 (rainfall, sunshine, frost) — see the Methodology & Sources page for the complete dataset list and update calendar.
FAQs
FAQs
How is the climate in Burundi changing?
Burundi is warming in line with the rest of the world. The page above shows the latest monthly temperature anomaly versus the 1961-1990 baseline, the long-term annual trend, and the region's rank in the historical record. The trend rate is shown as °C per decade in the headline panel; you can also see the warmest and coolest years on file.
Where does the climate data for Burundi come from?
Climate data for Burundi comes from Our World in Data, sourcing Copernicus ERA5 and HadCRUT5 (national temperature anomaly) and the Global Carbon Project via Our World in Data (CO₂ emissions), refreshed every month, when the upstream temperature and rainfall data are refreshed.
What is the climate baseline used on this page?
Anomalies on this page are calculated against the 1961-1990 climatological baseline, which is the standard reference period used by the Met Office, NOAA, IPCC and most national climate services. Some panels also show the source-native 1901-2000 (NOAA) or 1991-2020 (WMO) baselines for verification. See Methodology & Sources for the full reference.
Which areas does the Burundi climate data cover?
The Burundi climate profile covers Bujumbura, Gitega, Muyinga, Ruyigi and surrounding areas. Temperature, rainfall and emissions data for Burundi
How often is the Burundi climate update refreshed?
The Burundi climate update is refreshed monthly, typically a few days after the previous month closes and the upstream provider (Met Office HadUK-Grid, NOAA Climate at a Glance, Copernicus ERA5 or the Global Carbon Project) publishes its update. See the Climate Rankings for cross-region comparisons.