The climate varies from cool in the highlands to warm around Lake Malawi. Winter (May to July) is dry and nights can be cold, particularly in the highlands. The rainy season runs from November to March. Around Lake Malawi the climate is particularly dry with cooling breezes. Precipitation varies between 635 and 3050 mm. On the plateau the temperatures are pleasant, averaging between 68 and 81°F throughout the year but they can drop to as low as 38°F in winter. In the lowland areas of the south it is much hotter with temperatures rising as high as 100°F.