Egypt Climate Guide
Almost all of Egypt lies within the hot-desert belt, yet its position between the Mediterranean, the Red Sea and the Nile Valley gives it five distinct climate regions. This guide explains each one: what defines it, its temperature and rainfall averages, and when to visit.
Mediterranean Coast
The Mediterranean Coast is a hot semi-arid Mediterranean region (Köppen BSh / Csa), characterised by a mild Mediterranean climate moderated by the sea — warm humid summers and the wettest winters in Egypt.
Typical summer highs are around 30 °C and winter highs near 18 °C, with mean annual rainfall of about 180 mm. Dust arrives mainly with the spring Khamsin.
In short: a mild Mediterranean climate moderated by the sea — warm humid summers and the wettest winters in Egypt.
Cities in the Mediterranean Coast
Nile Delta
The Nile Delta is a hot desert with delta moisture region (Köppen BWh / BSh), characterised by the fertile heart of Egypt — hot dry summers tempered by Delta humidity, and short, mild, occasionally damp winters.
Typical summer highs are around 35 °C and winter highs near 19 °C, with mean annual rainfall of about 80 mm. Dust arrives mainly with the spring Khamsin.
In short: the fertile heart of Egypt — hot dry summers tempered by Delta humidity, and short, mild, occasionally damp winters.
Cities in the Nile Delta
Greater Cairo
The Greater Cairo is a hot desert region (Köppen BWh), characterised by a hot desert climate where the Nile meets the sand — long hot summers, brief mild winters, and dusty spring Khamsin winds.
Typical summer highs are around 36 °C and winter highs near 19 °C, with mean annual rainfall of about 25 mm. Dust arrives mainly with the spring Khamsin.
In short: a hot desert climate where the Nile meets the sand — long hot summers, brief mild winters, and dusty spring Khamsin winds.
Cities in the Greater Cairo
Nile Valley & Upper Egypt
The Nile Valley & Upper Egypt is a hot desert (hyper-arid) region (Köppen BWh), characterised by one of the driest, sunniest places on Earth — fierce dry summer heat, warm winters, and almost no rain along the Upper Nile.
Typical summer highs are around 41 °C and winter highs near 23 °C, with mean annual rainfall of about 4 mm. Dust arrives mainly with the spring Khamsin.
In short: one of the driest, sunniest places on Earth — fierce dry summer heat, warm winters, and almost no rain along the Upper Nile.
Cities in the Nile Valley & Upper Egypt
Red Sea Coast
The Red Sea Coast is a hot desert by a warm sea region (Köppen BWh), characterised by hot desert softened by a warm sea — sunny year-round, with hot summers, mild winters and virtually no rain.
Typical summer highs are around 37 °C and winter highs near 23 °C, with mean annual rainfall of about 4 mm. Dust arrives mainly with the spring Khamsin.
In short: hot desert softened by a warm sea — sunny year-round, with hot summers, mild winters and virtually no rain.