Editing Geography of Somalia (section)

==Climate==
{{further|Climate change in Somalia}}
Due to Somalia's proximity to the [[equator]], there is not much seasonal variation in its climate. However, there are some very unpredictable rainfalls that occur sometimes. Hot conditions prevail year-round along with monsoon (periodic seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation) winds and irregular rainfall. Mean daily maximum temperatures range from {{convert|30|to|40|°C|°F}}, except at higher elevations and along the eastern seaboard, where the effects of a cold offshore current can be felt. In Mogadishu, for instance, average afternoon highs range from {{convert|28|to|32|°C|°F}} in April. Some of the highest mean annual temperatures in the world have been recorded in the country; [[Berbera]] on the northwestern coast has an afternoon high that averages more than {{convert|38|°C|°F}} from June through September. Nationally, mean daily minimums usually vary from about {{convert|15|to|30|°C|°F}}.<ref name="Hadden">Hadden, Robert Lee. 2007. [https://web.archive.org/web/20090327102547/http://handle.dtic.mil/100.2/ADA464006 "The Geology of Somalia: A Selected Bibliography of Somalian Geology, Geography and Earth Science."] Engineer Research and Development Laboratories, Topographic Engineering Center</ref> The greatest range in climate occurs in northern Somalia, where temperatures sometimes surpass {{convert|45|°C|°F}} in July on the littoral plains and drop below the freezing point during December in the highlands.<ref name="ClimateSom" /><ref name="Hadden"/> In this region, relative humidity ranges from about 40 percent in the mid-afternoon to 85 percent at night, changing somewhat according to the season.<ref name="Hadden"/>

Unlike the climates of most other countries at this latitude, conditions in Somalia range from [[arid]] desert in the northeastern and central regions to [[Semi-arid climate|semiarid]] steppe in the south and northwest. In the south, in the east Africa coastal forest, there are regions in which there is a tropical savanna climate. In the Cal Madow region of Somalia, there is cold steppe climate. In the northeast, annual rainfall is less than {{convert|4|in|mm}}; in the central plateaus, it is about {{convert|8|to|12|in|mm}}. The northwestern and southwestern parts of the nation, however, receive considerably more rain, with an average of {{convert|20|to|24|in|mm}} falling per year. Although the coastal regions are hot and humid throughout the year, the hinterland is typically dry and hot. The Cal Madow and the Lag Badana national park are humid areas.<ref name="Hadden"/>

Most of the country receives less than {{convert|500|mm|in|1|sp=us}} of rain annually, and a large area encompassing the northeast and much of northern Somalia receives as little as {{convert|50|to|150|mm|in|2|sp=us}}. Certain higher areas in the north, however, record more than {{convert|500|mm|in|1|sp=us}} a year, as do some coastal sites. The southwest receives {{convert|330|to|500|mm|in|1|sp=us}}. Generally, rainfall takes the form of showers or localized torrential rains and is extremely variable. Mean daily maximum temperatures throughout the country range from {{convert|30|to|40|°C|°F}}, except at higher elevations and along the Somali Sea coast. Mean daily minimum temperatures vary from {{convert|20|°C}} to more than {{convert|30|°C}}. Northern Somalia experiences the greatest temperature extremes, with readings ranging from below freezing in the highlands in December to more than {{convert|45|°C}} in July in the coastal plain skirting the Gulf of Aden. The north's relative humidity ranges from about 40 percent in midafternoon to 85 percent at night, varying somewhat with the season. During the colder months, December to February, visibility at higher elevations is often restricted by fog. Temperatures in the south are less extreme, ranging from about {{convert|20|to|40|°C|°F}}. The hottest months are February through April. Coastal readings are usually five to ten degrees cooler than those inland. The coastal zone's relative humidity usually remains about 70 percent even during the dry seasons.

There are four main seasons around which pastoral and agricultural life revolve, and these are dictated by shifts in the wind patterns. From December to March is the ''Jilal'', the harshest dry season of the year. The main rainy season, referred to as the ''Gu'', lasts from April to June. This period is characterized by the southwest monsoons, which rejuvenate the pasture land, especially the central plateau, and briefly transform the desert into lush vegetation. From July to September is the second dry season, the ''Xagaa'' (pronounced "Hagaa"). The ''Dayr'', which is the shortest rainy season, lasts from October to December.<ref name="Hadden"/> The ''tangambili'' periods that intervene between the two monsoons (October–November and March–May) are hot and humid.<ref name="Hadden"/>

{{Weather box
|width = auto
|location = Mogadishu (1961-1990 normals)
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
| collapsed = yes
|Jan record high C = 39.5
|Feb record high C = 39.5
|Mar record high C = 37.3
|Apr record high C = 39.8
|May record high C = 34.9
|Jun record high C = 33.0
|Jul record high C = 34.3
|Aug record high C = 36.0
|Sep record high C = 36.0
|Oct record high C = 37.0
|Nov record high C = 39.0
|Dec record high C = 37.3
|year record high C = 39.8
|Jan high C = 30.2
|Feb high C = 30.2
|Mar high C = 30.9
|Apr high C = 32.2
|May high C = 31.2
|Jun high C = 29.6
|Jul high C = 28.6
|Aug high C = 28.6
|Sep high C = 29.4
|Oct high C = 30.2
|Nov high C = 30.6
|Dec high C = 30.8
|year high C = 30.2
|Jan mean C = 26.6
|Feb mean C = 26.9
|Mar mean C = 28.0
|Apr mean C = 28.9
|May mean C = 28.2
|Jun mean C = 26.7
|Jul mean C = 25.4
|Aug mean C = 25.9
|Sep mean C = 26.5
|Oct mean C = 27.3
|Nov mean C = 27.5
|Dec mean C = 26.9
|year mean C = 27.1
|Jan low C = 23.0
|Feb low C = 23.4
|Mar low C = 24.9
|Apr low C = 25.6
|May low C = 24.9
|Jun low C = 23.7
|Jul low C = 23.1
|Aug low C = 23.0
|Sep low C = 23.4
|Oct low C = 24.3
|Nov low C = 24.2
|Dec low C = 23.5
|year low C = 23.9
|Jan record low C = 19.0
|Feb record low C = 19.2
|Mar record low C = 19.4
|Apr record low C = 18.0
|May record low C = 18.4
|Jun record low C = 18.0
|Jul record low C = 16.8
|Aug record low C = 18.0
|Sep record low C = 18.0
|Oct record low C = 17.5
|Nov record low C = 16.2
|Dec record low C = 16.5
|year record low C = 16.2
|Jan precipitation mm = 0
|Feb precipitation mm = 0
|Mar precipitation mm = 8
|Apr precipitation mm = 61
|May precipitation mm = 61
|Jun precipitation mm = 82
|Jul precipitation mm = 64
|Aug precipitation mm = 44
|Sep precipitation mm = 25
|Oct precipitation mm = 32
|Nov precipitation mm = 43
|Dec precipitation mm = 9
|year precipitation mm = 428
|unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 0.3
|Feb precipitation days = 0.1
|Mar precipitation days = 0.6
|Apr precipitation days = 4.8
|May precipitation days = 6.7
|Jun precipitation days = 12.7
|Jul precipitation days = 13.3
|Aug precipitation days = 10.2
|Sep precipitation days = 4.9
|Oct precipitation days = 3.9
|Nov precipitation days = 4.1
|Dec precipitation days = 1.5
|year precipitation days = 63.0
|Jan humidity = 78
|Feb humidity = 78
|Mar humidity = 77
|Apr humidity = 77
|May humidity = 80
|Jun humidity = 80
|Jul humidity = 81
|Aug humidity = 81
|Sep humidity = 81
|Oct humidity = 80
|Nov humidity = 79
|Dec humidity = 79
|year humidity = 79
|Jan sun = 266.6
|Feb sun = 251.4
|Mar sun = 282.1
|Apr sun = 261.0
|May sun = 272.8
|Jun sun = 219.0
|Jul sun = 226.3
|Aug sun = 254.2
|Sep sun = 264.0
|Oct sun = 266.6
|Nov sun = 261.0
|Dec sun = 257.3
|year sun = 
|Jand sun = 8.6
|Febd sun = 8.9
|Mard sun = 9.1
|Aprd sun = 8.7
|Mayd sun = 8.8
|Jund sun = 7.3
|Juld sun = 7.3
|Augd sun = 8.2
|Sepd sun = 8.8
|Octd sun = 8.6
|Novd sun = 8.7
|Decd sun = 8.3
|yeard sun = 8.4
| Jan percentsun = 72
| Feb percentsun = 74
| Mar percentsun = 73
| Apr percentsun = 71
| May percentsun = 72
| Jun percentsun = 59
| Jul percentsun = 59
| Aug percentsun = 67
| Sep percentsun = 72
| Oct percentsun = 72
| Nov percentsun = 72
| Dec percentsun = 70
| year percentsun = 69
|source 1 = [[Deutscher Wetterdienst]]<ref name = MogadishuDWD>{{cite web |url=http://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_632600_kt.pdf |title=Klimatafel von Mogadischu (Mogadiscio) / Somalia |work=Baseline climate means (1961–1990) from stations all over the world |publisher=Deutscher Wetterdienst |language=de |access-date=22 October 2016 |archive-date=25 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190325172654/https://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_632600_kt.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
|source 2 = Food and Agriculture Organization: Somalia Water and Land Management (percent sunshine)<ref name=Magadishufaosun>{{cite web |url=http://sddr.faoswalim.org/downloads/Long%20Term%20Mean_Monthly__sunshine%20fraction.xls |title=Long term mean monthly sunshine fraction in Somalia |publisher=Food and Agriculture Organization |access-date   = 4 November 2016 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20161005063105/http://sddr.faoswalim.org/downloads/Long%20Term%20Mean_Monthly__sunshine%20fraction.xls |archive-date = 2016-10-05 |url-status     = dead}}</ref>
}}

{{Weather box
|width = auto
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|location = Kismayo
|collapsed = yes
|Jan record high C = 31.8
|Feb record high C = 33.1
|Mar record high C = 34.0
|Apr record high C = 37.8
|May record high C = 34.0
|Jun record high C = 34.0
|Jul record high C = 32.3
|Aug record high C = 32.4
|Sep record high C = 30.3
|Oct record high C = 31.5
|Nov record high C = 32.2
|Dec record high C = 33.0
|year record high C = 37.8
|Jan high C = 29.6
|Feb high C = 29.9
|Mar high C = 31.0
|Apr high C = 31.8
|May high C = 30.4
|Jun high C = 28.6
|Jul high C = 28.0
|Aug high C = 28.3
|Sep high C = 28.6
|Oct high C = 29.5
|Nov high C = 30.5
|Dec high C = 30.5
|year high C = 29.7
|Jan mean C = 27.1
|Feb mean C = 27.3
|Mar mean C = 28.2
|Apr mean C = 28.6
|May mean C = 27.3
|Jun mean C = 26.1
|Jul mean C = 25.6
|Aug mean C = 25.7
|Sep mean C = 26.0
|Oct mean C = 26.8
|Nov mean C = 27.5
|Dec mean C = 27.5
|year mean C = 27.0
|Jan low C = 24.2
|Feb low C = 24.5
|Mar low C = 25.4
|Apr low C = 25.8
|May low C = 24.8
|Jun low C = 23.5
|Jul low C = 23.1
|Aug low C = 23.3
|Sep low C = 23.3
|Oct low C = 24.0
|Nov low C = 24.5
|Dec low C = 24.4
|year low C = 24.2
|Jan record low C = 21.0
|Feb record low C = 22.0
|Mar record low C = 23.0
|Apr record low C = 21.3
|May record low C = 20.0
|Jun record low C = 21.0
|Jul record low C = 19.0
|Aug record low C = 21.0
|Sep record low C = 22.0
|Oct record low C = 22.4
|Nov record low C = 22.5
|Dec record low C = 22.0
|year record low C = 19.0
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 1
|Feb rain mm = 1
|Mar rain mm = 3
|Apr rain mm = 39
|May rain mm = 111
|Jun rain mm = 89
|Jul rain mm = 52
|Aug rain mm = 21
|Sep rain mm = 21
|Oct rain mm = 15
|Nov rain mm = 17
|Dec rain mm = 3
|year rain mm = 374
|unit rain days = 0.1 mm
|Jan rain days = 0
|Feb rain days = 0
|Mar rain days = 0
|Apr rain days = 4
|May rain days = 7
|Jun rain days = 11
|Jul rain days = 9
|Aug rain days = 5
|Sep rain days = 3
|Oct rain days = 2
|Nov rain days = 2
|Dec rain days = 1
|year rain days = 43
|Jan humidity = 77
|Feb humidity = 76
|Mar humidity = 76
|Apr humidity = 77
|May humidity = 80
|Jun humidity = 80
|Jul humidity = 80
|Aug humidity = 79
|Sep humidity = 78
|Oct humidity = 78
|Nov humidity = 77
|Dec humidity = 77
|year humidity = 78
|Jan sun = 235.6
|Feb sun = 226.0
|Mar sun = 248.0
|Apr sun = 210.0
|May sun = 257.3
|Jun sun = 207.0
|Jul sun = 192.2
|Aug sun = 251.1
|Sep sun = 225.0
|Oct sun = 248.0
|Nov sun = 225.0
|Dec sun = 217.0
|year sun = 
|Jand sun = 7.6
|Febd sun = 8.0
|Mard sun = 8.0
|Aprd sun = 7.0
|Mayd sun = 8.3
|Jund sun = 6.9
|Juld sun = 6.2
|Augd sun = 8.1
|Sepd sun = 7.5
|Octd sun = 8.0
|Novd sun = 7.5
|Decd sun = 7.0
|yeard sun = 7.5
| Jan percentsun = 64
| Feb percentsun = 73
| Mar percentsun = 69
| Apr percentsun = 62
| May percentsun = 59
| Jun percentsun = 57
| Jul percentsun = 56
| Aug percentsun = 62
| Sep percentsun = 64
| Oct percentsun = 66
| Nov percentsun = 66
| Dec percentsun = 66
| year percentsun = 64
|source 1 = [[Deutscher Wetterdienst]]<ref name = KismayoDWD>
{{cite web
| url = http://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_632700_kt.pdf
| title = Klimatafel von Chisimaio (Kismayu) / Somalia
| work = Baseline climate means (1961–1990) from stations all over the world
| publisher = Deutscher Wetterdienst
| language = de
| access-date = 24 October 2016}}</ref>
|source 2 = Food and Agriculture Organization: Somalia Water and Land Management (percent sunshine)<ref name = faosunKismayo>{{cite web
| url = http://sddr.faoswalim.org/downloads/Long%20Term%20Mean_Monthly__sunshine%20fraction.xls
| title = Long term mean monthly sunshine fraction in Somalia
| publisher = Food and Agriculture Organization
| access-date = 4 November 2016
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161005063105/http://sddr.faoswalim.org/downloads/Long%20Term%20Mean_Monthly__sunshine%20fraction.xls
| archive-date = 5 October 2016
| url-status = dead
}}</ref>
}}