Luanda, Angola Weather: Two Seasons
Curious what the weather's like in Luanda, Angola? I lived there for three years and I’ll tell you everything you need to know!
When I first tell people I lived in Africa, many respond with “that must have been hot!”. Well, they’re right and wrong. While Luanda was certainly hot, it wasn’t near as warm as I assumed it would be before I moved there!
Planning to move to or visit Luanda? Be sure to download this activity list I created with over 40 things you have to do in Luanda.
When we’re talking about weather in Luanda, Angola, there’s really just two seasons to discuss - the dry season and the rainy season.
Dry Season
Ah, dry season. It’s funny because before I moved to Luanda, I used to think when people said the “dry season” it meant that it wasn’t as rainy. Because in Houston, where I had lived my whole life, there was never a “dry” season. It rained every month of the year. But in Luanda, it’s not that it doesn’t rain “that often” during the dry season... it never rains.
That’s right, from June - September (sometimes longer) you can expect no rain. We moved to Luanda on the last day of May and we didn’t see a drop of rain until October or November. I remember we left a shoe rack outside for those first several months and never had to worry about rain (the dust was another story!).
There were countless days that first year when it was really overcast outside and I would ask my driver if it was going to rain. He would always tell me no. But I’d tell him it looked really cloudy - like rain. And he’d just laugh and promise me it wouldn’t rain. He was always right.
Temperatures in the Dry Season
During the dry season, the temperatures in Luanda were really nice. High’s at 80F ( 26C) and lows around 68F ( 20C). And I would say it only got up to 80F if the sun was out. If it’s a cloudy day, expect temps to stay closer to 77F ( 25C). It was perfect because it was hot enough to wear shorts and flip flops but not too hot so you could be outside for long periods of time. The biggest downside was the pool water was just a bit too cold to swim during the dry season.
Dust
Another downside of the dry season is the dust that accumulates everywhere in Luanda. That beautiful red african dirt you see gets blown all over homes, cars and buildings. By early September, the city is noticeably covered in a layer of dust. And when that first rain hits in October, it’s a relief to see all that caked on dust wash away.
Humidity
Because Luanda is positioned on the Atlantic Ocean, there’s a good ocean breeze that helps with the humidity. There were certainly more humid days than others but as a whole I always felt like the ocean breeze kept the humidity lower. This could be argued though. I had many friends that thought the humidity in Luanda was worse than Houston, Texas. Personally, I thought Luanda was more tolerable. Andrew thought the humidity in Luanda was worse. So it really just depends on who you ask!
Rainy Season
Now just because there is a season labeled as “rainy”, it doesn't necessarily mean it rains a lot. In fact, for being called the rainy season, I thought it rained very little in Luanda. However, it did rain much more in other provinces outside of Luanda.
The few days that it does actually rain in Luanda are intense. The rain comes fast and hard. And it leaves a lot of destruction in its path. We were fortunate to live in a nice westernized house and we didn’t have to worry about our dirt floor washing out.
Rainy Season Damage
But most Angolans were not so lucky. And if you’ve seen pictures of homes in Luanda, you’ll know that many “roofs” are barely holding on with cinder blocks. Well, when the rain comes, it does a lot of damage to homes when those “roofs” (or sheet metal) can’t withstand the rain and begin leaking into the home.
It was also sad to see entire streets or dirt roads get washed out with the rains. You would have to wait a few days or even a week for the water to recede and dry out before you could drive them again. And any day where the rains are intense, you may hear reports of people dying from homes caving in or avalanche-style mudslides in smaller towns.
If you’re an expat living in Luanda, Angola then you will likely have nicer Westernized housing and won’t need to worry about these things. But it’s important to understand the damage that is done to many Angolan citizens when the rainy days do come. If they tell you they can’t make it to work because of the rain, they aren’t just trying to get out of work.
Temperatures in the Rainy Season
Aside from the few rainy days, the rainy season is still very nice compared to the dry season. But it is definitely hot and many people call this “summer”. Coming from Houston, Texas I found the “summers” in Luanda much more pleasant. The average highs were around 84F (29C) while the lows stayed close to 74F (23C).
I’m in Austin, Texas as I write this and it’s 95F (35C) in June! Yeah, I’d go back to Luanda!
And when November comes around, it’s time to jump in the pool! Most Western homes and apartments in Luanda will have a pool for you to enjoy. This was definitely my favorite part of living in Luanda during the hotter months - having a pool to cool off in!
African Sun
Even though the temperatures may not be in the high 90’s or 100’s, that african sun can be brutal because Luanda is close to the equator. So be sure you wear a lot of sunscreen with a strong SPF before going to the pool or beach. In fact, you’ll want to pack it in your suitcase to ensure you have a cost effective and high quality option.
When Should You Visit Luanda?
If you’re planning to visit Luanda, I think the best temperature month is October. It’s still cool at night but it’s starting to get warmer during the day. But, if you’re wanting to spend some time by the pool or beach, then wait until late November!
As you can, the weather in Luanda, Angola was actually very nice and mild. Before moving there, I thought it would be much warmer because it was Africa! But truthfully, the warmer months weren’t bad at all. And the dry season never felt too hot or too cold. As someone who loves to live in shorts and flip flops, I really enjoyed the weather in Luanda, Angola.
Have any specific questions about the weather in Luanda, Angola? Ask me below in the comments!
And don’t forget about this activity list with everything you should do when in Luanda!
