South Sudan Climate – June 2026 Update
Top 5 Cities: Juba, Wau, Malakal, Yei, and Aweil
This month in numbers
South Sudan recorded its 5th warmest June on record, with an average temperature of 28.42°C, marking an anomaly of +2.2°C compared to the 1961–1990 baseline. Globally, June 2026 was the 3rd warmest June on record for land temperatures. The April–June 2026 period also ranked as the 8th warmest for South Sudan, with an anomaly of +2°C.
What changed
Over the past three months (April–June 2026), South Sudan experienced significantly warmer conditions, with temperatures averaging 29.5°C. This continues a long-term warming trend for the country, which has seen an increase of +2.03°C compared to the 1961–1990 baseline. South Sudan's June anomaly of +2.2°C was notably warmer than the overall Africa group average of +1.58°C, placing it as the 2nd warmest country within the group for the month.
What’s driving change?
The current climate patterns are strongly influenced by a weak El Niño, which is present and expected to strengthen into the Northern Hemisphere winter 2026-27. El Niño typically brings suppressed rainfall during the June–September season to northern parts of East Africa, including South Sudan, and this is contributing to warmer and drier conditions in many areas. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has warned of intensifying drought risks and above-average temperatures across much of South Sudan during the June-September rainy season. This is further exacerbated by the effect, contributing to the observed temperature anomalies.
Looking ahead
Seasonal forecasts indicate a high likelihood of below-average rainfall and above-average temperatures across much of South Sudan during the June–September rainy season, increasing the risk of drought and water shortages. However, the strengthening El Niño is historically associated with enhanced rainfall during the October–December "short rains" season for the equatorial Horn of Africa, which could bring wetter-than-normal conditions and a potential for flooding later in the year.
Generated by Gemini from climate data and web sources
At a Glance
Temperature – Average
Year-on-Year Trends
The 4byo Climate Helix – South Sudan
Data: Our World in Data / NOAA (rainfall: World Bank CCKP / CRU TS 4.08). Baseline: first 30 yrs on record. Recent: last 10 yrs on record.
South Sudan – Monthly Temperature – All Years
Data: Our World in Data / NOAA (rainfall: World Bank CCKP / CRU TS 4.08). Baseline: first 30 yrs on record. Recent: last 10 yrs on record.
Records – South Sudan
Our World in Data / NOAA - Anomalies vs 1901-2000 mean
Shifting Seasons
Wet / dry seasonsKöppen Aw · TropicalSouth Sudan doesn't have a warm/cold cycle - its monthly temperature range is only 4.4°C across the year - but it does have a strong wet/dry cycle (the wettest month gets 77× as much rain as the driest). So we track how the wet season has shifted instead.
Monthly rainfall climatology. A “wet month” exceeds the baseline monthly mean (dashed gold line). Biggest month-to-month shift: Apr (-9 mm, -12%).
Data: Our World in Data / NOAA (rainfall: World Bank CCKP / CRU TS 4.08). Baseline: first 30 yrs on record. Recent: last 10 yrs on record.
Rainfall & Precipitation
Rainfall & Rain Days – Totals
Headline: anomaly vs the 1961–1990 mean. Small figure: the actual value. Rank: position in the full record (1st = highest ever). Record: highest (or lowest) value on record with its year.
Climate Systems
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Emissions & Energy
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Explore Climate Data
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 headline panel also shows the long-term trend rate per decade and 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.