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Climate in Eritrea


Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine

Flag - Eritrea

Map - Eritrea

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The climate of Eritrea is tropical desert on the coast and the eastern plain (zone 1 on the map), mild semiarid in the mountainous belt (zone 2 on the map), and tropical semiarid in the south-west (zone 3).
From June to September, the country is influenced by the southwest monsoon coming from Ethiopia, which brings a bit of rain, especially in the central and southern inland part.

The sea in Eritrea is warm all year round, with a temperature of 25 °C (77 °F) even in January. In summer, with a temperature of 31/32 °C (88/90 °F) from June to October, the Red Sea becomes one of the warmest seas in the world.

Climates in Eritrea

The climate in detail


  • The coast - Massawa
  • The mountains - Asmara
  • The west - Agordat
  • Cyclones
  • When to go
  • What to pack
  • Climate data

The coast



Along the coast of the Red Sea, (zone 1 on the map), the climate is desert and hot all year round.

Massawa

Climate chart - Massawa
In Massawa, winter, from December to March, is hot and sunny: daytime temperatures are around 30 °C (86 °F). Summer, from May to September, is oppressive, with daytime temperatures about 40 °C (104 °F), but with peaks of 45 °C (113 °F), and the humidity of the sea that aggravates the feeling of heat.
From October to April, there can be some rain, usually not abundant, but the sun frequently shines. In summer, some cloud banks can affect this area, and rare rains occur as part of the southwest monsoon. On average, only 180 millimeters (7 inches) of rain fall per year.
On the coast, the sun shines all year round, yet, as mentioned, some cloud banks can pass even in summer.

In the southern part of coast, in Assab (or Aseb), the climate is similar, but it's even more arid: in an average year, just 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain fall.

In the Dahlak Archipelago, the summer temperatures are a bit lower than on the coast, but the higher humidity makes the heat unbearable.

In the central inland area, we find the Danakil Depression, where there are salt lakes and salt mines; here, the weather is scorchingly hot all year round, with temperatures around 40 °C (104 °F) for most of the year, and a little lower in winter.

The mountains



In the mountainous belt that crosses the central part of Eritrea from north to south (zone 2 on the map), the climate is mild because of the altitude, and it's also moderately rainy, at least in the center-south, while the northern part is desert. The highest peak, Emba Soira, reaches 3,000 meters (9,800 ft) of altitude and is located in the south.

Asmara

Climate chart - Asmara
In the capital, Asmara (or Asmera), the climate is pleasant because it is located at 2,300 meters (7,500 ft) above sea level.
Daytime temperatures are around 22/23 °C (72/73 °F) in winter, they are a little higher from March to June, and then they drop a bit in July and August, which are the only really rainy months. Night temperatures are cool in summer and very cool or even cold in winter.
Throughout the year, about 500 mm (20 in) of rain fall; the rains are almost entirely absent from October to March, a few short showers occur from April to June and again in September, and as mentioned, there are two rainy months, July and August.
The amount of sunshine is great from October to February, good in spring, and low in July and August, when the sky is often cloudy. All in all, the climate in Asmara is good from October to May, and the best months are probably October and November.

Asmara

Some mountainous areas located north-east of Asmara receive more rain and are therefore greener; in fact, there are even some forests.

The west



In the western part of Eritrea (zone 3 on the map), the climate is desert in the north and semi-desert or semi-arid in the south, where a bit of rain due to the summer monsoon falls from June to September.

Agordat

Climate chart - Agordat
In Agordat (or Ak'ordat), located in the south-central part, at 600 meters (2,000 feet) above sea level, 260 mm (10.2 in) of rain fall per year, concentrated from June to September.
The temperature is high in winter, with more than 30 °C (86 °F) even in January, but nights are quite cool. The temperature becomes scorching in spring, reaching 39/40 °C (102/104 °F) in April and May, while it decreases with the arrival of the monsoon, but at the cost of an increase in humidity. Between mid-September and November, hot weather returns, although a little less intense than in spring, with highs about 35/37 °C (95/99 °F).
In Agordat, the sun shines regularly in the long dry season, while in summer, the sunshine hours decrease here as well, though less than in Asmara.

In the south-west, the landscape is still arid, but the summer rains are more abundant, so much so that precipitation exceeds 600 mm (23.5 in) per year, allowing for the survival of a greater amount of shrubs and trees.

Tropical cyclones



Every now and then, the extreme south of Eritrea (see Assab) can be affected by a tropical cyclone coming from the Arabian Sea, but more rarely and with less intensity than in Somalia and Yemen because cyclones tend to weaken when they enter the Gulf of Aden.
However, the remains of a cyclone can sometimes arrive here, bringing heavy rains, as happened with Tropical Storm 1A in May 1984 and with Cyclone Sagar in May 2018.
Cyclones form from May to December, and are more frequent at the beginning (May-June) and at the end (October-December) of the period.

When to go



The best time to visit Eritrea runs from December to February, since it is the least hot and the driest of the year. It must be said that it is still a scorching period in some regions, especially in the Danakil, but also in the entire western part at low altitudes, where, however, the heat is more bearable and nights are cool, especially in December and January (in February, the temperature already starts to increase a little).

What to pack



In winter. In Massawa, on the Dahlak Islands and the northern coast: bring light clothing, a light sweatshirt for the evening, and possibly a light raincoat or umbrella. When going to the reef, you can bring snorkeling equipment, including water shoes or rubber-soled shoes. In Danakil, loose-fitting, light-colored clothing, light and long shirts and pants of natural fibers (cotton, linen), a desert turban, hiking shoes. In Asmara and the highlands, spring/autumn clothes, a jacket and a sweater for the evening, a sun hat, and sunscreen. In the western inland areas, light clothes, a desert turban, and a sweatshirt and a light jacket for the evening.

In summer. On the coast, bring tropics-friendly, lightweight clothes. When going to the reef, you can bring snorkeling equipment, including water shoes or rubber-soled shoes. In Danakil, bring loose-fitting, light-colored clothing, light and long shirts and pants of natural fibers (cotton, linen), a desert turban, and hiking shoes. In Asmara and the highlands, spring/autumn clothes, a light jacket and a sweater for the evening, and a raincoat or umbrella. For the western inland areas, light clothes, and a light raincoat.

Climate data - Eritrea


Temperatures: °C, Precipitation: mm
Agordat (600 meters)
Agordat, location on the map
Agordat, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.141314182222202120211916
Max temp.313335394037323135373533
Precip.00051025809535550
Prec. days111134674211
Day length113116121125129130129126122118114112
Sun hours910101010978910109

Asmara (2.300 meters)
Asmara, location on the map
Asmara, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.67910111111119986
Max temp.232425252525222223222222
Precip.55153040401751502515205
Prec. days223576785333
Humidity54%48%46%49%48%48%76%80%59%63%66%61%
Day length113117121125129130129126122118114112
Sun hours10109886446101010

Assab
Assab, location on the map
Assab, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.212223252728303028262422
Max temp.313234363738414138363432
Precip.550500550055
Prec. days110000100000
Humidity62%68%61%54%58%57%50%54%62%54%55%61%
Day length115117121124127129128125122118115114
Sun hours99991098891099
Sea temp262626283031313132312826

Keren (1.600 meters)
Keren, location on the map
Keren, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.131415161819171716141413
Max temp.262729303230262427282725
Precip.5551525301101103010105
Prec. days222345674322
Humidity59%56%50%46%39%44%71%83%64%55%60%62%
Day length113116121125129131130126122118114112

Keren
Keren, location on the map
Keren, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.212123252628292927252321
Max temp.313234363739393937363432
Precip.10101010501515551015
Prec. days111011232101
Day length114117121125128129128126122118115113
Sea temp262626283031313232312826

Massawa
Massawa, location on the map
Massawa, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.191920222426282826232120
Max temp.292932343740414039363330
Precip.352510105010105153535
Prec. days322110000213
Humidity76%75%73%70%65%54%53%56%61%67%69%74%
Day length113116121125129130129126122118114112
Sun hours87891098999108
Sea temp262627283031323232312927

Teseney (590 meters)
Teseney, location on the map
Teseney, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.161719222524232222232017
Max temp.333538404039353436373634
Precip.00051540110110501000
Prec. days000135895200
Day length113117121125129130129126122118114112



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