Climate - Cairo (Egypt)
Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine hours
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Climate chart - Cairo
In Cairo, the large metropolis of northern Egypt and the capital of the country, the climate is subtropical desert, with very mild winters and hot and sunny summers.
Here are the average temperatures.
Cairo - Average temperatures (1991-2020) | Month | Min (°C) | Max (°C) | Mean (°C) | Min (°F) | Max (°F) | Mean (°F) |
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| January | 9.7 | 19 | 14.4 | 49 | 66 | 57.8 |
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| February | 10.7 | 20.6 | 15.7 | 51 | 69 | 60.2 |
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| March | 13 | 23.9 | 18.4 | 55 | 75 | 65.2 |
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| April | 15.6 | 28 | 21.8 | 60 | 82 | 71.2 |
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| May | 19.1 | 32.3 | 25.7 | 66 | 90 | 78.3 |
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| June | 22 | 34.7 | 28.4 | 72 | 94 | 83.1 |
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| July | 23.6 | 35.1 | 29.4 | 75 | 95 | 84.8 |
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| August | 24.1 | 35 | 29.6 | 75 | 95 | 85.2 |
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| September | 22.6 | 33.5 | 28 | 73 | 92 | 82.5 |
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| October | 19.8 | 30.1 | 24.9 | 68 | 86 | 76.9 |
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| November | 15.4 | 25 | 20.2 | 60 | 77 | 68.4 |
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| December | 11.4 | 20.6 | 16 | 52 | 69 | 60.8 |
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| Year | 17.3 | 28.2 | 22.7 | 63.1 | 82.7 | 73 |
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The city is located near the large delta of the Nile River, where the presence of streams and cultivated fields increases relative humidity. The city has grown over the decades to the point of even approaching the pyramids of El Giza.
The hot desert wind, the Khamsin, blows especially in spring, bringing scorching heat, accompanied by dust and sand. When of this wind blows, the temperature can exceed 40 °C (104 °F) from May to September, and reach 37/38 °C (99/100 °F) in April and October.
Rainfall is definitely scarce, since it amounts to about 55 millimeters (2 inch) per year. In the wettest years, it has slightly exceeded 100 mm (4 in). The rare rains occur in the form of showers, between autumn and spring, with a higher probability in winter. However, being concentrated in time and falling on a dry soil, which is unable to absorb water, when the rains are intense, they can cause flooding.
Here is the average precipitation.
Cairo - Average precipitation| Month | Millimeters | Inches | Days |
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| January | 4 | 0.2 | 3 |
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| February | 7 | 0.3 | 2 |
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| March | 12 | 0.5 | 1 |
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| April | 2 | 0.1 | 3 |
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| May | 2 | 0.1 | 1 |
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| June | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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| July | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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| August | 2 | 0.1 | 0 |
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| September | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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| October | 5 | 0.2 | 1 |
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| November | 10 | 0.4 | 1 |
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| December | 11 | 0.4 | 2 |
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| Year | 55 | 2.2 | 15 |
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Winter, from December to February, is very mild, with pleasant and sunny, spring-like days: highs are usually about 20 °C (68 °F). However, every now and then, because of cold air masses from Eastern Europe, some days can be a bit cold, with highs about 5 °C (41 °F) and lows about 10/13 °C (50/55 °F). The rains are very rare, and may not even occur for a whole month.
Snow is extremely rare. It is said that in February 1950 it snowed in the Nile Delta area. On December 13, 2013 Cairo was whitened by a kind of precipitation similar to snow, called soft hail or graupel, with a minimum temperature of 5 °C (41 °F) and a maximum of 8 °C (46.5 °F).
Spring, from March to mid-May, is sunny and pleasantly warm, but there may be some hot days when the Khamsin blows. In March, it can still be a little cold at night, especially in the first half of the month.
Summer, from mid-May to mid-September, is hot and sunny. While waves of scorching heat are still quite frequent in May and June, the atmosphere progressively stabilizes, and air moisture becomes higher, with an annoying combination of heat and humidity, whose climax is reached in August. Within the big city, the heat is felt more, also because of pollution.
Autumn, from mid-September to November, it's hot but without excesses, although some hot days can still occur in early October, when the Khamsin blows, and then it becomes progressively milder, getting pleasantly warm in November.
In Cairo, there's plenty of sunshine in summer, when blue skies prevail. In winter, there are many sunny days as well, but a cloud system can sometimes affect this area, bringing some cloudy days. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.
Cairo - Sunshine hours| Month | Average | Total |
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January | 7 | 215 | February | 8.5 | 235 | March | 8.5 | 270 | April | 9.5 | 290 | May | 10.5 | 325 | June | 12 | 355 | July | 11.5 | 365 | August | 11.5 | 350 | September | 10.5 | 310 | October | 9.5 | 290 | November | 8.5 | 250 | December | 6.5 | 200 | Year | 9.5 | 3450 |
Best Time
The best time to visit Cairo and the pyramids of Giza and Saqqara is from October to March, since in the other months it can be hot. In winter, especially in January and February, some days can be a bit cold and cloudy, while in March, and sometimes in October, the wind from the Sahara can blow, accompanied by dust and sand; consequently, the best month is November, when this risk is lower.
In summer, for example in August, the heat is not as intense as in the south of Egypt, but it can be uncomfortable to visit the pyramids under the blazing sun. Therefore, you can choose the first hours of the day, however, it's not easy to find a place in the best hours, since in this period there's plenty of tourists.
Cairo - Weather by month
Based on the period 1991-2020
In January, the coldest month of the year, the weather in Cairo is usually mild. The average temperature is of 14.4 °C (58 °F), with a minimum of 9.7 °C (49.4 °F) and a maximum of 19 °C (66.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 5 °C (41.5 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 24.5 °C (76.5 °F). However, it reached 29.1 °C (84.4 °F) in January 2013.
Precipitation amounts to only 4 mm (0.2 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 65% of the time.
The average humidity is 59%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (8 mph).
In February, the weather in Cairo is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 15.7 °C (60 °F), with a minimum of 10.7 °C (51.3 °F) and a maximum of 20.6 °C (69.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 6.5 °C (44 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 28.5 °C (83 °F). However, it reached 35 °C (95 °F) in February 2004.
Precipitation amounts to only 7 mm (0.3 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 74% of the time.
The average humidity is 55%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).
In March, the weather in Cairo is usually warm. The average temperature is of 18.4 °C (65 °F), with a minimum of 13 °C (55.3 °F) and a maximum of 23.9 °C (75 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 8.5 °C (47.5 °F).
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33 °C (91.5 °F). However, it reached 39.6 °C (103.3 °F) in March 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 12 mm (0.5 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 72% of the time.
The average humidity is 52%.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).
In April, the weather in Cairo is usually warm. The average temperature is of 21.8 °C (71 °F), with a minimum of 15.6 °C (60 °F) and a maximum of 28 °C (82.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 12 °C (53.5 °F).
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 38 °C (100.5 °F). However, it reached 42.2 °C (108 °F) in April 2016.
Precipitation amounts to only 2 mm (0.1 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 75% of the time.
The average humidity is 46%.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).
In May, the weather in Cairo is usually warm to hot. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 25.7 °C (78 °F), with a minimum of 19.1 °C (66.4 °F) and a maximum of 32.3 °C (90.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 15.5 °C (60 °F).
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 41 °C (105.5 °F). However, it reached 45.7 °C (114.3 °F) in May 2019.
Precipitation amounts to only 2 mm (0.1 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 10.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 76% of the time.
The average humidity is 44%.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).
In June, the weather in Cairo is usually very hot. The average temperature is of 28.4 °C (83 °F), with a minimum of 22 °C (71.7 °F) and a maximum of 34.7 °C (94.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 19 °C (66 °F).
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 41.5 °C (106.5 °F). However, it reached 45.2 °C (113.4 °F) in June 2010.
Precipitation amounts to only 0 mm (0 in), so on average it never rains in the whole month.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 5 minutes. So the days are long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 12 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 84% of the time.
The average humidity is 48%.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).
In July, the weather in Cairo is usually very hot. The average temperature is of 29.4 °C (85 °F), with a minimum of 23.6 °C (74.5 °F) and a maximum of 35.1 °C (95.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 21 °C (70 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 40 °C (104.5 °F). However, it reached 44.3 °C (111.7 °F) in July 2002.
Precipitation amounts to only 0 mm (0 in), so on average it never rains in the whole month.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 11.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 85% of the time.
The average humidity is 55%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).
In August, the hottest month of the year, the weather in Cairo is usually very hot. The average temperature is of 29.6 °C (85 °F), with a minimum of 24.1 °C (75.4 °F) and a maximum of 35 °C (95 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 22 °C (71 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 38.5 °C (101.5 °F). However, it reached 42.4 °C (108.3 °F) in August 2019.
Precipitation amounts to only 2 mm (0.1 in), distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 11.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 86% of the time.
The average humidity is 57%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (8 mph).
In September, the weather in Cairo is usually very hot. The average temperature is of 28.0 °C (82 °F), with a minimum of 22.6 °C (72.7 °F) and a maximum of 33.5 °C (92.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 20 °C (68 °F).
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 38.5 °C (101 °F). However, it reached 42.3 °C (108.1 °F) in September 2013.
Precipitation amounts to only 0 mm (0 in), so on average it never rains in the whole month.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 10.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 84% of the time.
The average humidity is 56%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).
In October, the weather in Cairo is usually warm to hot. The average temperature is of 24.9 °C (77 °F), with a minimum of 19.8 °C (67.6 °F) and a maximum of 30.1 °C (86.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 16.5 °C (61.5 °F).
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 36 °C (97 °F). However, it reached 40 °C (104 °F) in October 2010.
Precipitation amounts to only 5 mm (0.2 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 83% of the time.
The average humidity is 58%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (8 mph).
In November, the weather in Cairo is usually warm. The average temperature is of 20.2 °C (68 °F), with a minimum of 15.4 °C (59.8 °F) and a maximum of 25 °C (77.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 10.5 °C (51.5 °F).
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 30.5 °C (87 °F). However, it reached 35.4 °C (95.7 °F) in November 2003.
Precipitation amounts to 10 mm (0.4 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 78% of the time.
The average humidity is 60%.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).
In December, the weather in Cairo is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 16.0 °C (61 °F), with a minimum of 11.4 °C (52.4 °F) and a maximum of 20.6 °C (69.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 7 °C (44.5 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 26 °C (79 °F). However, it reached 32.5 °C (90.5 °F) in December 1998.
Precipitation amounts to 11 mm (0.4 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 10 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 63% of the time.
The average humidity is 61%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).
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