South Sudan Climate
Top 5 Cities: Juba, Wau, Malakal, Yei, and Aweil
This month in numbers
South Sudan experienced its 20th warmest April on record in 2026, with an average temperature of 30.46°C, which is +1.7°C above the 1961–1990 baseline. The global land temperature for April 2026 ranked as the 2nd warmest on record, at 14.96°C, an anomaly of +1.1°C. Looking at the three-month period from February to April 2026, South Sudan recorded its 9th warmest such period on record, with an average temperature of 31.08°C, a significant +2.3°C above the baseline.
What changed
The seasonal trend for February–April 2026 shows South Sudan experiencing significantly warmer conditions, ranking 9th warmest in 86 years of records. This trend is part of a broader pattern, as the country's long-term warming trend is +2.03°C compared to the 1961–1990 baseline, with 2025 being the warmest year on record. While South Sudan's one-month anomaly for April placed it 117th out of 234 regions globally, its three-month anomaly ranked 85th, indicating a sustained period of elevated temperatures. The wider Africa group, which includes South Sudan, also saw above-average temperatures, with South Sudan's April anomaly being 0.33°C warmer than the group average.
What’s driving change?
The persistent warmer-than-usual conditions in South Sudan are largely driven by the broader trend of . The region has been under "Extreme Caution" for heat stress, with temperatures climbing above seasonal norms across the entire country, particularly in Eastern regions. This heat stress can lead to dehydration and other health risks, exacerbating an already fragile health infrastructure. While the current ENSO state is Neutral, with a strong forecast for El Niño developing by May-July 2026, its direct influence on the current warming trend in South Sudan is likely muted. However, the region has also been grappling with persistent and chronic climate shocks, including extreme flooding, which is considered the "new normal" and covers up to one-quarter of the country in severe years. This has led to widespread displacement and food insecurity, with 91% of surveyed internally displaced persons (IDPs) affected by flooding or storms.
Looking ahead
With El Niño strongly forecast to develop from May-July 2026 and persist through the rest of the year, South Sudan, as part of East Africa, typically experiences wetter conditions during the "short rains" (October-December) under El Niño, which could bring a heightened risk of flooding. /climate/enso
Sources:
Generated by Gemini from climate data and web sources
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Data Sources
Data Sources for South Sudan
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 South Sudan changing?
South Sudan 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 South Sudan come from?
Climate data for South Sudan 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 South Sudan climate data cover?
The South Sudan climate profile covers Juba, Wau, Malakal, Yei and surrounding areas. Temperature, rainfall and emissions data for South Sudan
How often is the South Sudan climate update refreshed?
The South Sudan 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.