Weather and climate in Sfax (Tunisia)

The climate of Sfax is Mediterranean, with mild, relatively rainy winters and hot, sunny summers.
The city is located on the east coast of Tunisia, in the northern part of the Gulf of Gabès, and a short distance from the Kerkennah islands.
Owing to the proximity to the Sahara, heat waves are possible all year round, but especially in summer, with hot, dry winds able to bring sand and dust.
Although winter is mild, there can sometimes be cold periods, during which the temperature can drop to around 0 °C (32 °F) at night and remain at around 10 °C (50 °F) during the day.
In summer, during invasions of hot air from the desert, which have become more frequent in recent years, the temperature can exceed 40 °C (104 °F). The record heat is 48 °C (118.5 °F), set in June 2003. In July 2023 it reached 46.5 °C (115.7 °F), and the average maximum was 36.6 °C (97.9 °F).

Sfax - Climate data

The average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of 12.0 °C (53.5 °F), that of the warmest month (August) is of 28.3 °C (83.0 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Precipitation amounts to 230 millimeters (9.1 inches) per year: it is therefore scarce. It ranges from 0 mm (0 in) in the driest month (July) to 40 mm (1.6 in) in the wettest ones (September, October) Here is the average precipitation.
The sea temperature ranges from 15 °C (59 °F) in February to 28.5 °C (83 °F) in August. Here are the average sea temperatures.
There are on average around 3095 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.

Sfax - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 12.0 °C (54 °F), with a minimum of 6.4 °C (43.5 °F) and a maximum of 17.5 °C (63.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -0.5 °C (31 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 22.5 °C (72.5 °F). However, it reached 26.1 °C (79 °F) in January 2018.
Precipitation amounts to 20 mm (0.8 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 63% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 16 °C (61 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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February is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 12.6 °C (55 °F), with a minimum of 7.1 °C (44.7 °F) and a maximum of 18.2 °C (64.7 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 1.5 °C (34.5 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 24 °C (75 °F). However, it reached 32.7 °C (90.9 °F) in February 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 20 mm (0.8 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 65% of the time.
The average humidity is 64%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 15 °C (59 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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March is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 15 °C (59 °F), with a minimum of 9.5 °C (49.2 °F) and a maximum of 20.5 °C (68.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 4 °C (39 °F).
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 28 °C (82.5 °F). However, it reached 36.9 °C (98.4 °F) in March 2001.
Precipitation amounts to 25 mm (1 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 64% of the time.
The average humidity is 64%.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 15.5 °C (60 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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April is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 17.7 °C (64 °F), with a minimum of 12.6 °C (54.6 °F) and a maximum of 22.8 °C (73.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 7 °C (44.5 °F).
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 30 °C (85.5 °F). However, it reached 34 °C (93.2 °F) in April 1999.
Precipitation amounts to 20 mm (0.8 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 66% of the time.
The average humidity is 63%.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 17.5 °C (63 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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May is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 21.3 °C (70 °F), with a minimum of 16.2 °C (61.1 °F) and a maximum of 26.3 °C (79.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 11.5 °C (52.5 °F).
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34 °C (93 °F). However, it reached 41.3 °C (106.3 °F) in May 2006.
Precipitation amounts to 13 mm (0.5 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 10 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 71% of the time.
The average humidity is 60%.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 20 °C (68 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.

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June is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of 25.0 °C (77 °F), with a minimum of 19.8 °C (67.6 °F) and a maximum of 30.2 °C (86.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 15 °C (59.5 °F).
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 38.5 °C (101 °F). However, it reached 48 °C (118.4 °F) in June 2003.
Precipitation amounts to only 6 mm (0.2 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 30 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 11 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 77% of the time.
The average humidity is 58%.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 23 °C (74 °F). Therefore, the sea can be considered barely acceptable for swimming.

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July is generally a very hot month. The average temperature is of 27.6 °C (82 °F), with a minimum of 22.4 °C (72.3 °F) and a maximum of 32.8 °C (91 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 18.5 °C (65.5 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 39.5 °C (103 °F). However, it reached 46.4 °C (115.5 °F) in July 1996.
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 10 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 12 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 86% of the time.
The average humidity is 58%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 26.5 °C (80 °F). Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.

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August, the hottest month of the year, is generally a very hot month. The average temperature is of 28.3 °C (83 °F), with a minimum of 23.2 °C (73.8 °F) and a maximum of 33.4 °C (92.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 19.5 °C (67 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 40 °C (104 °F). However, it reached 45.1 °C (113.2 °F) in August 2015.
Precipitation amounts to only 4 mm (0.2 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 11 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 83% of the time.
The average humidity is 60%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 28.5 °C (83 °F). Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.

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September is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of 26.0 °C (79 °F), with a minimum of 21.5 °C (70.7 °F) and a maximum of 30.6 °C (87 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 16 °C (61 °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 41.7 °C (107.1 °F) in September 2014.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 74% of the time.
The average humidity is 65%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 28 °C (82 °F). Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.

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October is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of 22.6 °C (73 °F), with a minimum of 17.8 °C (64 °F) and a maximum of 27.4 °C (81.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 12 °C (54 °F).
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33.5 °C (92 °F). However, it reached 38.2 °C (100.8 °F) in October 2004.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 69% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 26 °C (78.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.

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November is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 17.3 °C (63 °F), with a minimum of 12 °C (53.6 °F) and a maximum of 22.6 °C (72.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 6 °C (42.5 °F).
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 28.5 °C (83 °F). However, it reached 34.5 °C (94.1 °F) in November 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 15 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 68% of the time.
The average humidity is 65%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 22.5 °C (73 °F). Therefore, the sea can be considered barely acceptable for swimming.

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December is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 13.3 °C (56 °F), with a minimum of 7.8 °C (46 °F) and a maximum of 18.8 °C (65.8 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -0.5 °C (31 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 23.5 °C (74 °F). However, it reached 29 °C (84.2 °F) in December 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 25 mm (1 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 55 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 64% of the time.
The average humidity is 65%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 19 °C (66 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.