Lesotho Climate
Top 5 Cities: Maseru, Teyateyaneng, Mafeteng, Leribe, and Maputsoe
This month in numbers
Lesotho experienced an April temperature of 11.27°C, an anomaly of +0.8°C compared to the 1961–1990 baseline, ranking it the 27th warmest April in 86 years of records. The three-month period from February to April 2026 saw an average temperature of 14.64°C, an anomaly of +1.3°C, making it the 10th warmest such period on record. Globally, April 2026 was the 2nd warmest April on record for land temperatures, with an anomaly of +1.1°C. The February–April 2026 global land temperature also ranked as the 2nd warmest on record, with an anomaly of +1.2°C.
What changed
Lesotho's recent warmth is part of a broader trend, with the country experiencing its 3rd warmest year on record in 2025, at an average of 12.49°C. The long-term trend for Lesotho shows a significant warming of +1.37°C compared to the 1961–1990 baseline. This warming trend is consistent with the global picture, as global land temperatures also show significant anomalies. Lesotho's 1-month temperature anomaly places it 189th out of 234 regions, while its 3-month anomaly ranks it 157th.
What’s driving change?
The persistent warmth in Lesotho is influenced by global warming. The region has been grappling with persistent drought conditions, which have been exacerbated by heatwaves and high temperatures, particularly in early 2024 and recurrently in the first quarter of 2025. These dry conditions contribute to , where the lack of moisture prevents evaporative cooling, leading to higher land surface temperatures. Furthermore, the El Niño phenomenon has been identified as a significant factor in Lesotho's severe drought in recent history, with a national disaster declared in July 2024 due to widespread food insecurity. While the current ENSO phase is neutral, the lingering effects of past El Niño events continue to impact the region. Heavy rains and flooding have also been a concern in the broader Southern Africa region between December 2025 and January 2026, intensified by climate change and La Niña conditions. Forecasted moderate to heavy rainfall in central South Africa and Lesotho for the coming week in late April 2026 also indicates a risk of flooding.
Looking ahead
The seasonal outlook for October 2025 to March 2026 anticipated normal to above-normal rainfall and warm temperatures for most of Lesotho, offering opportunities for improved crop growth but also requiring vigilance against seasonal hazards.
Generated by Gemini from climate data and web sources
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Data Sources
Data Sources for Lesotho
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 Lesotho changing?
Lesotho 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 Lesotho come from?
Climate data for Lesotho 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 Lesotho climate data cover?
The Lesotho climate profile covers Maseru, Teyateyaneng, Mafeteng, Leribe and surrounding areas. Temperature, rainfall and emissions data for Lesotho
How often is the Lesotho climate update refreshed?
The Lesotho 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.