In Ethiopia, the climate varies with altitude, going from the hot and arid climate of the lowlands, to the cool climate of the plateau. Lying just north of the Equator, the country experiences little variation in temperature throughout the year.
The rains are caused by the southwest monsoon, which affects the country from June to September (the rainy season is called Kiremt), but it only affects some areas, namely the plateau and the mountain slopes exposed to the south-west, while in the south-east of the country there are two rainy periods, though less intense, usually from March to May and from October to November; in the latter area in some years the rains don't occur at all, causing droughts.

Index

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• Plateau - Addis Ababa
• Arid regions
• Danakil
• Mountains
• Cyclones
• When to go
• What to pack

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Plateau

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In the Ethiopian Plateau (zone 1 on the map), the weather is cool, mild or pleasantly warm, depending on the altitude, with a season characterized by scarce rains from November to February, and a rainy season from June to September, preceded by a period, from March to May, when some showers and thunderstorms may occur in the afternoon. The annual rainfall ranges from 1,000 to 2,200 millimetres (40 to 87 inches). The rains occur as downpour or thunderstorm, usually in the afternoon or in the evening, even during the monsoon season, when, however, cloudiness is more widespread.

Addis Ababa

The capital Addis Ababa is located at 2,300 metres (7,500 ft) above sea level, though the altitude in the different districts of the city varies from 2,100 to 2,700 metres (7,000 to 9,000 ft), and has a mild climate, with cool nights, even cold from November to February, when lows drop below 10 °C (50 °F), and pleasantly warm days, around 23/25 °C (73/77 °F), except in July and August, at the height of the rainy season, when highs drop to about 20 °C (68 °F). The period from March to May, as often happens in Ethiopia, is the warmest of the year, albeit of a few degrees.
Here are the average temperatures.

Throughout the year, 1,200 mm (49 in) of rain fall, with a maximum from June to September, which is the only remarkably rainy period. From November to February, there is little rain, and rare showers occur; from March to May, afternoon showers become a bit more frequent, occurring for 6/7 days per month, while in July and August they occur on average every other day. Here is the average precipitation.

The sunshine amount in Addis Ababa is good from October to May, while in the rainy season, from June to September, the sunshine hours decrease, and especially in July and August the sky is often cloudy.

The other cities on the plateau have a climate similar to that of Addis Ababa, with variations related to altitude and position. The rainiest part of the plateau is the western one: in Gore, 2,100 mm (83 in) of rain per year fall, and it rains a lot from April to October included. In Gondar, located in the north-west at an altitude of 2,000 metres (6,500 feet), the temperature is slightly higher than in Addis Ababa, and rainfall amounts to 1,100 mm (43 in) per year, distributed the same way as in the capital. In Bahir Dar, at 1,800 metres (5,900 ft) above sea level, 1,400 mm (55 in) of rain fall, of which even 430 mm (17 in) in July; here rainfall is enhanced by the waters of Lake Tana, from which the Blue Nile originates; the river gives rise to spectacular waterfalls near Tissisat.
Jimma (or Jima) is located at 1,700 metres (5,600 feet) above sea level in the south-west, where the rainfall amounts to 1,500 mm (60 in) per year, of which more than 100 mm (4 in) per month from April to September. Here is the average precipitation.

Due to the lower altitude, the temperatures in Jimma are higher than in the capital, but they are still pleasant. Here are the average temperatures.

Harar (Harer) is located in the east, at the edge of the plateau, at no great distance from Dire Dawa (see below), but it is cooler because it is located at 1,850 metres (6,070 feet) above sea level, besides it's located on the other side. Here, 860 mm (34 in) of rain per year fall, with a rainy period from April to September, in which precipitation goes from 100 to 140 mm (4 to 5.5 in) per month.


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Arid regions

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In the arid or semiarid areas surrounding the Ethiopian plateau (zone 2 on the map), the rainfall amount drops below 800 mm (31.5 in) per year; these areas are generally located at a lower altitude than the plateau, with a few exceptions such as Mek'ele (or Makale), located at 2,000 metres (6,500 feet) of altitude in the north (Tigray region): here 700 mm (27.5 in) of rain per year fall, with only two very rainy months, July and August. Despite the altitude, here from April to June it can be a little hot, with highs about 27/28 °C (81/82 °F).
However, the heat is intense especially below 1,000 metres (3,300 feet), and in particular in the dry period.
The narrow strip west of the plateau, receives the south-west monsoon, but here its effects are less pronounced. In this region the heat is intense in the dry season, from October to mid-May, with a peak between April and early May, when the temperatures reach normally 40 °C (104 °F), then the rains come and the temperature drops a bit, so it's difficult to find a good period to visit this area. In addition, the basins of the rivers Baro and Sobat, on the border with South Sudan, are marshy and unhealthy.
In the far south, in the area of Lake Turkana, and in the south-east (see Moyale), a scorching heat dominates throughout the year, with irregular rains, concentrated in two periods: from March to May and from October to November. Here, unlike in the rest of the country, the best time (or the least bad...) is from June to August, because it is, albeit slightly, the least hot. The Somali Region (Ogaden), in the south-east, is hot and semi-desert as well. Here are the average temperatures of Gode, located in the region of Ogaden.

Here the rains do not reach 250 millimetres (10 inches) per year, and are concentrated in two rainy seasons, April-May and October-November. Here is the average rainfall.

In the east, we find Dire Dawa, located at 1,200 metres (3,900 feet), on the north slope, overlooking the torrid zone: here it's hot for most of the year, with a maximum in June, when highs of 35 °C (95 °F) are normal, while in winter it's warm during the day, but nights are quite cool. Here are the average temperatures.

Here, 670 mm (26.5 in) of rain per year fall, with two relatively rainy periods, from March to May and July to September, and two dry periods, from October to February and in June. Here is the average precipitation.

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Danakil

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In northern Ethiopia, in the Afar Region (zone 3 on the map), the climate is desert and hot throughout the year. In particular, in the Danakil Depression, where some salt lakes such as Lake Afrera are found, the climate is particularly hot, also because of the low altitude, which drops to 125 metres (410 feet) below sea level; here a stable and overwhelming heat reigns throughout the year. The abandoned settlement of Dallol, in the far north, is considered the hottest place in the world on average, with a daily temperature of 35 °C (95 °F) all year round: lows are around 30 °C (86 °F) and highs around 40 °C (104 °F), Or at least these are the data reported at that time. On the slopes of the volcano Erta Ale, the dark basalt rock absorbs the sun's rays and heats up particularly, thus creating a hellish environment.

Mountains

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From the Ethiopian Plateau, several mountain peaks rise, including Ras Dashen, the highest of the country with its 4,550 metres (14,928 feet), Abuna Yosef, 4,260 mt (13,976 ft), Tullu Deemtu, 4,389 mt (14,400 ft), and Batu, 4,307 mt (14,131 ft), the last two in the Bale Mountains. In the Bale Mountains, several interesting ecosystems are found: up to 2,800 metres (9,200 ft) we find the forest, replaced at higher altitudes by a barren mountain vegetation, able to withstand the cold of the night, while over 4,000 mt (13,000 ft), the constant cold prevents the growth of almost all kind of vegetation, so that there's a cold desert. On the contrary, Ras Dashen in the north and Abuna Yosef in the east, are located in the semi-arid area.

Tropical cyclones

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Occasionally, the south-eastern part of Ethiopia (Somali Region) can be affected by a tropical cyclone coming from the Arabian Sea, which, after having affected Somalia, can penetrate inland, gradually weakening, but still bringing abundant rains, as happened for example with Deep Depression ARB 01 in November 2013, and with Cyclone Sagar in May 2018.
Cyclones form from May to December, and are more frequent at the beginning of the period (May-June), and at the end (October-December).

When to go

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The best time to visit Ethiopia goes from November to February, being the driest and coolest almost everywhere. In the arid areas, at low altitude this is still a hot period, with torrid days, but usually with pretty cool nights. The worst months are July and August, due to rainfall on the plateau, and April and May because of the heat in the semi-arid areas, while the Danakil Depression is steadily torrid and inhospitable throughout the year.

What to pack

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In winter: in the regions of Danakil and Afar and in the south-east, loose fitting, light-coloured clothing, light and long shirt and pants of natural fibres (cotton, linen), desert turban, hiking shoes, sweatshirt for the evening at hill altitudes. In Addis Ababa and the plateau, spring/autumn clothes, light for the day, sun hat, jacket, sweater and hat for the evening; for high mountains, above 3,000 metres (9,800 ft), warm clothes, warm jacket, gloves, scarf.

In summer: in the regions of Danakil and Afar and in the south-east, loose fitting, light-coloured clothing, light and long shirt and pants of natural fibres (cotton, linen), desert turban, hiking shoes. In Addis Ababa and the plateau, spring/autumn clothes, jacket, raincoat and umbrella; for high mountains, above 3,000 metres (9,800 ft), warm clothes, warm jacket, gloves, scarf.