Climate - Tunis (Tunisia)

In Tunis, the climate is Mediterranean, with mild, rainy winters and very hot, sunny summers.
The city is the capital of Tunisia and is located in the north of the country, on the gulf of the same name.
Although the city is located on the coast, the climate is heavily influenced by the desert wind, which can bring very mild weather in winter (with highs above 20 °C or 68 °F), hot in the shoulder seasons (around 30/35 °C or 86/95 °F in April, May, October and November), and scorchingly hot in summer, with more than 40 °C (104 °F), and with peaks of 45 °C (113 °F), from June to September.
The average temperature of the coldest month (January) is 12.2 °C (54 °F), that of the hottest month (August) is 28.6 °C (83.5 °F). Here are the average temperatures.

Precipitation amounts to 485 millimeters (19 inches) per year and follows a Mediterranean pattern, with a maximum in autumn and winter and a minimum in summer. Here is the average rainfall.

The amount of sunshine is excellent from May to August, when clear skies prevail, while in the rest of the year, even though clear days are frequent, they alternate with periods of bad weather of a few days, in which clouds prevail. The total annual, 2,800 hours of sunshine, is still very good.

Winter is mild, and is the rainiest season, due to the passage of Atlantic or Mediterranean disturbances. However, there are periods of good weather too.
It rarely gets very cold, although there can sometimes be cold days, with highs below 10 °C (50 °F), when air masses from northern Europe manage to arrive here.
Snow in Tunis is very rare. Once every few years, during the most intense cold spells, a snowfall can be observed, but with temperatures above freezing and without accumulation. However, in January 1981, it snowed for two days, and the temperature dropped to -1 °C (30 °F). Snow whitened the city again on January 31, 1999.

Spring is initially a quite unstable season, in March and the first half of April, with some rainy and windy periods, and then gradually becomes warmer and sunnier.
The sirocco can bring significant increases in temperature. In 2006, the temperature reached 41.5 °C (106.5 °F) already in May.

Summer is hot and sunny. The rains are very rare, however, a short shower can occasionally break out.
There are periods when the daytime temperature is around 30 °C (86 °F), the humidity is high and the breeze blows from the sea, but also periods when the wind blows from the desert and the temperature reaches or exceeds 40 °C (104 °F).
The heat record is 49 °C (120 °F), recorded in August 2021. The previous was 47 °C (116.5 °F), recorded in June 2007 and July 1973. In 2007, the temperature also reached 45 °C (113 °F) in July and 44.5 °C (112 °F) in August (during different heat waves).

In autumn, temperatures are pleasant, with many sunny days, but also the first rains, which gradually become more frequent.
In September, there is still often summer-like weather, especially in the first part of the month, but in the course of the month, the first rains occur. Sometimes, the rains can be strong and concentrated in a short time.



The sea is warm enough for swimming from July to September; in June it is still a bit cool.

Best Time

To visit Tunis you can choose the spring, in particular the period from mid-April to mid-May, being generally mild and sunny, and with a low period of very hot days.
You can also choose autumn, from mid-October to mid-November, but the days are a little shorter and the rains a little more frequent.
In winter, there are several mild and sunny periods, but also waves of bad weather, with rain and wind.
Summer, from June to September, is hot, sometimes too hot when the sirocco blows.
For a beach holiday, on the other hand, the situation changes, and the best time is summer.

Tunis - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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In January, the coldest month of the year, the weather in Tunis is usually mild. The average temperature is of 12.2 °C (54 °F), with a minimum of 7.9 °C (46.2 °F) and a maximum of 16.4 °C (61.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 2.5 °C (36 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 21.5 °C (71 °F). However, it reached 25.1 °C (77.2 °F) in January 1995.
Precipitation amounts to 70 mm (2.8 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 47% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 15 °C (59 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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In February, the weather in Tunis is usually mild. The average temperature is of 12.4 °C (54 °F), with a minimum of 7.9 °C (46.2 °F) and a maximum of 16.9 °C (62.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 2.5 °C (37 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 22.5 °C (73 °F). However, it reached 28.5 °C (83.3 °F) in February 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm (2 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 54% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 15 °C (59 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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In March, the weather in Tunis is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 14.6 °C (58 °F), with a minimum of 9.7 °C (49.5 °F) and a maximum of 19.4 °C (67 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 5 °C (41 °F).
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 27 °C (80.5 °F). However, it reached 36.5 °C (97.7 °F) in March 2001.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 15 °C (59 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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In April, the weather in Tunis is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 17.1 °C (63 °F), with a minimum of 11.9 °C (53.5 °F) and a maximum of 22.3 °C (72.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 7 °C (45 °F).
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 29.5 °C (85 °F). However, it reached 33.1 °C (91.6 °F) in April 2001.
Precipitation amounts to 45 mm (1.8 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 57% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 15 °C (59 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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In May, the weather in Tunis is usually warm. The average temperature is of 20.9 °C (70 °F), with a minimum of 15.3 °C (59.5 °F) and a maximum of 26.5 °C (79.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 10 °C (50.5 °F).
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 35 °C (94.5 °F). However, it reached 41.4 °C (106.5 °F) in May 2006.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 64% of the time.
The average humidity is 62%.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 17 °C (62.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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In June, the weather in Tunis is usually warm to hot. The average temperature is of 25.1 °C (77 °F), with a minimum of 19.1 °C (66.4 °F) and a maximum of 31 °C (87.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 14 °C (57.5 °F).
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 39 °C (102.5 °F). However, it reached 47 °C (116.6 °F) in June 2007.
Precipitation amounts to 15 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 35 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 10.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 71% of the time.
The average humidity is 57%.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 21 °C (70 °F). Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.

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In July, the weather in Tunis is usually very hot. The average temperature is of 28.0 °C (82 °F), with a minimum of 22 °C (71.6 °F) and a maximum of 34.1 °C (93.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 18.5 °C (65 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 41.5 °C (107 °F). However, it reached 46.4 °C (115.5 °F) in July 1998.
Precipitation amounts to only 5 mm (0.2 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 25 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 11.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 80% of the time.
The average humidity is 55%.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 24 °C (75 °F). Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.

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In August, the hottest month of the year, the weather in Tunis is usually very hot. The average temperature is of 28.6 °C (84 °F), with a minimum of 22.7 °C (72.9 °F) and a maximum of 34.5 °C (94.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 18 °C (65 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 41.5 °C (106.5 °F). However, it reached 46.5 °C (115.7 °F) in August 1994.
Precipitation amounts to 10 mm (0.4 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 10.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 79% of the time.
The average humidity is 58%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 26 °C (79 °F). Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.

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In September, the weather in Tunis is usually warm to hot. The average temperature is of 25.6 °C (78 °F), with a minimum of 20.6 °C (69.1 °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 37.5 °C (99.5 °F). However, it reached 42 °C (107.6 °F) in September 2011.
Precipitation amounts to 45 mm (1.8 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 69% of the time.
The average humidity is 65%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 25 °C (77 °F). Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.

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In October, the weather in Tunis is usually warm. The average temperature is of 21.9 °C (71 °F), with a minimum of 17.2 °C (62.9 °F) and a maximum of 26.7 °C (80.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 12.5 °C (54.5 °F).
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33 °C (92 °F). However, it reached 40 °C (104 °F) in October 1999.
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm (2 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 63% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 22 °C (71.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.

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In November, the weather in Tunis is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 17.1 °C (63 °F), with a minimum of 12.6 °C (54.7 °F) and a maximum of 21.6 °C (70.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 8 °C (46 °F).
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 27.5 °C (82 °F). However, it reached 30.5 °C (86.9 °F) in November 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 57% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
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.

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In December, the weather in Tunis is usually mild. The average temperature is of 13.4 °C (56 °F), with a minimum of 9.1 °C (48.4 °F) and a maximum of 17.6 °C (63.8 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 2.5 °C (36 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 23 °C (73 °F). However, it reached 29.6 °C (85.3 °F) in December 2009.
Precipitation amounts to 70 mm (2.8 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 40 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 50% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 17 °C (62.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.