Weather Systems

Weather Systems are the movement of hot and cold air across the globe.

Depending on the season and time of day, the weather systems on and around Mt. Kilimanjaro can vary immensely.  The average temperature at the base of the mountain is 21-27 degrees Celsius, this is at large due to the warm winds that come from Tanzania's coast. These winds from the coast are called "trade winds", these are winds that come from well below Madagascar all the way up to the Tanzanian and Kenyan coast and continue onto the mainland.

While the base area of Mt. Kilimanjaro is warmed by coastal winds, the peak of the mountain is marauded by cold winds due to its high altitude. The blistering winds of cold air do not help climbers in their attempt to summit the mountain. The suns radiation sometimes helps the climbers but usually cannot compete with the cold winds. This makes climbing the mountain even more physically and mentally difficult. (20)

SEVERE WEATHER

The main source of severe weather that threatens the mountain is the heavy rains and storms that accompany the region's rainy season. Trade winds enter the region around March, when the season begins. These winds and the rain that comes with them will affect the mountain until around May. The mountain does not allow hikers to trek up the mountain during this time due to these heavy rains, making the hikers susceptible to danger and even landslides. (21)

As hikers enter higher elevations on the mountain, they will experience higher likelihood of severe weather. Wind speed is faster on the top of mountains because it is not as affected by friction caused by the Earth's surface. Storms are common because the updraft of air needed to cause a storm can be caused more frequently by slopes forcing the air upwards. (22)

Jack Waltham, Maura Eckerle