.jpeg)
By Our Reporter, Dar es Salaam
The Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA) has projected that most parts of the country will receive average to below-average rainfall during the short rains season, which runs from October to December 2025.
The season is expected to be marked by long dry spells and uneven rainfall distribution, particularly across the northern coastal belt and the northeastern highlands.
Acting Director General of TMA and Vice-Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Dr. Ladislaus Chang’a, announced the forecast yesterday during a press briefing at Ubungo Plaza in Dar es Salaam.
“Rains are expected to begin in the first and second weeks of October in Kagera, Geita, Mwanza, Mara, and the northern parts of Kigoma. They will later spread to the northern coast and northeastern highlands by early to mid-November. The season is projected to end in January 2026,” said Dr. Chang’a.
He advised citizens to closely follow daily, 10-day, and monthly forecasts as well as official alerts issued by TMA.
“Since the seasonal outlook covers a three-month period, short- and medium-range forecasts will capture evolving weather systems that may affect rainfall distribution,” he explained.
Dr. Chang’a added that while rainfall may slightly increase in December, the season will generally be warmer than usual, with higher-than-normal temperatures expected.
He further noted that TMA has enhanced its localized forecasting by issuing district-level seasonal outlooks for 86 districts located in the bimodal rainfall zone.
The short rains season is particularly important for agriculture and livelihoods in the northeastern highlands (Arusha, Manyara, and Kilimanjaro), the northern coast (including northern Morogoro, Coast Region, Mafia Island, Dar es Salaam, and Tanga), the islands of Unguja and Pemba, the Lake Victoria basin (Kagera, Geita, Mwanza, Shinyanga, Simiyu, and Mara), as well as northern Kigoma.