The Zambia Meteorological Department has warned of an increased risk of localized frost and cold stress this July, with temperatures expected to drop significantly in some parts of the country, posing a threat to crops, livestock and vulnerable communities.
Frost, which occurs when temperatures fall to freezing levels and form a thin layer of ice on surfaces such as crops and grass, can severely damage plants by freezing water inside their tissues. The phenomenon is particularly harmful to vegetables, beans and young maize crops.
According to the department’s July-August-September 2026 temperature forecast, districts including Ndola, Mkushi, Serenje, Mbala, Senga Hill, Pemba, Choma, Namwala, Mumbwa and Sesheke are likely to experience colder-than-normal temperatures during the month.
The department says July will be the coldest period of the season, with night temperatures ranging between 6 and 18 degrees Celsius and daytime temperatures between 22 and 32 degrees Celsius across much of the country.
The Meteorological Department has urged farmers to take measures to protect crops from frost damage and advised communities to safeguard vulnerable people and livestock from the cold conditions, while also warning against using charcoal braziers indoors due to the risk of suffocation.
By Rachel Mumba
