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Climate - Tunisia


Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine

Flag - Tunisia

Map - Tunisia

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Tunisia - The climate in short



In Tunisia, the climate is Mediterranean on the northern coast, with mild, rainy winters and hot, sunny summers, while it is semi-desert or desert in inland areas.
The east coast, from the Gulf of Hammamet towards the south, receives little rainfall, which decreases from north to south, to the point that the southernmost part (from the Gulf of Gabès to the border with Libya) is desert. However, temperatures along the whole coast are typical of the Mediterranean climate, with highs around 16/18 °C (61/64 °F) in winter and 32/33 °C (89/91 °F) in summer.
In contrast, in the inland areas of the center-south, occupied by the desert, summer is very hot.
The rains follow the Mediterranean pattern on the coast, so they are more abundant in late autumn and winter, and become very rare in late spring and summer.
The coastal and mountainous regions of Tunisia can be affected by the desert wind, which causes a strong increase in temperature, but also a drop in relative humidity, and may also bring sandstorms. During these periods, it can be hot, especially from June to September, when the temperature can exceed 40 °C (104 °F) in Tunis and along the east coast.

The climate in detail


  • The north coast - Tunis
  • The east coast - Sousse, Djerba
  • Hills and mountains - Kasserine
  • The desert - Tozeur
  • When to go
  • What to pack

The north coast


Tunis

Tunis, where is located
Tunis, where is located
Here are the average temperatures of Tunis, the capital, located in the northern part of the coast.
Tunis - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January7.916.412.2466253.9
February7.916.912.4466254.3
March9.719.414.6496758.2
April11.922.317.1537262.8
May15.326.520.9598069.6
June19.13125.1668877.1
July2234.128729382.5
August22.734.528.6739483.5
September20.630.625.6698778
October17.226.721.9638071.5
November12.621.617.1557162.8
December9.117.613.4486456.1
Year14.724.819.7558.576.767.5

On the northern coast, rainfall is moderate, since the weather fronts of Mediterranean or Atlantic origin pass more frequently. In Tunis, precipitation amounts to 485 millimeters (19 inches) per year, most of which occur from September to April, while in summer, it hardly ever rains. In Bizerte, in the far north, the rains are a bit more abundant, around 650 mm (25.5 in) per year. Here is the average precipitation in Tunis.
Tunis - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January702.89
February5026
March401.66
April451.88
May301.24
June150.62
July50.21
August100.41
September451.85
October5026
November602.48
December702.89
Year48519.163

On the northern coast, the sky in summer is usually clear, while from October to April, there's no shortage of sunny days, which, however, alternate with cloudy and rainy periods, which last a few days. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.
Tunis - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January4.5145
February6165
March6.5200
April7.5225
May9280
June10.5310
July11.5355
August10.5330
September8.5260
October7215
November6175
December5150
Year7.72810

In the northern part of the coast, the sea is warm enough for swimming from July to September, while it is definitely cool, if not cold, from December to May.
Tunis - Sea temperature
MonthCelsius (°C)Fahrenheit (°F)
January1559
February1559
March1559
April1559
May1763
June2170
July2475
August2679
September2577
October2272
November1966
December1763
Year19.366.7

The east coast



As mentioned, the temperatures on the east coast are similar to those of the north coast, while the rains are less abundant, and become gradually scarcer as you move south.

Sousse

Sousse, where is located
Sousse, where is located
Here are the average temperatures of Sousse, located in the southern part of the Gulf of Hammamet.
Sousse - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January8.716.712.7486254.9
February9.21713.1496355.6
March11.319.315.3526759.5
April13.721.617.6577163.8
May1725.221.2637770.1
June20.829.325698577
July23.432.427.9749082.2
August24.432.928.6769183.5
September22.229.625.9728578.7
October18.926.322.6667972.6
November13.721.717.7577163.9
December101814506457.1
Year16.124.220.1561.175.668

On the east coast, precipitation decreases to 300/400 mm (12/16 in) per year in the Gulf of Hammamet and to about 200 mm (8 in) in the Gulf of Gabès.
Here is the average rainfall in Sousse.
Sousse - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January351.46
February301.26
March301.25
April301.26
May150.64
June100.42
July50.21
August100.42
September351.44
October552.26
November351.45
December451.86
Year3301353

On the east coast, the sun in winter shines a little more often than on the northern coast, just because the rains are rarer.
Sousse - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January6190
February7200
March7.5235
April8.5260
May10315
June11.5340
July12.5385
August11.5355
September9.5280
October8250
November7215
December6190
Year8.83220

A short distance from Sousse, we find Monastir.

Monastir

Further south on the east coast, in Sfax, the temperatures are similar, but the rains drop to just 200 mm (8 in) per year. East of Sfax, we find the Kerkenna Islands.
Further south, in Gabès, the temperatures are similar; the rains amount to 190 mm (7.5 in) per year.

Djerba

Djerba, where is located
Djerba, where is located
East of Gabès and very close to the coast, we find the island of Djerba. Here are the average temperatures.
Djerba - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January9.31713.2496355.7
February9.618.113.8496556.9
March11.92116.4537061.6
April14.523.719.1587566.4
May17.827.122.4648172.4
June21.130.625.9708778.5
July23.533.328.4749283.1
August24.73429.3769384.8
September23.231.527.3748981.2
October19.628.123.9678374.9
November14.72318.8587365.9
December11.118.314.7526558.5
Year16.825.521.162.277.970

In the southern part of the coast, the sea is slightly warmer than in the northern part, and it's still warm in October.
Djerba - Sea temperature
MonthCelsius (°C)Fahrenheit (°F)
January1661
February1559
March15.560
April17.563
May2068
June2374
July26.580
August28.583
September2882
October2678
November22.573
December1966
Year21.570.7

Hills and mountains


In the northwest, there are hilly and mountainous areas (see the Tunisian Dorsale or High Tell, and the Tebessa Mountains), which can be cold and may even experience snowfalls in winter, while in summer, they are hot during the day, but remain quite cool at night.

Kasserine

Kasserine, where is located
Kasserine, where is located
Here are the average temperatures of Kasserine, located at 675 meters (2,200 feet) above sea level.
Kasserine - Average temperatures (1981-2010)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January2.813.78.2375746.8
February3.515.19.3385948.7
March5.818.412.1426553.8
April8.321.514.9477158.8
May12.426.819.6548067.3
June16.332.124.2619075.6
July18.935.927.4669781.3
August1935.127669580.7
September16.329.723618573.4
October12.425.118.8547765.8
November7.218.713456655.3
December414.79.4395848.8
Year10.62417.2551.175.163

Kasserine is located at the foot of Jebel ech Chambi, which is the highest mountain in Tunisia and reaches 1,544 meters (5,066 feet).

The desert



In the desert, which is located in the central and southern inland areas, the summer heat is remarkable: in July and August, the maximum temperature reaches on average 38 °C (100 °F) in Gafsa and 40 °C (104 °F) in Tozeur. In the desert, the temperature range is wider than on the coast, so much so that night-time temperatures in winter can drop to a few degrees below freezing (0 °C or 32 °F), while in summer, the highest recorded temperatures are remarkable: about 52 °C (125.5 °F) in the southern part of the desert.

Tozeur

Tozeur, where is located
Tozeur, where is located
Here are the average temperatures of Tozeur, located in the desert, west of Gabès.
Tozeur - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January6.81711.9446353.5
February8.119.213.7476756.6
March11.523.317.4537463.3
April1527.421.2598170.2
May19.432.425.9679078.5
June23.637.230.4749986.6
July26.34033.17910491.7
August26.739.633.18010391.6
September23.534.929.2749584.5
October18.729.624.2668575.5
November12.422.617.5547363.4
December81813466455.4
Year16.728.522.5562.183.372.5

The rains in the desert region are scarce throughout the year, but they are even scarcer in summer, when only very few showers occur. Here is the average rainfall in Tozeur.
Tozeur - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January110.53
February70.33
March100.43
April200.83
May40.12
June90.31
July100
August20.11
September110.43
October110.42
November90.32
December70.33
Year1003.925

In the desert, the sun often shines even in winter, as can be seen in the following table.
Tozeur - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January6.5200
February7200
March7.5235
April8245
May9280
June9.5280
July10.5330
August10310
September9265
October7.5240
November6.5200
December6.5200
Year8.22990

In the desert area, there is a large salt lake, Chott el-Jerid, almost entirely dry, a witness of the past when the climate was more humid. The few remaining water holes have different colors, depending on the salt that prevails in each of them, and offer an unusual view.

When to go



If you want to visit Tunis and the northern coast, and also the northern hills and mountains, you can choose spring and autumn (April, May and October).

For a beach holiday, you can go from June to September. The favorable season for a beach holiday is quite long, especially on the east coast, which is usually sheltered from Atlantic disturbances, and where it can easily last until mid-October.
It must be said that sometimes it can get very hot even on the coast. The area least exposed to heat waves from the desert is the Cape Bon peninsula (see Kelibia), in the north-east.

You can visit the desert in winter, or in any case, when the maximum temperatures are normally below 30 °C (86 °F), ie from November to March. In winter, the daytime temperature is mild and the sun usually shines, while it can get cold at night.
Owing to the scorching heat, summer is not the best season to visit the Tunisian desert. In the desert, there are hotels equipped with swimming pools, but in summer, the heat is so intense that even sunbathing can be difficult.
A compromise between excursions in the desert and some moments of relaxation at the pool could be found in spring and autumn, ie in April and October.

What to pack



In winter: for Tunis and the coast, pack spring/autumn clothes, a jacket and a sweater, and a raincoat or umbrella; for the mountainous areas, bring warm clothes and down jacket; for the desert, light clothing, but also a sweater and a jacket for the evening, and a scarf for the wind-borne sand and dust.

In summer: for the coast, pack lightweight clothes, a light scarf for the sea breeze, and a light sweatshirt for the evening. For the desert, loose-fitting clothes, made of natural fabric (cotton or linen), a desert turban for the wind-borne sand and dust; sunglasses (even graduated instead of contact lenses); a sweatshirt for the evening or the mountains, a sweater or sweatshirt and sleeping bag for overnight stays in tents; hiking boots or sandals.
It's better for women to avoid shorts and miniskirts, especially in rural and non-tourist areas.

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 Cities or regions:

 Bizerte
 Djerba
 Gabes
 Gafsa
 Hammamet
 Jendouba
 Kairouan
 Kelibia
 Monastir
 Remada
 Sfax
 Sousse
 Tabarka
 Tozeur
 Tunis



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