{"id":881,"date":"2023-11-09T09:01:24","date_gmt":"2023-11-09T09:01:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climatechangelesotho.gov.ls\/?page_id=881"},"modified":"2025-08-24T14:19:13","modified_gmt":"2025-08-24T14:19:13","slug":"lesotho-climate-projections","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/climatechangelesotho.gov.ls\/index.php\/lesotho-climate-projections\/","title":{"rendered":"Lesotho Climate Projections"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"881\" class=\"elementor elementor-881\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-32ddd77 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"32ddd77\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-80d58cb e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"80d58cb\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2236d26 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2236d26\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Learn About<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-39f0fce elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"39f0fce\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Lesotho Climate Projections<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9bf3d5e e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"9bf3d5e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;gradient&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8240038 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"8240038\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e5519c8 elementor-widget__width-inherit elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"e5519c8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInLeft&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-548097b elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget-tablet__width-inherit elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"548097b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Climate of Lesotho<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-03304a8 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget-tablet__width-inherit elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"03304a8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Lesotho experiences\u00a0 four distinct seasons \u2013 spring, summer, autumn, and winter \u2013 with significant temperature variations. During the summer season (DJF), mean temperatures range from 10.9\u00b0C to 27.6\u00b0C, with January being the hottest month. In winter (JJA), mean minimum temperatures vary from 0.1\u00b0C to 17.3\u00b0C, with July as the coldest month. However, it is noted that annual mean temperatures exhibit variability from year to year, with a noticeable upward trend.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0c25bd8 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"0c25bd8\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-936a5a5 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"936a5a5\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9e60e71 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"9e60e71\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"361\" src=\"https:\/\/climatechangelesotho.gov.ls\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/proejctions-1024x462.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-887\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/climatechangelesotho.gov.ls\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/proejctions-1024x462.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/climatechangelesotho.gov.ls\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/proejctions-300x135.jpg 300w, https:\/\/climatechangelesotho.gov.ls\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/proejctions-768x347.jpg 768w, https:\/\/climatechangelesotho.gov.ls\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/proejctions.jpg 1336w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-00f72c1 elementor-widget__width-inherit elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"00f72c1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInLeft&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b7368f8 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget-tablet__width-inherit elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b7368f8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Climate Change Projections<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ae2c021 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget-tablet__width-inherit elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ae2c021\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Climate change projections for Lesotho were developed using RCP4.5 and RCP8.5. They were developed for three future periods, namely 2011-2040 (near-term), 2041-2070 (medium term), and 2071-2100 (long term)<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ad420a0 elementor-align-left elementor-widget-mobile__width-inherit elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"ad420a0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInDown&quot;,&quot;motion_fx_motion_fx_mouse&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-md\" href=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dpopup%3Aopen%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6IjkwOCIsInRvZ2dsZSI6ZmFsc2V9\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">RCP8.5<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-35219cb elementor-align-center elementor-widget-mobile__width-inherit elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"35219cb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInDown&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-md\" href=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dpopup%3Aopen%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6Ijg5MSIsInRvZ2dsZSI6ZmFsc2V9\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">RCP4.5<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d95c6da e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"d95c6da\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0997024 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"0997024\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cf9006e elementor-widget__width-inherit elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"cf9006e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInLeft&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-47f1641 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget-tablet__width-inherit elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"47f1641\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Projected Temperatures<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-412e5f5 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"412e5f5\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cb6ea0c elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"cb6ea0c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"148\" src=\"https:\/\/climatechangelesotho.gov.ls\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/temperatures-300x148.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-916\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/climatechangelesotho.gov.ls\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/temperatures-300x148.jpg 300w, https:\/\/climatechangelesotho.gov.ls\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/temperatures-768x378.jpg 768w, https:\/\/climatechangelesotho.gov.ls\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/temperatures.jpg 984w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8cd8a5b e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"8cd8a5b\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-81e43ff elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget-tablet__width-inherit elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"81e43ff\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Climate change projections for Lesotho, like many other regions, are based on global climate models that estimate future changes in temperature, precipitation, and other climatic variables. Here are some general trends and projections for Lesotho. Generally, Lesotho is expected to experience a gradual increase in temperatures, consistent with global warming trends.<\/p><ol><li>Generally, Lesotho is expected to experience a gradual increase in temperatures during the 21st century (2011-2040, 2041-2070, and 2071-2100), consistent with global warming trends.<\/li><li>In most seasons, both daytime (maximum) and nighttime (minimum) temperatures are expected to rise. For example, in the near future:<ul><li>Daytime temperatures could increase by more than 0.9\u00b0C in summer, autumn, and winter.<\/li><li>Nighttime temperatures could increase by 1.2\u00b0C to 3.04\u00b0C, depending on the region.<\/li><li>The highest increase in nighttime temperatures is expected in spring.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ol><ol start=\"3\"><li>The increase in spring temperatures suggests the possibility of an early onset of summer.<\/li><li>Nighttime temperatures are warming as much as daytime temperatures in all seasons except winter.<\/li><li>In winter, nighttime temperatures increase less, around 0.68\u00b0C in the near future.<\/li><li>The warming trend becomes more significant in the mid and far future, especially under the emission scenario RCP8.5.<\/li><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-eb11f00 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"eb11f00\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;gradient&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bc1a28b e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"bc1a28b\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1a388c8 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget-tablet__width-inherit elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1a388c8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Projected Precipitation<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-977ad35 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"977ad35\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e441f30 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"e441f30\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"867\" src=\"https:\/\/climatechangelesotho.gov.ls\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Precipitation.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1898\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/climatechangelesotho.gov.ls\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Precipitation.jpg 875w, https:\/\/climatechangelesotho.gov.ls\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Precipitation-277x300.jpg 277w, https:\/\/climatechangelesotho.gov.ls\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Precipitation-768x832.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-839cd24 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget-tablet__width-inherit elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"839cd24\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The Mountains, Foothills, and Senqu River Valley are projected to get drier in the autumn season relative to the baseline period (see Figure 4.16 below). The signal of change is inconclusive for the other seasons but winter. In winter, dry conditions are projected by all ensemble members towards the end of the 21st century. Slightly different conditions to those of the rest of the agroecological zones are projected for the Lowlands with all ensemble members suggesting wetter conditions relative to the reference period during the summer months. The signal of average precipitation change suggested by the ensemble members, in the Lowlands, is mixed. This is true for all the seasons, during all periods, except for winter in the far-future in which case the Lowlands are anticipated to get drier relative to the reference period. Despite the signal being inconclusive in spring and autumn, for the Lowlands, the model spread is relatively narrow during most of the periods. The ensemble medians change during most of the periods are almost at the overlap with the origin in which case the mixed signal could be interpreted as suggestive of no change in precipitation relative to the baseline period.<\/p><p>For full details on Lesotho\u2019s climatic projections, please see the <a href=\"https:\/\/climatechangelesotho.gov.ls\/index.php\/download\/third-national-communication-of-lesotho\/\">Third National Communications<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c083aa9 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"c083aa9\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learn About Lesotho Climate Projections Climate of Lesotho Lesotho experiences\u00a0 four distinct seasons \u2013 spring, summer, autumn, and winter \u2013 with significant temperature variations. During the summer season (DJF), mean temperatures range from 10.9\u00b0C to 27.6\u00b0C, with January being the hottest month. In winter (JJA), mean minimum temperatures vary from 0.1\u00b0C to 17.3\u00b0C, with July [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-881","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatechangelesotho.gov.ls\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/881","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatechangelesotho.gov.ls\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatechangelesotho.gov.ls\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatechangelesotho.gov.ls\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatechangelesotho.gov.ls\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=881"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/climatechangelesotho.gov.ls\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/881\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2311,"href":"https:\/\/climatechangelesotho.gov.ls\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/881\/revisions\/2311"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatechangelesotho.gov.ls\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=881"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}