By The Arusha News Reporter
Arusha and Kilimanjaro are currently experiencing very hot weather, with daytime temperatures soaring to over 34°C, a significant increase for the highland regions that typically enjoy a moderate climate and become extremely chilly during their dry or wintry season, expected in just the next three months.
According to the Tanzania Meteorological Agency (TMA), the heatwave is a seasonal occurrence, typically seen before the onset of the long rains Masika, expected to begin in mid or late March. However, many residents complain that this year’s heat has been unbearable.
“The last time Arusha was this hot was in 1984. Many people lost their livestock due to drought, leading to a permanent change in the life of the Maasai as they migrated to towns and cities, leaving behind their indigenous pastoralist lifestyle,” said environmentalist Kidon Mkuu, who is originally from Longido.
Mr. Mkuu fears that, like in 1984, many people were unable to utilise the brief short rains this season, which are usually for planting. He expressed concern that 2025 would be characterised by a serious food shortage of near-famine proportions in the northern zone.
UN Climate Change Ambassador, Rev. Prof. Dr. Aidan G. Msafiri, said the heat in Arusha, Kilimanjaro, and Manyara regions was the cumulative effect of non-environmentally friendly human activities over the last 15 to 20 years. He attributed this to extensive agriculture, including the use of pesticides and greenhouses for flower farming, as well as increased private ownership of motor vehicles, which all contribute significantly to the production of greenhouse gases.
Rev Prof Aidan Msafiri
“The carbon gases produced through human activities never just dissipate into thin air but remain trapped in the atmosphere. What we are experiencing now is carbon emission concentration, which invariably leads to increased heat as we have seen progressively in the last 15 to 20 years,” said the Roman Catholic priest, who is also a senior lecturer at the Mweka College of African Wildlife Management and a visiting professor at Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.
What is needed, therefore, he said, was for the government and the public to align their efforts when talking about a sustainable environment, as he decried corruption and the indiscriminate felling of extremely seasoned trees, as he has seen happening in Moshi, Arusha, and Manyara.
Meteorologists attribute the extreme weather conditions to several factors. February and early March are usually the hottest months in northern Tanzania before the Masika (long) rains arrive. With minimal cloud cover, the sun’s intensity increases, pushing temperatures higher. Additionally, global weather patterns, including El Niño, could be contributing to the prolonged dry spell.
Thus, it is recommended to avoid direct sun exposure, especially between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., when temperatures are at their highest. Wearing light-coloured, loose-fitting clothing could also help to keep the body cool. The dry conditions have also increased the risk of bushfires, making it pertinent for residents to avoid unnecessary land burning as a way to clear farms and to handle fires with caution.
The heatwave is expected to ease once the Masika (long) rains start, likely between the second and third weeks of March, according to TMA. For 2025, TMA forecasts average to above-average rainfall in northern Tanzania, with downpours intensifying in April, increasing the potential for flooding in low-lying areas as well as the risk of breached river banks.
