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Climate - Sudan


Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine

Flag - Sudan

Map - Sudan

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Sudan - The climate in short



In Sudan, a country of East Africa located south of the Tropic of Cancer and overlooking the Red Sea, the climate is desert in the north and on the coast, while it's semi-desert or semi-arid in the south, which is affected by the summer monsoon.
Rainfall, practically absent in the far north, is still very scarce in the centre, where it slightly exceeds 100 millimeters (4 inches) a year, while it exceeds 700 mm (27.5 in) in the far south.

The climate in detail


  • Red Sea coast - Port Sudan
  • The north - Wadi Halfa
  • The center - Khartoum
  • The south - Nyala
  • When to go
  • What to pack

Red Sea coast



On the coast of the Red Sea, winter is warm, with highs around 27/28 °C (81/82 °F), while summer is stifling, with a combination of heat and humidity that is hard to bear. The rains, poor, occur mostly between October and January, in fact, in autumn and winter, the prevailing north-east currents deposit a bit of moisture as precipitation on the coast after passing over the sea.

Port Sudan

Port Sudan, where is located
Port Sudan, where is located
In Port Sudan, only 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain fall per year, with a maximum of 50 mm (2 in) in November, while in Suakin, more to the south, rainfall reaches 120 mm (4.7 in) per year. So, we are still at desert levels. However, along the coast, an intense downpour or thunderstorm can sometimes occur, which can unload an entire month's rainfall in a few hours. Here is the average precipitation in Port Sudan.
Port Sudan - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January40.21
February100
March100
April100
May20.11
June000
July90.41
August30.11
September000
October120.51
November5024
December2513
Year1104.312

Here are the average temperatures of Port Sudan.
Port Sudan - Average temperatures (1971-2000)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January19.426.623678073.4
February18.726.922.8668073
March19.528.524678375.2
April21.731.826.8718980.2
May24.235.429.8769685.6
June26.338.432.47910190.2
July28.540.734.68310594.3
August2940.434.78410594.5
September27.137.932.58110090.5
October25.333.829.6789385.2
November23.730.927.3758881.1
December21.128.324.7708376.5
Year23.733.328.574.79283.5

In Port Sudan, the sun often shines all year round; however, some cloudiness can be formed both in winter and in summer. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.
Port Sudan - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January6.5195
February8230
March9280
April10305
May10.5320
June9.5285
July9275
August9.5290
September9.5280
October9.5300
November7.5225
December7215
Year8.83200

The sea is warm all year round, and in summer, when it exceeds 30 °C (86 °F), it becomes one of the warmest seas in the world.
Port Sudan - Sea temperature
MonthCelsius (°C)Fahrenheit (°F)
January2679
February2679
March2679
April2781
May2984
June3086
July3188
August3188
September3188
October3188
November3086
December2882
Year28.984

So the coast can be considered a world apart, both because of the higher humidity and because of the rainfall pattern.
On the contrary, the interior of Sudan is desert in the north, and progressively rainier as you move southward, where the rains occur in the summer season.

Ancient pyramids in Meroe

The north



In the north, occupied by a portion of the Saharan desert (whose part located to the east of the Nile is called Nubian Desert, while the western part is called Libyan Desert), the climate is desert, and in particular, the northernmost area, near the border with Egypt, is one of the driest and sunniest in the world.
The Nubian desert is particularly desolate, devoid of oasis and therefore of settlements, of course, apart from the banks of the Nile, where the remains of the ancient Egyptian and Nubian civilizations are found, as well as more recent settlements.
In winter, temperatures are pleasantly warm during the day and cool at night, even cold at times, especially in the far north, where it can occasionally drop to around freezing (0 °C or 32 °F). The rest of the year is definitely hot, with highs around 40 °C (104 °F) from May to September, but with records of 50/52 °C (122/126 °F). Wind can raise sandstorms at any time of the year.

Wadi Halfa

Wadi Halfa, where is located
Wadi Halfa, where is located
Here are the average temperatures of Wadi Halfa, located in the far north, on the shores of Lake Nasser.
Wadi Halfa - Average temperatures (2000-2009)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January11.523.917.7537563.8
February12.625.919.3557966.7
March16.331.123.7618874.7
April20.636.628.6699883.5
May24.439.7327610389.7
June26.241.233.77910692.6
July27.141.634.38110793.8
August27.741.534.68210794.3
September26.64033.38010491.9
October22.835.729.2739684.6
November17.730.123.9648675
December12.725.319557766.2
Year20.634.427.45699481.5

In the north, the sun shines all year round, as we can see in the following table.
Wadi Halfa - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January10315
February9.5270
March10.5320
April10.5315
May11.5350
June11.5345
July11.5365
August11.5350
September10.5315
October10.5330
November10305
December10315
Year10.73895

In Wadi Halfa it basically never rains.
More to the south, already at the latitude of the Bayuda Desert, in the "S" described by the course of the Nile, during summer, there is a slight increase in humidity, a decrease in temperature, and a few rare downpours in July and August, brought by the last offshoots of the summer monsoon.

The center



In the center, it is hot even in winter. Unlike in the north, the hottest period goes from April to June, because later, some clouds and rain arrive, which lower the temperature slightly. However, the climate is still desert or semi-desert.

Khartoum

Khartoum, where is located
Khartoum, where is located
A few hundred kilometers (or miles) to the south, and at the center of the country, we find Khartoum (Al Khurtum), the capital, located at 400 meters (1,300 feet) above sea level, where the White Nile and the Blue Nile river meet.
With an annual average temperature of 30.5 °C (87 °F), Khartoum is one of the hottest capitals in the world. Even winter is hot, with highs around 31 °C (88 °F) in January, but it can sometimes get a bit cold at night, in fact, the cold record is 8 °C (46.5 °F). In spring, the temperatures increase rapidly, and they reach 40 °C (104 °F) already in April; in April and May, the temperature have sometimes reached as high as 47 °C (117 °F).
In July and August, under the influence of the monsoon, which brings a bit of rain, the temperature decreases slightly, but it remains very high, around 37/39 °C (99/102 °F), and then, between October and November, at the end of the monsoon, it increases slightly again.
Here are the average temperatures.
Khartoum - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January16.530.723.6628774.4
February1933.726.3669379.4
March21.837.129.4719985
April25.340.532.97810591.2
May28.342.135.28310895.4
June28.741.735.28410795.4
July27.33933.18110291.6
August25.936.831.3799888.4
September2738.832.98110291.3
October26.739.2338010391.4
November22.435.629729684.3
December18.33225.1659077.2
Year2437.330.5575.199.187

Annual precipitation in the capital is very low, and amounts to 120 mm (4.7 in), with a maximum of 50 mm (2 in) in August. However, due to poor drainage, Khartoum can sometimes be hit by flash-floods, during intense thunderstorms. Furthermore, in summer, the city can be affected by the overflowing of the two rivers that cross it, caused by rains that occur in the south, in the rainier area. Here is the average precipitation.
Khartoum - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January000
February000
March000
April000
May40.21
June40.21
July301.24
August5024
September2513
October80.31
November100
December000
Year1204.715

In Khartoum, the sun shines all year round, but in summer, the hours of sunshine diminish a bit.
Khartoum - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January10315
February10.5295
March10315
April10.5320
May10310
June9.5280
July8.5270
August9275
September9275
October10305
November10305
December10.5320
Year9.83580

In May or June, when the front of moist air from the south invades the central part of Sudan, it can give rise to a phenomenon called Haboob, a sand storm that advances like a wall, and then reduces visibility to zero.

Haboob in Khartoum

In the Western Darfur region lies Jebel Marra, a mountain range with volcanic craters occupied by lakes, such as Deriba Caldera, about 3,000 meters (9,800 ft) high. Here, the climate is temperate because of altitude, and since the rains are more abundant, i.e. at the level of the southernmost areas, the landscape is greener than in the surrounding areas.

The south



Continuing south, annual rainfall increases gradually, reaching 700 mm (27.5 in) in the southernmost part. Almost all of Sudan is practically arid or semi-arid; the greenest area, geographically and culturally different, has been separated in 2011, and gave birth to South Sudan.
Anyway, in the southernmost part, eg in the Nuba Mountains, the rainy season is quite long (from May to October, peaking from June to September) and intense, so much so that there is a savannah-type environment. The climate in the Nuba Mountains, but also in the south-east, in the Dinder National Park, despite the altitude of around 500 meters (1,600 feet), is hot even in winter, with highs around 35 °C (95 °F), while in spring, the temperature rises to around 40 °C (104 °F) and more; the summer is muggy and rainy, while autumn becomes torrid (that is, very hot and dry) again.
During some years, particularly heavy rains in the south can cause floods.

Nyala

Nyala, where is located
Nyala, where is located
Here are the average temperatures of Nyala, in South Darfur, at 650 meters (2,100 ft) above sea level.
Nyala - Average temperatures (1971-2000)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January15.530.523608773.4
February17.432.625639177
March20.936.128.5709783.3
April2338.730.87310287.5
May24.338.731.57610288.7
June24.33730.6769987.2
July22.833.328739282.5
August22.432.727.6729181.6
September22.434.328.4729483
October22.535.729.1729684.4
November20.133.726.9689380.4
December16.630.923.8628874.8
Year2134.527.769.994.182

In Nyala, 430 mm (17 in) of rain fall per year, with a maximum of more than 100 mm (4 in) in July and August. Here is the average precipitation.
Nyala - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January000
February000
March001
April30.11
May170.73
June5026
July1254.910
August1405.513
September7536
October200.82
November000
December000
Year43016.942

In Nyala, clouds are a little more frequent than in Khartoum, especially in summer, and in July and August, there are 7 hours of sunshine a day.
Nyala - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January9.5290
February9.5270
March9280
April9.5285
May9280
June8245
July7215
August7210
September7.5230
October9275
November9.5290
December9.5295
Year8.73170

When to go



The best time to travel to Sudan is winter, and in particular, the months of December and January. There is sunny weather everywhere, except on the the Red Sea coast, where there can be a bit of cloudiness and some showers. In the south and the east, it's hot during the day, but generally cool at night, while in the north, it can get cold at night.
By February, the temperature begins to rise across the country, and in the south, where it was already intense, it becomes scorching.

What to pack



In winter: bring light-colored clothing, light and long shirts and pants of natural fibers (cotton, linen), especially in the south, where it is hot even in winter; turban for the desert and the wind from the desert, sunglasses (even graduated instead of contact lenses), a jacket and a sweater for the evening, and desert boots or sandals. For the Red Sea coast, light clothing, a sweatshirt for the evening, and a raincoat or umbrella. When going to the reef, you can bring snorkeling equipment, including water shoes or rubber-soled shoes.

In summer: for the inland areas, bring lightweight clothes, long and made of natural fabric (cotton or linen), a desert turban; possibly a sweater and a sleeping bag for outdoor overnight stays. For the south, light clothes, a light raincoat or umbrella for the rains, a light sweatshirt. For the Red Sea coast, lightweight clothes. When going to the reef, you can bring snorkeling equipment, including water shoes or rubber-soled shoes. It's better for women to avoid shorts and miniskirts.

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