Climate - Egypt

The climate of Egypt, a country in north-eastern Africa, is characterized by the scarcity of rainfall and the abundance of sunshine. In fact, in much of the country, occupied by the eastern part of the Sahara, the climate is desert. Only on the northern coast, overlooking the Mediterranean, there is a certain amount of rain in winter.
As for the temperatures, they are milder on the north coast, while they gradually get warmer as you go south.
Along the Red Sea coast, temperatures are higher than on the Mediterranean coast but lower than in inland areas. However, summer is very hot.
The only mountainous areas, where it can get cold in winter, are located in the east, on the Sinai peninsula.

Index

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• The north Coast - Alexandria, Cairo
• The inland areas - Luxor
• Red Sea coasts - Sharm el Sheikh

The north coast

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On the Mediterranean coast (see Alexandria, Marsa Matrouh, Port Said), there's a very mild, spring-like winter: highs are around 18/20 °C (64/68 °F) and lows around 10 °C (50 °F), though this is the only period of the year when weak or moderate rains occur. Summer is long, muggy and sunny, with highs around 30 °C (86 °F), but tempered by sea breezes. The humidity is high especially in the delta of the Nile River.

Alexandria

Here are the average temperatures of Alexandria, the second city of Egypt, located on the north coast.

On the northern coast, rainfall follows the Mediterranean pattern, but it is scarce and concentrated in winter, since this is the only period when depressions can affect this area. In Alexandria, rainfall amounts to only 230 mm (9 inches) per year (but in other cities on the north coast, it barely reaches 100 millimeters or 4 inches). Here are the average precipitation.

The temperature of the Mediterranean Sea is warm from July to October, but all in all, it is warm enough for swimming also in June, as can be seen in the following table.

Cairo

Cairo, the capital, is located about 180 kilometers (110 miles) away from the sea, but it's at the edge of the huge Nile River Delta, so its climate is halfway between the Mediterranean and the desert one. The summer temperatures are lower than in the desert area but higher than on the coast: highs are around 35 °C (95 °F) in July and August, but moisture is quite high, so the heat can be stifling. Summer is long: the maximum temperatures exceed 30 °C (86 °F) from May to mid-October. Within the city, the unpleasant sensation of heat is increased by the so-called "urban heat island effect" which occurs in big cities, and also by pollution.

The rainfall in Cairo is poor, since it amounts to only 55 mm (2.1 in) per year, and it's absent in the long summer: as regards to the rainfall, we are already in the desert.
The winter in the capital is similar to that of the north coast: highs are around 19/21 °C (66/70 °F) between December and February, although cold and cloudy days may sometimes occur, when northern currents prevail. In any case, the sun frequently shines in all seasons, and it almost always shines in the long period that goes from spring to autumn. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.

Inland areas

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In the interior, the climate is desert, with virtually no rain; the temperatures increase gradually as you head south. The diurnal temperature range is remarkable because of both clear skies and low humidity. Winters are mild and sunny, but nights are cool to cold, ranging from 7/8 °C (45/46 °F) in the central area (see Luxor) to 10/11 °C in the southern area (see Aswan), though the temperature in the coldest nights can approach freezing (0 °C or 32 °F). The winter days are pleasantly mild or warm, about 23/24 °C (73/75 °F) on average. In inland areas, summers are scorchingly hot, with highs ranging from 36/37 °C (97/99 °F) in the center-north to 41/42 °C (106/108 °F) in the south, and during this season, the sun hits hard. In the hottest days, the temperature in the south can reach as high as 48/50 °C (118/122 °F).

Luxor

Here are the average temperatures in Luxor.

The Egyptian central-southern desert is one of the sunniest places on Earth: clear skies are a permanent feature in all seasons.
Here are the average daily sunshine hours in Aswan.

Red Sea coasts

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To the east, in the Gulf of Suez (see El Tor), and on the coast of the Red Sea (see Hurghada, Marsa Alam), the climate is desert, albeit slightly tempered by the sea. The rainfall is very scarce or totally absent as in the interior, but the temperature range is lower and the humidity is generally higher. The days in summer are very hot, with maximum temperatures around 35 °C (95 °F) or more, with some days a little less hot but more sultry and others torrid, that is, very hot and with lower humidity.
During winter, the temperature on the coast is very mild: in the northern part, highs hover around 21/22 °C (70/72 °F) and lows remain around 10/12 °C (50/54 °F), while the southern part is slightly warmer.

Sharm el Sheikh

On the coast to the east of Sinai (see Sharm el Sheikh), where the prevailing wind in summer comes from the desert, the heat is more intense but moisture is generally lower.
Here is the average temperature in Sharm el Sheikh.

The temperature of the Red Sea is very high in summer, while from January to March, in the north-central part, it is a bit cool for swimming, but all in all, it's not impossible.

In the south-central part of the Red Sea coast (see Marsa Alam), the sea temperature is a bit higher in winter, since it doesn't go below 22.5 °C (72.5 °F) in February.

In the highlands of Sinai, the climate is cooled by altitude, and temperatures are lower especially at night: during winter, there can be some frosts at night, and even some snowfalls. During summer, the heat is intense during the day, while nights remain cool.
The tallest mountain in Egypt is Mount Catherine (Gabal Katrîne), 2,629 meters (8,625 feet) high.

The wind in Egypt is often absent or weak, in the form of breezes along the coasts, but sometimes, especially in spring (April to June), the Khamsin can blow for a few days: it is a hot, dry wind able to raise dust or cause sand storms and to make travel and communication difficult.

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When to go and what to pack in Egypt